HomeArchive by Category "Coronavirus"

Farm workers can apply in-person for the Farm and Food Workers Relief Program at 3 sites in New York in October

by Elizabeth Higgins, Eastern NY Commercial Hort Program, CCE

Frontline farm workers and meat packing workers who were employed sometime between January 27, 2020 and May 11, 2023 are eligible to receive a $600 Farm and Food Workers Relief Program payment from the federal government.  Although many workers have received this payment already, there are still eligible workers in New York.  Are any of them on your farm?  The window of opportunity to apply for these funds is closing and we want to help you help your workers receive this benefit.

The Agricultural Workforce Development Council of New York State is collaborating with PASA (Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Association) to offer three in-person events in New York State at the end of October where workers can sign up for the program in person.  They will be:

  1. Western, NY: October 22 (10-4) and October 23 (9-4) at the Wallington Fire Department, 7863 Ridge Road, Sodus, NY 14551
  2. Capitol District, NY: October 25 (9-4) at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 392 Old Schuylerville Rd, Greenwich, NY 12834
  3. Hudson Valley, NY: October 26 (9-4) at the CCE Ulster County office, 232 Plaza Rd, Kingston, NY 12401

Applicants must provide acceptable (1) photo identification and (2) proof of employment as a farm worker or meatpacking worker within the U.S. and its territories during the period between January 27, 2020 and May 11, 2023.  Youth (under the age of 18) are eligible for a relief payment. Youth must provide the same documentation as described below.

Acceptable photo identification includes:

  • State-issued driver’s license or identification
  • Consular- or government-issued identification (foreign or domestic)
  • H2A Visa or H2B Visa
  • Employer-issued identification

Acceptable proof of employment includes:

  • W-2 tax form from 2020, 2021, or 2022
  • Pay stub that pre-dates May 11, 2023
  • Employment contract
  • Letter from an employer, including employee name, occupation, work performed, time period employed, and employer signature
  • H2A Visa or H2B Visa

PASA staff will be on-hand to enroll eligible workers who have not yet received their federal payments.  At these events, workers will receive a payment card, so it will be beneficial for workers who do not maintain US bank accounts.

You can learn more about the program and confirm eligibility at www.farmworkers.org.  If you cannot make an in-person event you can still apply for the program online at that website.  You can also check the status of your application if you have already applied.

I have heard from farms who said that their employees applied but did not hear back.  According to PASA they have had applications that were missing information but did not have a good contact number to reach the applicant, so they advised contacting them directly as it is possible that the worker is eligible but there is an error in the application.  If you have questions about the program, contact PASA at (833) 469-3397 or by email at support@pasafarming.org.

$600 COVID relief funds still available for farm employees

New York employers should direct employees to Pasa’s Farm and Food Workers Relief Program (farmworkers.com) to receive their $600 relief payment.

The U.S. Government budgeted $667 million in grant funding “to defray worker expenses incurred preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.” USDA distributed the funds to fourteen nonprofit organizations, find more details at this USDA site. The funds are supposed to be distributed to frontline farm and food employees who worked in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. For New York farmers, a trusted partner to direct employees to receive this payment is Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

Pasa set up a dedicated website to administer the Farm and Food Workers Relief Program. NY employers should direct employees to this website farmworkers.com to access this payment if they are eligible. All details about eligibility and other matters can be found at the Pasa site, but it is minimal, consisting of photo identification and proof of employment.

Pasa’s team of Customer Support associates are available for assistance via email at support@pasafarming.org (English) and aypoyo@pasafarming.org (Español). You can also reach them via phone toll free at (833) 469-3397 during the following hours:

Monday, 4–8 pm (EDT)
Tuesday, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm (EDT)
Wednesday, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm; 4–8 pm (EDT)

Pasa also developed a flyer about the program in English and Spanish, download here: Pasa FFWR Flyer – English – Spanish

Cornell Agricultural Workforce Logo

H-2A Employees Entering the U.S. Must Continue to Prove They Are Vaccinated

The Department of Homeland Security yesterday clarifying that H-2A workers, and other travelers to the U.S., must continue to prove they are vaccinated. Basics and a link with details follows:
“Non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or non-essential reasons, must continue to:
  • verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status;
  • provide, upon request, proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the CDC website;
  • present a valid Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document, such as a valid passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, or Enhanced Tribal Card; and,
  • be prepared to present any other relevant documents requested by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer during a border inspection.”
DHS Extends COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Non-U.S. Travelers Entering the United States via Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals