Important News from USDA for anyone interested in Local Meat!

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2021 – Citing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent supply chain disruptions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through the Build Back Better initiative. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. Today's announcement supports the Biden Administration's broader work on strengthening the resilience of critical supply chains as directed by Executive Order 14017 America's Supply Chains. Funding is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act and earlier pandemic assistance such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Secretary Vilsack was also named co-chair of the Administration's new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. The Task Force will provide a whole of government response to address near-term supply chain challenges to the economic recovery. The Task Force will convene stakeholders to diagnose problems and surface solutions—large and small, public or private—that could help alleviate bottlenecks and supply constraints related to the economy's reopening after the Administration's historic vaccination and economic relief efforts.

USDA will invest more than $4 billion to strengthen the food system, support food production, improved processing, investments in distribution and aggregation, and market opportunities. Through the Build Back Better initiative, USDA will help to ensure the food system of the future is fair, competitive, distributed, and resilient; supports health with access to healthy, affordable food; ensures growers and workers receive a greater share of the food dollar; and advances equity as well as climate resilience and mitigation. While the Build Back Better initiative addresses near- and long-term issues, recent events have exposed the immediate need for action. With attention to competition and investments in additional small- and medium-sized meat processing capacity, the Build Back Better initiative will spur economic opportunity while increasing resilience and certainty for producers and consumers alike.

“The COVID-19 pandemic led to massive disruption for growers and food workers. It exposed a food system that was rigid, consolidated, and fragile. Meanwhile, those growing, processing and preparing our food are earning less each year in a system that rewards size over all else,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Build Back Better initiative will make meaningful investments to build a food system that is more resilient against shocks, delivers greater value to growers and workers, and offers consumers an affordable selection of healthy food produced and sourced locally and regionally by farmers and processors from diverse backgrounds. I am confident USDA's investments will spur billions more in leveraged funding from the private sector and others as this initiative gains traction across the country. I look forward to getting to work as co-chair of the new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and help to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to address the short-term supply challenges our country faces as it recovers.”

The Build Back Better Initiative will strengthen and transform critical parts of the U.S. food system. As it makes investments through this initiative, USDA will also seek to increase transparency and competition with attention to how certain types of conduct in the livestock markets and the meat processing sector have resulted in thinly-traded markets and unfair treatment of some farmers, ranchers and small processors. Among other investments in the food system and food supply chain, Build Back Better will specifically address the shortage of small meat processing facilities across the country as well as the necessary local and regional food system infrastructure needed to support them.

Funding announcements under the Build Back Better initiative will include a mix of grants, loans, and innovative financing mechanisms for the following priorities, each of which includes mechanisms to tackle the climate crisis and help communities that have been left behind, including:

1. Food Production: Food production relies on growers, including farmers and ranchers, workers, and critical inputs. But a diminishing share of the food dollar goes to these essential workers. USDA will invest in the current and future generation of food producers and workers throughout the food system with direct assistance, grants, training and technical assistance, and more.
2. Food Processing: The pandemic highlighted challenges with consolidated processing capacity. It created supply bottlenecks, which led to a drop in effective plant and slaughter capacity. Small and midsize farmers often struggled to compete for processing access. USDA will make investments to support new and expanded regional processing capacity.
3. Food Distribution & Aggregation: Food aggregation and distribution relies on people working together throughout the food system and having the right infrastructure to gather, move and hold the food where and when it is needed. This system was stressed during the pandemic due to long shipping distances and lack of investment in local and regional capacity. USDA will make investments in food system infrastructure that can remain resilient, flexible and responsive.
4. Markets & Consumers: The U.S. spends more on health care and less on food than any other high-income nation; yet the U.S. has higher rates of diet-related illness and a lower life expectancy than those nations. At the same time, many socially disadvantaged and small and mid-sized producers do not have equitable access to markets. USDA will support new and expanded access to markets for a diversity of growers while helping eaters access healthy foods.

