AGRICULTURE

quire N95 or other PPE to be worn during applications,” Herbert said. “As you can imagine the shortage for health care, first responders and farmers. This is an issue statewide, and the Department of Pesticide Regulation is

aware and has reminded ag commissioners that we cannot relax on label requirements.”

Crops like peaches are labor intensive. Local farmer Karm Bains said that at this time of year his farm workers would typically be out fertilizing, wiring trees, discing and cultivating the ground.

However, because of the virus he’s been experiencing a worker shortage.

“We are just wrapping up pruning now. It’s never taken us this long to do that,” Bains said.

He said the decision for some workers to stay home is a combination of both the stay-at-home order and genuine concern

about the virus.

“To see folks take it seriously, it means a great deal. The last thing we need is for people to be careless about this,” Bains said. “People are taking more precaution than they ever have before. I respect their decision but I’m also somewhat fearful of what the end result will be. Hope

fully we are out of this thing sooner rather than later.”

Aside from concerns about the upcoming grow season, there is even more uncertainty surrounding what the market will look like after harvest.

International markets have been closing their borders due to the COVID-19 situation.

“As far as markets go, I think that everybody is concerned about what will happen and nobody knows yet,” said Yuba County Agricultural Commission Stephen Scheer. “Farmers will continue to farm and produce food as they always have. Hopefully the market will support them into the future.”