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For the past several weeks, National Grain and Feed Association has been working intensely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FEMA Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force to prioritize the needs of the food and agriculture sector for access to available personal protection equipment (PPE), as well as disinfectants and sanitation supplies, to protect the health and safety of employees within the sector and to retain consumer confidence. Today, we are pleased to report that the discussions with the Supply Chain Stabilization Task...

Last week, the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a set of answers to frequently asked questions regarding State Driver Licensing Agencies and commercial driver’s license holders during the COVID-19 pandemic. This information may be helpful to members as it relates to retention of current drivers and the licensing of new seasonal drivers. The FAQ’s specifically address HAZMAT endorsements and skills tests for new drivers. This guidance document does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to bind the public in anyway. This guidance is...

In March, the Legislature passed a budget for the remainder of fiscal year ’20 (through June 30) and for fiscal year 2021. At the time, the state’s ending balance June 30 would have been $927 million, and was projected to be $730 million at the end of 2021. On Monday, April 20th, the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CRE) met and provided an updated estimate on state revenue. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, or CRE, is composed of representatives of the Division of the Budget, Dept. of Revenue, Legislative Research Dept., and...

On April 20, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS will publish a temporary final rule to amend certain H-2A requirements to help U.S. agricultural employers avoid disruptions in lawful agricultural-related employment, protect the nation’s food supply chain, and lessen impacts from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Due to travel restrictions and visa processing limitations as a result of actions taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, as well as the possibility that some H-2A workers may become unavailable due to COVID-19 related illness, U.S. employers who have approved H-2A petitions...

This afternoon, Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order #20-23 extending the statewide “stay home” set to expire April 19, to midnight May 3. The Governor’s Order directs all individuals within the state of Kansas to stay in their residences unless performing an essential activity including but not limited to: Performing, or going to or from work at a business or organization to perform, an essential function as identified in the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF). The KEFF includes businesses that maintain supply chains for essential functions and critical infrastructure as defined by a...

Courtesy: American Feed Industry Association The American Feed Industry Association is a not-for-profit organization that represents the feed industry in industry-wide events, national and state legislation, etc. Last Friday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an enforcement guidance with details on how employers should record occupational illnesses, specifically cases of the COVID-19. Last Friday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an enforcement guidance with details on how employers should record occupational illnesses, specifically cases of the COVID-19. In areas where there is ongoing community transmission, employers – other than those in the...

Governor Laura Kelly has issued Executive Order 20-22 which extends the previous Executive Order 20-09, which expired on April 12, 2020. The Order maintains the 10% weight wavier up to 90,000 lbs for trucks hauling essential goods and supplies. The new Order expires on May 15, 2020, or until the statewide state of disaster emergency on COVID-19 expires. Governor Laura Kelly's Executive Order 20-22 (view by clicking the button below or HERE) allows a 10% weight waiver for motor carriers of essential services and food supplies. For our members’ clarification of the...

In observance of Good Friday, tomorrow April 10, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association's (KARA) office in Topeka will be closed. KARA staff will be monitoring phone calls. Should you need to contact a member of the staff in the event of an emergency, or if it is a time-sensitive issue, please call the association office (785.234.0463) and follow the directions on the phone system to reach a staff member. We thank you for your membership and hope you have a great weekend....

Courtesy: American Feed Industry Association The American Feed Industry Association is a not-for-profit organization that represents the feed industry in industry-wide events, national and state legislation, etc. The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued new enforcement guidance on the use of respiratory protection equipment certified under international standards or other jurisdictions during the coronavirus disease pandemic. OSHA’s memorandum provides additional interim guidance to compliance safety and health officers for enforcing the Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR § 1910.134) and certain other health standards, with regard to supply shortages...

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is granting a temporary exemption from requirements regarding expiration of TSA security threat assessments (STAs) for Hazardous Material Endorsement (HME). For the duration of this exemption, a state may grant an extension of up to 180 days for an HME that expired or would otherwise expire between March 1, 2020, and the end date of this exemption, even if the individual was unable to initiate or complete the required STA before the expiration date. If the state grants an extension, the individual with an expired HME must initiate...

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