USDA will continue to make announcements through the Build Back Better initiative in the months to come. Today's announcement is in addition to the $1 billion announced last week to purchase healthy food for food insecure Americans and build food bank capacity, putting the total announced thus far at more than $5 billion.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America's food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Video Series Offers Practical Advice for Producers

The GOT SHEEP? series made its debut on YouTube last week in an effort to assist American sheep producers with management considerations for their flocks.

The videos take an interactive approach and include a panel discussion at the end of each video. Content is provided by Bridger Feuz, Dr. Whit Stewart, Hudson Hill and Barton Stam. Two videos in the last week of May touched on economic tools and essential record keeping for sheep producers. This week's videos – scheduled to be posted today – include discussions on ewe and ram genetic considerations, as well as pasture, range and forage insurance.

Click Here for the GOT SHEEP? YouTube channel.

This is from Mendocino County:

Mendocino County Opens up COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility /// Condado de Mendocino abre la elegibilidad para vacuna COVID-19

Post Date: 03/02/2021 10:30 AM

Starting March 1, 2021, Mendocino County Public Health will be opening up COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to the following groups, as directed by the state:

• We are continuing to vaccinate all tiers of Phase 1A.
• We are opening up vaccination eligibility to all tiers of Phase 1B, including food, agriculture, logging, education and childcare (including school bus drivers), emergency services, those over the age of 65, and lodging.
• We are opening up eligibility to those between the ages of 16 and 64 with the following comorbidities or disabilities:

-Chronic Kidney Disease (stage 4 or over)

-Chronic Lung Disease (oxygen dependent)

-Cancer

-Heart disease

-Immunocompromised State (from chemotherapy, or other medical conditions)

-Diabetes (with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%)

-Severe Obesity (with a Body Mass Index of >40)

-Sickle Cell Disease

-Pregnancy

-Chronic Disabilities (physical or mental)

Clinicians may use their judgment and include others who would be more vulnerable to COVID-19, or those whose condition would cause more difficulty caring for them if they contracted COVID-19.

If you fit the comorbidity or disability criteria above, please sign up for a county or hospital-hosted vaccination event. A doctors note with Physician letterhead will be required stating that you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine based on health condition. County-hosted vaccination events are tier-specific or occupation-specific, so be sure to only sign up for an event that you are eligible for. 

If you are eligible and sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine, please bring proof of eligibility such as a drivers license, a letter with your name and address, something that shows your age, a letter from your health care provider regarding health condition, something that shows you work in one of the occupational categories such as a pay stub, business card, or letter from supervisor.

Vaccinations are confidential and do not affect immigration status.

"Since our vaccine supply is increasing, this is the time to get vaccinated," explained County Health Officer, Dr. Andy Coren. "It is a massive effort, and the County is working diligently with our partners to vaccinate as many people as we can efficiently and safely. It will take time, but you'll have your turn.  Sign up at MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255."

Our vaccines are reserved for those who live in Mendocino County, or those who work in Mendocino County. Do NOT sign up for any vaccination event that you are not eligible for. Proof of eligibility is required, and you WILL be turned away if you do not qualify.

To find out which state-established vaccination tier you belong to, please visit: https://myturn.ca.gov/

To view all upcoming county-hosted COVID-19 vaccination events and their eligibility requirements, please visit: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/community/novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccinations/vaccination-clinics

_____________________________________________________________

A partir del 1 de marzo de 2021, el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Mendocino abrirá la elegibilidad para la vacuna COVID-19 a los siguientes grupos, según lo indica el estado:

• Seguimos vacunando todos los niveles de la Fase 1A.
• Estamos abriendo la elegibilidad de vacunación a todos los niveles de la Fase 1B, incluidos alimentos, agricultura, tala, educación y cuidado infantil (incluidos los conductores de autobuses escolares), servicios de emergencia, mayores de 65 años, y alojamiento.
• Estamos abriendo la elegibilidad para aquellos entre las edades de 16 y 64 con las siguientes comorbilidades o discapacidades:

