District Declares Phase I Water Shortage in Central and Southern Regions

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board voted today to declare a Phase I Water Shortage for the District’s central and southern regions, which include Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
The primary purpose for a Phase I water shortage is to alert the public that watering restrictions could be forthcoming. The order also requires local utilities to review and implement procedures for enforcing year-round water conservation measures and water shortage restrictions, including reporting enforcement activity to the District.
A Phase I water shortage order does not change allowable watering schedules, however it does prohibit “wasteful and unnecessary” water use.
The District considers both natural water resource conditions and the viability of public water supplies when deciding to declare a water shortage order – that means, restricting the amount of water the public can use.
The District has worked diligently with our partners to implement water conservation programs and develop alternative water supplies. Even though we are experiencing drought conditions, there is still an adequate water supply available to the public.
Florida’s dry season runs October through May and April is historically one of the driest months of the year. The District encourages water conservation year-round, and offers many tips to reduce water use and additional information on our website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation.

Covid-19 Testing in Hillsborough County

Here is an update from our local county government about testing sites that are now open.  You may wish to inform your employees about it if they or their families develop symptoms and would like to get tested.

Hillsborough County is doing limited drive-thru testing.

Drive-thru testing will ONLY be administered to symptomatic individuals who have pre-registered and have scheduled an appointment through Hillsborough County's call center at (813) 272-5900. The call center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Testing will take place at one of the County's testing sites. However, testing will not proceed without an appointment.

Testing Locations

• Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa | You must arrive in a personal vehicle.
• Lee Davis Community Resource Center, 3402 N. 22nd St., Tampa | offers drive-through testing, but a vehicle is not required.
• Plant City Community Resource Center, 307 N. Michigan Ave., Plant City | offer drive-through testing, but a vehicle is not required.
• SouthShore Community Resource Center, 201 14th Ave. SE, Ruskin | offer drive-through testing, but a vehicle is not required.

Pre-Screening and Pre-Registration Are Required:

• Residents may get tested if they have been pre-screened and meet testing guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and the Florida Department of Health.
• Residents also must be pre-registered through the Hillsborough County call center at (813) 272-5900, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• People who do not have a designated primary care physician or are uninsured are eligible for pre-screening and pre-registration through the call center.
• There is no charge for the test administered at Hillsborough County locations.
• Should a test be scheduled for you, you will be informed of time, date, and testing location during this call.

What to Bring:

• You must arrive in a personal vehicle. Due to the increased risk of contamination as well as current shortages of personal protective equipment, walk-ups are not permitted at this time.
• Each person to be tested must be seated next to a working window.
• Limit vehicle passengers to those needing a test.
• Have a photo ID with name and date of birth for all persons being tested (can be Florida driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport).
• Bring the CORRECT confirmation code provided by the call center; this can be a printed copy of the testing confirmation email received from the call center, a screen-shot of the confirmation number, or the code may be provided verbally. A printed code or screen-shot on the phone helps the process, but is not required.

You will be required to provide the following information:

1. Full name
2. Current address (where you are staying)
3. Best phone number to reach you in order to receive test results

Notification of Fraudulent 3M PPE

I think that you should be aware of this information if you are using face mask respirators.  Please be aware of your purchases from non-sanctioned 3M vendors.

RESPONSE REQUESTED: How is COVID-19 is impacting your business?

UF/IFAS Extension has been hearing from agriculture and aquaculture producers throughout the state about ways the pandemic is affecting your daily work and livelihoods. In this unprecedented and challenging time, the value of your work has never been more evident.

It is with this in mind that we at UF/IFAS now ask for your assistance. My colleagues in the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics department have just launched five surveys, one of which is specific to agriculture and aquaculture operations. That survey is to be completed by you as an agriculture and/or aquaculture professional involved in production, processing and/or transportation.

The surveys are designed to encompass all key facets of agricultural and/or aquaculture operations.

Click here  for the survey on agriculture and aquaculture production, processing, and transportation. This includes crop production, forestry/timber, nursery and greenhouse operations, agritourism, beekeeping, etc.

