In an ongoing effort to bring awareness and educate folks in the cotton industry, Senator Melissa Hurtado reminds folks of the precautions everyone should take during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her messaging is simple, follow the recommended practices to stay safe, such as:

Do your part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and staying safe. Please share these videos with your family, friends, and employees through social media and/or incorporate the videos into your trainings. The videos are both in English and Spanish.

We would like to give a very special thank you to Senator Melissa Hurtado for joining CCGGA on this important effort to keep everyone safe!

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pink Bollworm Program has released its report for monitoring Silverleaf Whitefly. The program monitored for whitefly and other cotton pests from September 7, 2020 to September 18, 2020.  Aphids and whitefly continue to increase.  Growers must remain vigilant against these pests. NO STICKY COTTON! For the full report, please follow the link below.

Silverleaf Whitefly Monitoring Report

As you all know by now, Proposition 15 is on the ballot this year in November, and if passed would create $12.5 billion in new taxes, the largest tax hike in our state’s history.  It would do so by eliminating the 1% cap on property taxes for businesses throughout the state, including agricultural processing facilities such as cotton gins.  In addition, it would trigger annual reassessments for agricultural fixtures, such as irrigation systems, solar installations on farms and processors, barns, and even permanent crop trees and vines.

In a year like 2020, it is difficult to fathom we are facing something like Proposition 15.  For cotton growers and ginners, the time to take a stand is right now! We need every member to contribute!

Therefore, we are respectfully asking each of our members to send us a check for $500 to $1,000 to help specifically on this effort.

Please fill out the attached form and make the check payable to Alliance of California’s Farmers and Ranchers and mail it back to our office at 1785 N. Fine Avenue, Fresno, California, 93727.  If you should have any questions, please call our office at (559)252-0684.

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 1383 (Jackson), which greatly expands employee job protected leave.  Under current law, employers with over 50 employees are subject to the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). CFRA and the FMLA can be taken in increments as small as one hour at a time, and provide employees with twelve weeks of unpaid, job protected leave taken:

• for the birth of a son or daughter, and to bond with the newborn child;
• for the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care, and to bond with that child;
• to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent – but not a parent “in-law”) with a serious health condition;
• for medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition; or
• for qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is on covered active duty or call to covered active duty status as a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Regular Armed Forces.

SB 1383 expands CFRA by applying the 12 weeks of leave to all employers with five or more employees. An employee is only required to provide an employer with “reasonable notice,” and an employer must track the time off as “CFRA leave” or it may not count against the 12 weeks.

SB 1383 also changes requirements for qualifying for CFRA leave by amending the definition of family member for whom the employee can take leave by including a child of a domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner. Additionally, SB 1383 removes the requirement that a “child” be under the age of 18 or a dependent adult child. This means that the FMLA and CFRA’s qualifying requirements no longer conform with each other and an employee of an employer with 50 or more employees could take 3 months of leave under CFRA to care for a domestic partner, child of a domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling, return to work, and then take another 3 months off under FMLA for the employee’s own medical condition or the medical condition of a spouse, child or parent or for the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child.   The leave mandated under SB 1383 is enforced through a private right of action that includes compensatory damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. Any employee who believes an employer did not properly administer the leave, interfered with the leave, or denied the leave, can commence litigation.   The requirements of SB 1383 will go into effect on January 1, 2021.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced up to an additional $14 billion dollars for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will begin September 21st and run through December 11, 2020.  “America’s agriculture communities are resilient, but still face many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Secretary Perdue. “We listened to feedback received from farmers, ranchers and agricultural organizations about the impact of the pandemic on our nations’ farms and ranches, and we developed a program to better meet the needs of those impacted.”  Producers can apply for CFAP 2 at USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices. This program provides financial assistance that gives producers the ability to absorb increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Producers will be compensated for ongoing market disruptions and assisted with the associated marketing costs.  CFAP 2 payments will be made for three categories of commodities – Price Trigger Commodities, Flat-rate Crops and Sales Commodities.

