COVID-19 Information and Support for Maine Farmers
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COVID-19 Information
- Maine CDC COVID-19 page
- COVID testing standing order in Maine
- UMaine Extension COVID-19 support page
- Navigating COVID Relief
Food Safety Standard Operating Procedures for Farms
- DACF COVID-19 Information for Agriculture and Food Businesses (outlines agricultural essential services)
- Recommended Steps for Farm Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF)
- DOL Guidance for Agricultural Employers with housing in Maine for Addressing COVID-19
- US DOL guidance to help agricultural workers
- DACF recommendations for Physical Distancing
- Mask patterns and guidance (Google Doc)
- Standard Operating Procedures:
- USDA Food Safety and Corona and FDA food safety and corona
- PPE and Other Farm Supplies for COVID-19
- Best Management Practices for U-Pick
- EPA list of Products effective for killing
- UMaine Extension COVID-19 support page
- UVM resource page for farmers
Financing
- Agriculture and Food Processing Infrastructure Reimbursement Program is offering grants from $1,000 to up to $100,000 in reimbursements to Maine farms and food producers and supply chain businesses that have recently invested in infrastructure purchases or projects due to market disruptions caused by COVID-19 and in response to the public health emergency. This is a first-come, first-served grant. The application deadline with ALL receipts is Friday, December 18, 2020, by 5 pm ET. See the Coastal Enterprises, Inc. website for more details.
- Financing during COVID-19 (Google Doc), MOFGA resource- email nlindholm@mofga.org for additional information
- Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance
- Farmers’ Legal Action Group guide to COVID-19 Relief
- Maine Farm Emergency Grant
- Farmers’ Legal Action Group guide to COVID-19 Relief
- Contact your local FSA office for loan and servicing options.
- FSA Farm Loans (PDF)
- FSA Loan Servicing (PDF)
- FSA Office Locator
- Maine Agricultural Mediation Program helps farmers communicate with their lenders
Employment and legal issues
- Department of Labor Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- Paycheck protection program (PDF) through the SBA
- CARES act guide
- Employee legal guidance
- What Farms Need to Know: COVID-19 and Unemployment (PDF)
- What Farms Need to Know: COVID-19 Employee Sick Time and Leave (PDF)
Farmer Networking
- Farmer to farmer suggestions for navigating COVID-19
- ME veg and berry listserv to coordinate and connect with other farmers
Agricultural Lab Services
Marketing
- Marketing during COVID-19 (Google Doc), MOFGA resource, email nlindholm@mofga.org for additions
- Maine Farm and Seafood Products Directory
- E-commerce and alternative marketing resources
- Direct Sales Software Platforms
Stress, Mental Health, and Well-Being
- 211 — to find counselors who can speak with you
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK (8255)
- Crisis Text Line: Text “CONNECT” to 74174
- Maine Agricultural Mediation Program
- Recognizing the Signs of Farm Family Stress
- UMaine AgrAbility Resources
- FarmAid — available M-F, 9-5 1-800-FARM-AID (1.800.327.6243)
- FarmStrong
Tools
- Bulletin #1064, Standard Operating Procedures and Their Use on Farms and a template for writing an SOP (PDF)
- Bulletin #1065, How Can Livestock Farmers Prepare for the Coronavirus Outbreak?
- Bulletin #1066, Standard Operating Procedures on Your Dairy Farm: Prepare Now!
- Farm Crisis Operations Planning Tool
- Farmer’s Response to Disease Outbreaks Like COVID-19
- Prioritized Farm Chore Checklist (fillable PDF)