This week the House of Representatives passed, and the President has now signed, the historic $2 trillion stimulus package dubbed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), capping another wild week in Washington to help revive the U.S. economy and provide resources to many affected sectors, including dairy farmers.

The CARES Act, which the Senate approved on Wednesday, will deliver the largest-ever infusion of government money into the economy, both on a dollar and a percentage basis.

Agriculture Producer Disaster Assistance – The bill includes $9.5 billion to assist agriculture producers impacted by the coronavirus, including specialty crop producers; producers who support local food systems such as farmers markets, schools, and restaurants; and livestock and dairy producers.

• White House overview of the CARES Act
• Detailed overview by Foley and Lardner LLP
• US Congress passes $2 trillion stimulus package, with $9.5 billion for agriculture
• Coronavirus bill offers dairy aid in what may be a long effort, NMPF’s Bleiberg says
• How the coronavirus stimulus bill helps you
  
  

 

On March 18, 2020, Congress passed and the President signed into law HR 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a broad-ranging response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

HR 6201 temporarily expands the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to provide paid leave for employees unable to work due to closure of schools and child-care facilities. The act also provides temporary paid sick leave for COVID-19-related absences. HR 6201 will become effective April 2, 2020.

These changes will impact your employment practices. All employers should re-evaluate their leave policies and prepare to implement these new requirements. In particular, notice must be given to employees. See the information and posters below for more information.

You can find the federal act here.

U.S. Department of Labor Information

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers

Notices/Posters: Each covered employer must post a notice of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requirements in a conspicuous place on its premises. An employer may satisfy this requirement by emailing or direct mailing this notice to employees, or posting this notice on an employee information internal or external website. These provisions apply starting April 1, 2020, and continue through December 31, 2020.

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act English Poster from U.S. Department of Labor
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act Spanish Poster from U.S. Department of Labor
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice – Frequently Asked Questions from U.S. Department of Labor

Legal Resources: For more information, including detailed breakdowns of what is in the act and what must be complied with, see the legal resources below.

• Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt – New Federal Paid Leave Requirements
• Sawtooth Law – Update on Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Meyer, Fluegge & Tenney – Families First Coronavirus Response Act

 

 

 

 

• National Milk Producers Federation Coronavirus Resources
• What Dairy Farmers Must Know about COVID-19 by Dr. David Douphrate and Dr. Anabel Rodriguez in Hoard’s Dairyman
• Washington Farm Bureau COVID-19 Resources
• Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt COVID-19 Resource Page
  
  

Steps that dairy managers should consider to protect their workforce, their business and their markets. The webinar was recorded on March 20, 2020 by Robert Lynch and Richard Stup at Cornell University.

You can find a link to the recording here: COVID-19 and Your Dairy, webinar recording.

We also included a PDF of the presentation with active links to important resources. You can find the PDF of the presentation here: COVID-19 and Your Dairy, PDF of webinar presentation.