We strongly encourage your participation in the survey. The information you provide will help assess the larger impact of COVID-19 to the agriculture and aquaculture industries. This information will be vital to informing decisions made by policymakers and establishing a roadmap for moving forward.

To encourage broad participation from your fellow Florida producers/industry groups, we would welcome your forwarding of this message. The attached document also includes suggested language to share with your own network.


Thank you for your participation.

Update from Commissioner Fried on Agricultural Assistance

Please find below information from Commissioner Fried on federal assistance programs available for those in the agriculture industry:

With continued questions about federal assistance for the agriculture industry, we are providing this update on current aid programs and some of the ways we at FDACS are working for you during this difficult time.

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

•       PPP loans are designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll and the SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

•       All agriculture businesses are eligible as long as size standards are met. To learn more and apply today, please visit: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sba.gov_paycheckprotection&d=DwIFaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=f3lfR0AwRwDpfvASMTBYig&m=HjmfUXzYibIi7f0K_F_JTcsU-Ws2f3GLsturBbOPy1w&s=A9kR2TkzRvg6eWD-pjesgjM6K8lQSv7W1DoCp6NDP2c&e=

We are continuing to work with Senator Marco Rubio’s office to ask the SBA to temporarily allow the agriculture sector to apply for EIDL loans during this current crisis.

•       Until this eligibility is clarified for farmers, ranchers, and nursery operations, only small aquaculture operations, small agriculture cooperatives, and agriculture-dependent entities, such as restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, packinghouses, and distributors, are eligible for EIDL if size standards are met.

Following the passage of the CARES Act, which provided $9.5 billion to directly support the agriculture industry impacted by COVID-19, I also called on Secretary Perdue to move swiftly on establishing USDA programs to get this much-needed assistance into the hands of farmers as well as to immediately exercise his agency’s Section 32 purchasing authority to help Florida producers struggling to move perishable products due to the closure of many restaurants and other food service establishments.

We have welcomed the updated guidance from the Department of State expanding the scope of H-2A processing. I want to make sure you saw that the USDA heard our calls for crop insurance flexibilities, which you can learn more about here.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.fdacs.gov_News-2DEvents_Press-2DReleases_2020-2DPress-2DReleases_Commissioner-2DFried-2DAdvising-2DFarmers-2Dto-2DUtilize-2DNew-2DFlexibilities-2Don-2DCrop-2DInsurance-2DDue-2Dto-2DCOVID-2D19&d=DwIFaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=f3lfR0AwRwDpfvASMTBYig&m=HjmfUXzYibIi7f0K_F_JTcsU-Ws2f3GLsturBbOPy1w&s=1_grkOjreegn0epFqcUhdj9Z3di1Le90kLbG7IUWQ8A&e=

We will be sure to pass along more information on USDA assistance as it becomes available. In the meantime, we encourage all producers to keep track of all data pertaining to losses/disruptions during this time in anticipation of these programs.

We at FDACS are fighting every day for Florida’s agriculture industry and consumers, advocating for the support and policy changes needed during this challenging time. Please do not hesitate to reach out your regional director (contact information below) with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for all that you are doing,

Nikki Fried

Stephanie McClung Cardozo

Director, External Affairs

Email: Stephanie.McClung@fdacs.gov

Phone: (850) 631-1447

Katherine Goletz

Deputy Director, External Affairs

Email: Katherine.Goletz@fdacs.gov

Phone: (850) 544-1309

Danielle Price

Regional Director – NE Florida, External Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion

Email: Danielle.Price@fdacs.gov

Phone: (850) 404-4987

Helen Miller

Regional Director – Space Coast, External Affairs

Email: Helen.Miller@fdacs.gov

Phone: (850) 766-8466

Alan Brock

Regional Director – Southwest Florida, External Affairs

Email: Alan.Brock@fdacs.gov

Phone: (850) 688-2082

Ricardo Alvarez

Regional Director – South Florida, External Affairs

Email: Ricardo.Alvarez@fdacs.gov

Phone: (850) 766-8583

Dick Crockett

Regional Director – NW Florida, External Affairs Rural Outreach

Email: richard.crockett@fdacs.gov

Phone: (863) 673-1013

Ed Rodriguez

Veterans Affairs Director

Email: Ed.Rodriguez@fdacs.gov

Phone: (850) 766-8582

Families First Coronavirus Response Act Employer Information

Temporary Rule: Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act 

On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective April 1, 2020.  For more information, see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/ffcra.

