Agriculture Producers

Rural Response Hotline

COVID-19 Testing for Farmers

White House Lists Ag as Essential Critical Infrastructure

US Department of Transportation Expands National Emergency Declaration for Commercial Vehicles Delivering Relief in Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Expanded Emergency Declaration Under 49 CFR § 390.23 No. 2020-002 (Relating to COVID-19)

Hauling and DMV Requirements

Governor Ricketts has signed an Executive Order waiving certain hauling requirements. Click here to view a copy of the Executive Order (Coronavirus - Continued Waiver of Motor Carrier Safety Regulations).
Notice to State Drivers Licensing Agencies of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Policy Regarding Effect of Actions during COVID-19 Emergency
Latest Information on Driver Licensing Services from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles

USDA Resources

USDA to Provide Additional Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by the Coronavirus: Expansion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Begins Sept. 21

Industry FAQs: Animal Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Industry Resources

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Disaster Assistance Information

USDA Information and Resources

USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities preparing for and impacted by COVID-19. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide will help our rural leaders understand what assistance is available to them during this unprecedented time.

As part of USDA's implementation of the CARES Act, agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL). The loans now mature at 12 months, and this flexibility is available for most commodities. Details: https://go.usa.gov/xvDyv

With $349 billion in emergency small business capital, the federal government is working to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers may be eligible – learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program

USDA is partnering with U.S. Department of Labor to assist H-2A employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details: http://ow.ly/X7ny50yQmXD

For reporting and current information on CARES Act programs, please visit: https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Home

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources - U.S. Small Business Administration

Small Business Paycheck Protection Program

COVID-19 Client Letter - Nebraska Farm Business, Inc.

A Farmer, Rancher Guide to the CARES Act from the Nebraska Farm Bureau

Executive Orders and Waivers

Executive Orders

US Department of Transportation Expands National Emergency Declaration for Commercial Vehicles Delivering Relief in Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak

Expanded Emergency Declaration Under 49 CFR § 390.23 No. 2020-002 (Relating to COVID-19)

Hauling and DMV Requirements

Governor Ricketts has signed an Executive Order waiving certain hauling requirements. Click here to view a copy of the Executive Order (Coronavirus - Continued Waiver of Motor Carrier Safety Regulations).
Notice to State Drivers Licensing Agencies of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Policy Regarding Effect of Actions during COVID-19 Emergency
Latest Information on Driver Licensing Services from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles

Nebraska Department of Agriculture

NDA Order on Retail Sales of Packaged Foods

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

Guidance for Dairies Unable to Ship Milk to Processors Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Farmers Markets

Guidance for Farmers Markets Operators to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 Virus

Fair and Livestock Show Event Guidance

Guidance for Fair Openings in Nebraska to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Guidance for Livestock Shows and Events in Nebraska to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Food Processing Industry

USDA APHIS Establishing Coordination Center to Assist Producers Affected by Meat Processing Plant Closures

UNMC/Nebraska Medicine experts develop guidelines for meat processing facilities regarding COVID-19
Infectious disease and public health experts at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Global Center for Health Security and College of Public Health have developed a set of guidelines for meat processing facilities that include strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while the facilities continue to operate. The guide is intended to provide best practices and recommendations for meat processing facilities to minimize the risk that COVID-19 poses to employees and the community.

Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers

Interim Guidance from CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Free posters are available for download/printing for employers and employees. Posters are simple and available in multiple languages.
Guidance for Large or Extended Families Living in the Same Household
Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities: Key Strategies to Prevent COVID-19 Infection among Employees (alternate language links)
Meat and Poultry Processing Employees: Things you can do at work and at home to protect from COVID-19 (alternate language links)
Employers should place simple posters in all of the languages that are common in the worker population that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and proper hand hygiene practices. They should place these posters at the entrance to the workplace and in break areas, locker rooms, and other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen. Employers should post signs that you can read from a far distance (or use portable, electronic reader boards) that inform visitors and workers of social distancing practices.
- CDC has free, simple posters available to download and print, some of which are translated into different languages. The Stop the Spread of Germs poster is available in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Farsi, French, Haitian Creole, Kinyarwanda, Karen, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Human Health

Resources

Guidance Documents

Staying Mentally Strong During The Coronavirus Outbreak from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
EPA's list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2
Animals and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

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Livestock Depopulation Guidance

Rural Response Hotline

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines for the depopulation of animals

USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program press release

Emergency Animal Mortality Management for Swine – Factsheet on USDA NRCS funding

USDA APHIS Establishing Coordination Center to Assist Producers Affected by Meat Processing Plant Closures

APHIS Livestock Coordination Center

NDA Waiver for Transportation of Animal Carcasses

NDA Waiver for Above Ground Livestock Burials

Emergency Depopulation of Livestock Facilities During COVID-19

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) – Guidance documents for emergency disposal of animal carcasses associated with a non-disease related mass mortality event

Pesticide Applicators

As of June 30, 2020, NDA will begin offering appointment only testing sessions. Please contact our office for available dates and to reserve a time.

As of July 1, 2020, a number of Pearson VUE testing sites have reopened for testing services. A list of locations in Nebraska can be found here, appointments are then scheduled through Pearson VUE.

ALL Private Applicator in-person training dates have been cancelled; training is still being offered online at pested.unl.edu or you may opt out of training by passing the PRIVATE APPLICATOR EXAM available at our in-person testing sessions.

Restaurants, Bars & Food Safety

Guidelines for Re-Opening Restaurants

Guidance Documents

Retail Sales of Packaged Foods

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance

Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Guidance

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance

Unemployment benefits and information on short-term compensation programs for employees and businesses affected by COVID-19 from the Nebraska Department of Labor: http://bit.ly/33oKIeu

Information Lines

DHHS (statewide)
402-552-6645
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, seven days a week

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Information Line
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
TTY 888-232-6348
Hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT (English and Spanish), Monday–Friday

Websites with COVID-19 information

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Small Businesses

Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry - Coronavirus Toolkit for Chambers, Business & Industry

U.S. Small Business Administration Fact Sheet - Economic Injury Disaster Loans (English)

Hoja de Datos de la Agencia Federal para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa (Spanish)

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Nebraska Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (English)

SBA Ofrece Asistencia de Desastres a los Pequeños Negocios de Nebraska Impactados Económicamente por Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Spanish)

New CDC guidance for workers in critical Infrastructure

For reporting and current information on CARES Act programs, please visit: https://coronavirus.nebraska.gov/Home

Home >> COVID-19 Resources

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources

Agriculture Producers

Disaster Assistance Information

Executive Orders and Waivers

Farmers Markets

Fair and Livestock Show Event Guidance

Food Processing Industry

Human Health

Livestock Depopulation Guidance

Pesticide Applicators

Restaurants, Bars & Food Safety

Small Businesses