-Enfermedad renal crónica (estado 4 o superior)

-Enfermedad pulmonar crónica (dependiente de oxígeno)

-Cáncer

-Enfermedades cardiacas

-Estado inmunodeprimido (por quimioterapia u otras condiciones médicas)

-Diabetes (con nivel de hemoglobina A1c superior al 7.5%)

-Obesidad severa (con un índice de masa corporal de >40)

-Anemia drepanocítica

-Embarazadas

-Discapacidades crónicas (físicas o mentales)

Los médicos pueden utilizar su criterio e incluir a otras personas que serían más vulnerables al COVID-19, o aquellas cuya condición causaría más dificultades para cuidarlos si contrajeran COVID-19.

Si cumple con los anteriores criterios de comorbilidad o discapacidad, regístrese para una jornada de vacunación organizada por el condado o el hospital. Necesitará una nota del médico con la hoja membretada del doctor que indique que usted es elegible para una vacuna COVID-19, según su estado de salud. Las jornadas de vacunación organizadas por el condado son específicos al nivel o la ocupación, así que asegúrese de solo registrarse en la jornada para la cual sea elegible.

Si es elegible y se registra para la vacuna COVID-19, traiga un comprobante de elegibilidad, como una licencia de conducir, una carta con su nombre y dirección, algo que muestre su edad, una carta de su proveedor de atención médica con respecto a su condición de salud, algo que muestre que trabaja en una de las categorías ocupacionales, como un talón de pago, una tarjeta de presentación o una carta de su supervisor.

Las vacunas son confidenciales y no afectan la situación migratoria.

"Dado que nuestro suministro de vacunas está aumentando, este es el momento de vacunarse", explicó el Dr. Andy Coren, Oficial de Salud del Condado. "Es un esfuerzo enorme, y el Condado está trabajando diligentemente con nuestros socios para vacunar a la mayor cantidad de personas posible de manera eficiente y segura. Tomará tiempo, pero tendrá su turno. Regístrese en MyTurn.ca.gov o llame al 833-422-4255".

Nuestras vacunas están reservadas para quienes viven en el Condado de Mendocino o para quienes trabajan en el Condado de Mendocino. NO se registre en ninguna jornada de vacunación para la cual no sea elegible. Es requerido un comprobante de elegibilidad, y SERÁ rechazado si no califica.

Para saber en qué nivel de vacunación establecido por el estado pertenece, visite: https://myturn.ca.gov/

Para ver todas las próximas jornadas de vacunación COVID-19 organizadas por el condado y sus requisitos de elegibilidad, visite: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/community/novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccinations/vaccination-clinics

Info below on a vaccination schedule. 

Mass vaccination clinic on Wednesday, March 3rd, 8:30 AM -1:30 PM at the Alex Rorabaugh Center (Grace Hudson School) | 1640 S. State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 

Due to the limited supplies, we are still following state and local public health guidelines on prioritizing those individuals in:

Phase IA, all tiers. We have moved on to Phase IB Tier 1 including those over 75 years old, EMS, School and Childcare Staff, and Food and Agricultural workers. The latter includes people directly involved in growing, harvesting, production, preparing, selling, cooking and serving food products as well as cannabis and lumber.

We will also accept persons ages 65 and older and those turning 65 this year. Only sign up if you qualify. 

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040d4eaeac2da3f94-covid1915

This is for a first dose appointment. If you already had your first dose, please ignore this email. If you are scheduled to get your 2^nd dose from Adventist Health, plan on coming to your appointment as you were instructed. No need to do anything else

Please bring your identification (driver's license etc.,) and pay stub, letter from your employer, or anything that shows where you work if qualifying as an essential worker in ag, food or childcare staff.

To make this as safe and as efficient as possible for our team and our community, we ask that you register for your time slot following the instructions on this form. 