FFCRA will help the United States combat and defeat COVID-19 by reimbursing American private employers that have fewer than 500 employees with tax credits for the cost of providing employees with paid leave taken for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The legislation will ensure that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus, while at the same time reimbursing businesses.

The following poster must be displayed in the workplace or emailed to those who are working from home.

English:  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf

Spanish:  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/Pandemic/1422-spanish.pdf

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.  The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020.

Generally, the Act provides that covered employers must provide to all employees:

• Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined (pursuant to Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a health care provider), and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; or
• Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because the employee is unable to work because of a bona fide need to care for an individual subject to quarantine (pursuant to Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a health care provider), or care for a child (under 18 years of age) whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19, and/or the employee is experiencing a substantially similar condition as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor.

A covered employer must provide to employees that it has employed for at least 30 days:

• Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay where an employee is unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.

Covered Employers: The paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the FFCRA apply to certain public employers, and private employers with fewer than 500 employees.[4] Most employees of the federal government are covered by Title II of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which was not amended by this Act, and are therefore not covered by the expanded family and medical leave provisions of the FFCRA. However, federal employees covered by Title II of the Family and Medical Leave Act are covered by the paid sick leave provision. 

Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may qualify for exemption from the requirement to provide leave due to school closings or child care unavailability if the leave requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.

To elect this small business exemption, you should document why your business with fewer than 50 employees meets the criteria set forth by the Department, which will be addressed in more detail in forthcoming regulations.

Qualifying Reasons for Leave:

Under the FFCRA, an employee qualifies for paid sick time if the employee is unable to work (or unable to telework) due to a need for leave because the employee:

1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
2. has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;
3. is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
4. is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2);
5. is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19; or
6. is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Treasury.

Under the FFCRA, an employee qualifies for expanded family leave if the employee is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19.

Duration of Leave:

For reasons (1)-(4) and (6): A full-time employee is eligible for up to 80 hours of leave, and a part-time employee is eligible for the number of hours of leave that the employee works on average over a two-week period.

For reason (5): A full-time employee is eligible for up to 12 weeks of leave at 40 hours a week, and a part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period.

Calculation of Pay:

For leave reasons (1), (2), or (3): employees taking leave shall be paid at either their regular rate or the applicable minimum wage, whichever is higher, up to $511 per day and $5,110 in the aggregate (over a 2-week period).

For leave reasons (4) or (6): employees taking leave shall be paid at 2/3 their regular rate or 2/3 the applicable minimum wage, whichever is higher, up to $200 per day and $2,000 in the aggregate (over a 2-week period).

For leave reason (5): employees taking leave shall be paid at 2/3 their regular rate or 2/3 the applicable minimum wage, whichever is higher, up to $200 per day and $12,000 in the aggregate (over a 12-week period—two weeks of paid sick leave followed by up to 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave).

Tax Credits: Covered employers qualify for dollar-for-dollar reimbursement through tax credits for all qualifying wages paid under the FFCRA. Qualifying wages are those paid to an employee who takes leave under the Act for a qualifying reason, up to the appropriate per diem and aggregate payment caps. Applicable tax credits also extend to amounts paid or incurred to maintain health insurance coverage. For more information, please see the Department of the Treasury’s website.

Employer Notice: Each covered employer must post in a conspicuous place on its premises a notice of FFCRA requirements.

Prohibitions: Employers may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise discriminate against any employee who takes paid sick leave under the FFCRA and files a complaint or institutes a proceeding under or related to the FFCRA.