Price Trigger Commodities
Price trigger commodities are major commodities that meet a minimum 5-percent price decline over a specified period of time. Eligible price trigger crops include barley, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, upland cotton, and all classes of wheat. Payments will be based on 2020 planted acres of the crop, excluding prevented planting and experimental acres. Payments for price trigger crops will be the greater of: 1) the eligible acres multiplied by a payment rate of $15 per acre; or 2) the eligible acres multiplied by a nationwide crop marketing percentage, multiplied by a crop-specific payment rate, and then by the producer’s weighted 2020 Actual Production History (APH) approved yield. If the APH is not available, 85 percent of the 2019 Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Option (ARC-CO) benchmark yield for that crop will be used.

Flat-rate Crops
Crops that either do not meet the 5-percent price decline trigger or do not have data available to calculate a price change will have payments calculated based on eligible 2020 acres multiplied by $15 per acre. These crops include alfalfa, extra-long staple (ELS) cotton, oats, peanuts, rice, hemp, millet, mustard, safflower, sesame, triticale, rapeseed, and several others.

Eligibility
There is a payment limitation of $250,000 per person or entity for all commodities combined. Applicants who are corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships may qualify for additional payment limits when members actively provide personal labor or personal management for the farming operation. In addition, this special payment limitation provision has been expanded to include trusts and estates for both CFAP 1 and 2.

Producers will also have to certify they meet the Adjusted Gross Income limitation of $900,000 unless at least 75 percent or more of their income is derived from farming, ranching or forestry-related activities. Producers must also be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions.

Applying for Assistance
Producers can apply for assistance beginning Sept. 21, 2020. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 11, 2020.  Additional information and application forms can be found at farmers.gov/cfap. Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested. All other eligibility forms, such as those related to adjusted gross income and payment information, can be downloaded from farmers.gov/cfap/apply. For existing FSA customers, including those who participated in CFAP 1, many documents are likely already on file. Producers should check with FSA county office to see if any of the forms need to be updated.  Customers seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages with the team at the FSA county office.

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with our producers in the office, by phone and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced that the counties of Kings, Riverside and Tulare will participate in Housing for the Harvest, a program announced by Governor Gavin Newsom in July to provide temporary hotel housing options for farm and food processing employees to self-isolate if they are COVID-19 positive and do not require hospitalization, or have been exposed and cannot properly self-isolate at home. Six counties are now participating in Housing for the Harvest: Kings, Riverside, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Fresno and San Joaquin.

The state is securing hotel rooms in participating counties, with local governments identifying administrators to manage the program and local community organizations to provide additional services, like meals, wellness checks and in-language assistance. Local administrators will serve as a point of contact for eligible workers. “Counties across the state are stepping up to provide a safe, temporary housing solution to protect agricultural workers who need to isolate,” said CDFA secretary Karen Ross. “These hardworking men and women are on the front lines of the pandemic and it is critical that we protect them, their families, and local communities.”

Housing for the Harvest will ultimately be made available statewide and provide opt-in housing support for any counties or regions that are interested. California has received FEMA approval for this program during the COVID-19 pandemic and will seek federal reimbursement for 75 percent of hotel costs.

Kings County
Kings County has partnered with Kings Community Action Organization (KCAO) to administer Housing for the Harvest as part of Kings Cares. In addition to hotel quarantine support such as transportation, meals, wellness checks and laundry service, Kings County has allocated resources for financial assistance and additional support for family at home.  Farmworkers and food processing workers in Kings County who are in need of these service are urged to visit www.thehealthyharvest.org or www.cosechasana.org or call 559-710-2000. Please note that personal information gathered through this process will be kept confidential. For agricultural business on-site testing scheduling, please visit www.thehealthyharvest.org.

Riverside County

Riverside County’s Department of Housing, Homelessness Prevention and Workforce Solutions has partnered with the local TODEC Legal Center to manage Housing for the Harvest in the county. The Riverside program will include meals, food, transportation and direct financial assistance of $2,000 for each family participating in the program.  Farmworkers or food processing workers in Riverside County who are in need of these services are urged to contact the TODEC Legal Center at (888) 863-3291 or via email at campo@todec.org. Please note that personal information gathered through this process will be kept confidential.

