COVID-19 Update 9/3/2020
Strawberry pre-plant operations have started, transplanting is just around the corner and fall will be here soon. The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging through our communities, and our thoughts and prayers are with the more than 2,000 North Carolinians, that have lost their lives due to the disease. COVID-19 also has brought unique challenges to farming and markets, and they are far from over.All this is reason enough for us to revive our COVID-19 updates to help you through the pandemic. We will post new updates around strawberries, farming, and COVID-19 every week on Thursday.
One highlight today is the interview with Jim Warenda, President of the NC Strawberry Association on the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to the farming community.
Around the Farm
- Listen to an interview with Jim Warenda on the unique challenges of the pandemic and long-standing disruption of markets and supply chains for farm products. Jim Warenda is a farmer and the President of the NC Strawberry Association:
- Updated NC State Extension Strawberry Pre-Plant and Fumigation information and webinar recording.
New This Week
- RAFI-USA, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Feeding the Carolinas, the North Carolina Alliance for Health, MomsRising, and the North Carolina Rural Center will host Farms, Food, and Hunger: A Conversation with Candidates on September 9, 2020, 7–8:30 p.m. You can register at this link.
- Farming presents many challenges and so often, these challenges are out of a farmer’s control. Learn more about RAFI-USA’s Farmer Hotline. The Hotline can be reached at 866-586-6746, and is staffed Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m EST.
Financial Resources
Agriculture Business qualifies for SBA Disaster Loans up to $150,000:- SBA Make Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to US Agricultural Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
- Agriculture Businesses Including Black Farmers Can Qualify for SBA Disaster Loans of up to 150,000
RAFI-USA Grants $130,500 to Support Members of its Farmers of Color Network
COVID-19 Resources
Farmworker Health Clinics in North Carolina (Available in English and Spanish)
SARS-CoV-2 Virus Transmission Poster
COVID-19 Food Safety Resources
Daily COVID-19 Update as of 9/03/2020
- North Carolina (10:20 p.m. EST): 172,209 positive/ 2,803 deaths
- USA: (9:28 p.m. EST): 6,149,265 positive/ 186,785 deaths
- World (9:28 p.m. EST): 26,208,690 positive/ 867,219 deaths
Other Helpful Resources
COVID-19: Farming Resources, NC State Extension
Food Safety, NC State Extension
COVID-19 Resources and Information, NC State Extension
This post was prepared by Rania Hassan and Mark Hoffmann
