Coronavirus impact on local agricultural operations

Despite a global pandemic, farmers need to continue normal routines ahead of the upcoming growing season.

Yuba-sutter farmers are feeling the impacts of the unprecedented public health emergency brought about by COVID-19 and have had to make modifications to how they operate in order to keep their workers safe and on the job.

“We are making sure our workers are staying farther apart and washing their hands more,” said Donald Norene, a local walnut farmer and owner of Norene Ranches. “When they show up we check in to see if they are experiencing symptoms, but it’s fairly easy to stay away from one another out in the orchard, so we are moving ahead with everything and our regular production cycle.”

Rice production and other crop activities will be ramping up over the next few weeks.

Orchards typically require maintenance year-round, and at this time of year farmers are pruning trees and applying sprays.

“If we can’t get these things done now, it’s not going to bode well for the crop in the upcoming months,”

Norene said. “We are currently putting on sprays for the prevention of walnut blight. We’ve also been doing some mowing and some irrigation because this winter was so dry, so we are building up a reservoir of moisture in the soil for later in the year when it will be harder to keep up.”

Lisa Herbert, Sutter County agricultural commissioner, said one of the big impacts of the current public health emergency is that the farming industry is in need of personal protective equipment, like masks.

“Certain pesticide labels re