COVID CHANGES Pt 2
I’m Bob Larson. The emergency COVID restrictions for seasonal farmworker housing need to be repealed, or at least addressed with harvest season fast approaching.
WAFLA and the Washington Farm Bureau have sent that request to Governor Inslee and are waiting to hear back.
Farm Bureau CEO John Stuhlmiller says ag has been, for the most part, left out of the conversation …
STUHLMILLER … “They kind of gave some relief with vaccinations, but it wasn’t abundantly clear in the field versus housing, and these temporary worker housing rules had a little bit of play outside of just the housing situation. So, that’s where we need clarification and that’s what we’re asking for.”
And ag employers, Stuhlmiller says are ready to go …
STUHLMILLER … “We just said, set ‘em aside, and let’s go back to the basic health standards that we know. We’re high enough in the vaccination rate, low enough in the COVID rates, let us do what we need to do to make sure that farmworkers stay safe and the food is provided to the table. So that’s, we did ask that and we’ll see what response we get … if any.”
At this point, Stuhlmiller says the farmers just want answers …
STUHLMILLER … “So, everybody’s wanting to get at it and say we’re past this crisis moment, whatever that is, but they’re looking to us now to say, what should we do, you know. Basically, our advice is you have to abide by those rules until the Governor sets them aside.”
Stuhlmiller says after the governor announced a target date of June 30th for businesses to fully reopen, the rules are unnecessary.