Choose a time slot that works for you, then click "Sign-Up". Then click "Submit Sign-Up". You will get a confirmation email. You are not signed-up until you receive the confirmation email. If nothing happens when you click on "Sign-Up" that means the timeslot is full. Move on to the next time slot. You are not signed up until you receive a confirmation email or something that says. "Congrats, you are all signed up."

YOU ONLY NEED TO SIGN-UP FOR ONE TIME SLOT. Please help friends and family register if they do not have computer access or skills, as we want to make sure we are able to use these times wisely while serving as many people as possible. Please help us do this for our community by coming during your reserved time slot.

For questions, or issues with signing-up, please reach out to Cici Winiger, winigecm@ah.org

VERY IMPORTANT: This event is in Ukiah.If you choose to make an appointment and drive from the coast to Ukiah, please be prepared to make the drive for your second dose within 21/28 days. You must get your second dose where you received your first for supply and tracking purposes.

Be sure not to come too early so you will not be waiting. After you've made your appointment, your slot is reserved.

Please ONLY share this message to those who qualify: turning 65 and 65+ and essential workers as mentioned above. We will have to turn away those who do not qualify. Rest assured, there will be more vaccination clinics in the future, if you are not qualified at this time, we will have one in the near future. Please continue checking your email. Sign-up here if you are not signed-up to get email notifications about our vaccine clinics: www.bit.ly/ahmendo_notify or follow our Facebook pages here: https://www.facebook.com/ahukiahvalley  https://www.facebook.com/AHMendocinoCoast   https://www.facebook.com/ahhowardmemorial

If you can't make it, please cancel or let us know 1 day before the event. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. If you've received your vaccination, please ignore this email.

-Adventist Health

---SPANISH---

Para ayudar a proteger del COVID-19 a los más vulnerables de nuestra comunidad, y siguiendo las pautas para darles prioridad vacunar a las personas que tienen 75 años o más, realizaremos un:  

Clínica de Vacunación en lunes 24 de Febrero, de 8:30 – 1:30 PM en la Alex Rorabaugh Center (Grace Hudson School) | 1640 S. State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 

Debido a los suministros limitados, seguimos las directrices estatales y locales de salud pública sobre la priorización de esas personas en la Fase IA, todos los niveles. Hemos pasado a la Fase IB Tier 1, incluidos los mayores de 75 años, el EMS, el personal de escuelas y cuidado de niños y los trabajadores de alimentos y agricultura. Este último incluye a personas directamente involucradas en el cultivo, cosecha, producción, preparación, venta, cocina y servicio de productos alimenticios, así como cannabis y madera. También aceptaremos personas mayores de 65 años en este momento. Solo regístrese si califica. 

Traiga su identificación (licencia de conducir, etc.)  

Para que esto sea seguro y eficiente para nuestro equipo y nuestra comunidad, le pedimos que se registre en un horario siguiendo las instrucciones de este formulario.  

Elija un horario en el que pueda venir, luego haga clic en "Sign-Up". Planee venir en el horario que escogió. Luego haga clic en "Submit Sign-Up". Después, como confirmación recibirá un correo electrónico. Si usted no recibe un correo electrónico, quiere decir que no está registrado. Si al hacer clic en “Sign-Up” no pasa nada, esto quiere decir que ya no hay citas. Vea el siguiente horario.  

Solo regístrese en un horario. Ayude a sus amigos y familiares a registrarse en caso de que no tengan una computadora o no saben cómo usar una, ya que queremos asegurarnos de que podemos usar los todos los horarios para servir a la mayor cantidad de gente posible. Ayúdenos a hacer esto, al venir en el horario que reservó.  

Si tiene preguntas o tiene problemas para registrarse, comuníquese con Cici Winiger, enviando un correo electrónico a: winigecm@ah.org. 

Cici Winiger

Communications Manager/Community Outreach

Adventist Health Howard Memorial I Adventist Health Ukiah Valley I Adventist Health Mendocino Coast