ngArlington, VA — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) sent a letter to Biden administration leaders on Thursday, Nov. 11, seeking flexibility for the agricultural and transportation sectors under the federal COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which requires all employers with more than 100 employees to ensure they are either vaccinated or tested weekly.
“Based on the requirements of the ETS, NGFA is concerned with the impact it will have on the agricultural supply chain,” NGFA noted.
“Inadequate labor availability is arguably the largest supply chain constraint facing the U.S. agricultural industry.”
According to the ETS, companies with 100 or more employees must have a vaccination program in place by Dec. 5. The deadline for workers to receive their shots or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing is Jan. 4, 2022.
In a letter addressed to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Agriculture Security Tom Vilsack, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman, NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert noted that NGFA supports the use of vaccines to fight the spread of COVID-19 and that NGFA member companies have implemented prevention programs and pursued educational campaigns to encourage vaccinations among their workers.
However, “the lack of access to labor threatens operations and supply chain resiliency and leads to lost productivity and higher prices for food and agricultural products along the supply chain,” NGFA noted.
“Many of our members are unable to fill open positions throughout the production, transportation, warehousing, and processing phases of the supply chain.
"These shortages are directly impacting our members’ ability to meet consumer demands.”
Member companies with more than 100 employees have estimated they could lose up to an additional 20 percent of their current employees as they opt for retirement or leave to take employment with businesses employing fewer than 100 workers, NGFA noted.
“The workforce situation for rail transportation is especially tight right now and even a small percentage of lost labor could have a major impact on the movement of commodities, products and supplies to both industry and consumers,” the letter said.
“We strongly recommend more flexibility for the agricultural and transportation sectors as they employ essential workers. Without added flexibility, we believe further slowing of the U.S. supply chain is imminent.”
In closing, NGFA said it is ready to partner in developing solutions and educational programs that will expand the number of vaccinated workers “without introducing additional staffing challenges to the agricultural supply chain.”
NGFA also sent a letter on Sept. 20 reflecting the interests of its members in response President Joe Biden’s initial directive for a COVID-19 ETS.
- From the Friday, Nov. 12, NGFA Newsletter