TPI and Coronavirus: Shared Solutions for Farms

Date: March 23^rd, 2020

Subject: Coronavirus Impacts and Resources

Dear fellow sod producers and industry professionals,

The current coronavirus pandemic has impacted our daily lives in ways that just weeks or even days ago may have seemed incomprehensible. I am sure that the health and well-being of your families, employees, and farms are at the top of your mind. As we navigate our way through this uncharted territory the TPI Board of Trustees and Staff are diligently working to provide as much support and resources as we can to turfgrass seed and sod producers worldwide.

Facebook Group for “TPI and Coronavirus: Shared Solutions”

Log onto Facebook to see solutions like those included below and to share your own successes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2260051950968694/about/

• Provide customers more options for remote sales and pickups that reduce physical interaction
• Reduce shared items (trucks, phones, computers, etc.) among employees and/or dedicate specific items to each employee where possible
• Reduce or eliminate shared items such as time clocks or paper logs that multiple employees may have to touch daily
• Provide EPA approved disinfectant/sanitizer in as many areas as possible
• Locks sales offices and post signs to let customers know you are still open and taking orders
• Post English and Spanish COVID-19 posters in the workplace (see Helpful Resources below)
• Provide reporting procedures for employees to comfortably report health, known or anonymous
• Check out the Facebook Group page “TPI and Coronavirus: Shared Solutions” for more tips

Helpful Resources

Covid-19: How to Protect Yourself

Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

EPA List of Approved COVID-19 Disinfectants

Printable Posters and Brochures for the Workplace, English and Spanish

American Farm Bureau: Impacts of COVID-19 on Agriculture

USDA Coronavirus Resources

US Department of Labor Coronavirus Resources

Small Business Guidance (US SBA)

CARES Act Information

Call to Action

TPI is working hard to make sure that our voice is heard by elected officials and policymakers during these difficult times. Please contact your secretary of agriculture, elected officials, Farm Bureau, and others to let them know that your farms are part of the agricultural community and need to be included in important farm exemptions. Please reach out to TPI’s board of trustees and staff if we can help.

Sincerely,

Hank Kerfoot

TPI 2020 President