Tulare County

Tulare County’s program will be administered by Proteus, Inc. in coordination with the county’s Community Care Coalition. Through additional efforts of coalition partners, supplemental services are being offered to support families at home. The Central Valley Community Foundation has formed a regional Healthy Harvest program and will provide additional funding for support services and outreach. These partnerships are crucial to ensure needed outreach and investment in local communities.

Farmworkers and food processing workers in Tulare County who are in need of these services are urged to visit www.thehealthyharvest.org or www.cosechasana.org or call 559-710-2000. Please note that personal information gathered through this process will be kept confidential. For agricultural business on-site testing scheduling, please visit www.thehealthyharvest.org. We will continue to update you as more counties come on line.

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is excited to officially move into phase two and is recruiting new U.S. growers for enrollment. The Trust Protocol works to ensure the future of U.S. cotton by helping growers tell their sustainability story and ultimately assure Brands and Retailers that they can purchase U.S. Cotton with even greater confidence, knowing that it is grown more sustainably and verified by third-party audit.

Please note that beginning September 29 and running through October 15, separate sessions will begin for growers in providing information regarding signup for this important program.  The webinars will provide details on why the Trust Protocol is critical in a period of ever greater supply chain scrutiny and how quick and easy it is for growers to join the Trust Protocol.

The link below will provide a schedule of these webinars and allow you to register.   Also beginning tomorrow, the Trust Protocol is running webinars through September 25 to provide details and help gins and coops in signing up for the Trust Protocol.  Growers are welcome to attend these sessions as well.  Please register to learn more about the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.   Join us by clicking one of the times below that fits your schedule, and add it to your calendar.

All the information can be found by clicking the button below.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pink Bollworm Program has released its report for monitoring Silverleaf Whitefly. The program monitored for whitefly and other cotton pests from August 24, 2020 to September 4, 2020.  Whitefly on the increase.  Stay vigilant – NO STICKY COTTON! For the full report, please follow the links below.

Date:​ September 10, 2020

To:​ Members

From:​ Priscilla Rodriguez, Director of Regulatory Affairs

Subject:​IRS Paid Sick Leave Credit

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The Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA) required certain employers to provide employees with up to a combined 12 weeks of paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19 through December 31, 2020. The employer benefit included in the FFCRA is a refundable tax credit – Paid Sick Leave Credit for eligible employers with fewer than 500 employees.

In anticipation of receiving the credit eligible employers can funds qualified leave wages and allocable qualified health care expenses and employers share of Medicare taxes on the qualified leave wages to its employees in a calendar quarter by reducing federal tax deposits for that quarter. You must account for the reduction in deposits on the Form 941 for the quarter.

The paid sick leave credit and paid family leave credit are available for eligible employers who pay qualified sick leave wages and/or qualified family leave wages from 4/1/2020 through 12/31/2020.Eligible employers may claim the tax credit if the employee is unable to work or telework due to for qualified reasons related to COVID-19.

Paid Leave Refundable Credit:

• Qualified paid leave provided between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020
• Fully refundable tax credit
• Includes the eligible employer’s share of Medicare tax
• Includes allocable cost of maintaining health insurance coverage
• Qualified Leave Wages are not subject to the employer portion of social security tax

As mentioned, you can claim the paid sick leave credit on the Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns, Form 941 for wages, qualified health care expenses and eligible medicare tax by reducing federal employment tax deposits. Be sure to maintain records and documents pertaining to the leave and copies of the form 941. If needed, you may also claim an advanced credit by filing IRS form 7200. For more information, attached is a one pager with additional information on the leave credits and you can find a IRS FAQ on the topic here. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to our office at (559)455-9272.

Note: If you have received the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) you cannot claim the credit for the same wages.

Due to a combination of a Valley-wide high-wind blowing dust event and ongoing smoke impacts from wildfires burning across the region, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) is experiencing highly elevated particulate matter exceedances today, September 8, 2020, with continued high-wind impacts extending into tomorrow, September 9, 2020. As they have in the past, the Air District is asking for the assistance of the agricultural community in responding to this issue by refraining from conducting any dust generating activities that can feasibly be delayed until after the event has subsided. Thank you for your assistance as the Air District attempts to mitigate the impacts from this exceptional event. For more information, contact the District’s Public Outreach Office at (559-230-6000).