Penalties and Enforcement: Employers in violation of the first two weeks’ paid sick time or unlawful termination provisions of the FFCRA will be subject to the penalties and enforcement described in Sections 16 and 17 of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 29 U.S.C. 216; 217. Employers in violation of the provisions providing for up to an additional 10 weeks of paid leave to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) are subject to the enforcement provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Department will observe a temporary period of non-enforcement for the first 30 days after the Act takes effect, so long as the employer has acted reasonably and in good faith to comply with the Act.  For purposes of this non-enforcement position, “good faith” exists when violations are remedied and the employee is made whole as soon as practicable by the employer, the violations were not willful, and the Department receives a written commitment from the employer to comply with the Act in the future. 

For Questions and Answers about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act here is a site that can help.  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions

Loan/Grant Program to Help Small Businesses During Covid-19 Crisis

The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to
small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Nurseries can apply for this loan.

Here are some of the details:

The loan amounts will be forgiven as long as:
 The loan proceeds are used to cover payroll costs, and most mortgage interest, rent, and
utility costs over the 8 week period after the loan is made; and
 Employee and compensation levels are maintained.

Payroll costs are capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee. Due to likely
high subscription, it is anticipated that not more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for
non-payroll costs.

Loan payments will be deferred for 6 months.  Interest rate is 1%.

Applications start April 3, 2020.  Small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for and
receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA
lenders.

Starting April 10, 2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can
apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through
existing SBA lenders.

Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans as soon as they are
approved and enrolled in the program.

You can apply through any existing SBA lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating. Visit www.sba.gov for a list of SBA lenders.

For more information on the PPP here is a link: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP--Fact-Sheet.pdf

Florida Agricultural Exemption Essential Worker Letter for Farms

Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a stay-at-home order for the next 30 days.  It states that all non-essential workers stay home in Florida.  Agriculture, specifically nursery and greenhouse work is exempt from this order.  You can supply your employees with a letter that specifies the exemption that they can carry with them to and from work.  Here is a link that supplies you with a template   

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cqcsvac39osewd4/Draft%20Essential%20Worker%20Movement%20Letter%20April%202020.docx?dl=0

Here is a list of essential Food and Agriculture Exemptions to the order.  Use one of these employment sectors for your letter.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

• Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other retail (including unattended and vending) that sells human food, animal/pet food and pet supply, and beverage products, including retail customer support service and information technology support staff necessary for online orders, pickup and delivery.

• Restaurant carry-out and quick serve food operations, including dark kitchen and food prep centers, and carryout and delivery food employees.

• Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed in food ingredient production and processing facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging.

• Farmers, farm workers, and agribusiness support services to include those employed in auction and sales: grain and oilseed handling, processing and distribution; animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically and for export.

• Farmers, farm workers, support service workers, and their supplier employees to include those engaged in producing and harvesting field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; biodiesel and renewable diesel facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs.

• Employees and firms supporting the distribution of food, feed, and beverage and ingredients used in these products, including warehouse workers, vendor- managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers.

• Workers supporting the sanitation and pest control of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail.

• Employees in cafeterias used to feed employees, particularly employee populations sheltered against COVID-19.

• Workers in animal diagnostic and food testing laboratories in private industries and in institutions of higher education.

• Government, private, and non-governmental organizations’ workers essential for food assistance programs (including school lunch programs) and government payments.

• Employees of companies engaged in the production, storage, transport, and distribution of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including seeds, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids.

• Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health (including those involved in supporting emergency veterinary or livestock services); raising of animals for food; animal production operations; livestock markets; slaughter and packing plants, manufacturers, renderers, and associated regulatory and government workforce.

• Transportation supporting animal agricultural industries, including movement of animal medical and reproductive supplies and materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, live animals, animal by-products, and deceased animals for disposal.

• Workers who support sawmills and the manufacture and distribution of fiber and forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood and fiber products.

• Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for agricultural production and distribution.