Did you know agricultural producers are deemed “essential personnel”? In short, it provides you travel freedom during stay at home orders. I would suggest you print a copy of the letter and have it available in your vehicle should you be stopped by law enforcement. Please see the information below.
On March 19, 2020 the Department of Homeland Security identified the specific industries that comprise Critical Infrastructure Industries (available at https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce).
Ag producers fall under Food and Agriculture
- Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other retail (including unattended and vending) that sells human food, animal/pet food and pet supply, and beverage products, including retail customer support service and information technology support staff necessary for online orders, pickup and delivery.
- Restaurant carry-out and quick serve food operations, including dark kitchen and food prep centers, and carry-out and delivery food employees.
- Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed in food ingredient production and processing facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging.
- Farmers, farm workers, and agribusiness support services to include those employed in auction and sales: grain and oilseed handling, processing and distribution; animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically and for export.
- Farmers, farm workers, support service workers, and their supplier employees to include those engaged in producing and harvesting field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; biodiesel and renewable diesel facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs.
- Employees and firms supporting the distribution of food, feed, and beverage and ingredients used in these products, including warehouse workers, vendor- managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers.
- Workers supporting the sanitation and pest control of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail.
- Employees in cafeterias used to feed employees, particularly employee populations sheltered against COVID-19.
- Workers in animal diagnostic and food testing laboratories in private industries and in institutions of higher education.
- Government, private, and non-governmental organizations’ workers essential for food assistance programs (including school lunch programs) and government payments.
- Employees of companies engaged in the production, storage, transport, and distribution of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including seeds, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids.
- Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health (including those involved in supporting emergency veterinary or livestock services); raising of animals for food; animal production operations; livestock markets; slaughter and packing plants, manufacturers, renderers, and associated regulatory and government workforce.
- Transportation supporting animal agricultural industries, including movement of animal medical and reproductive supplies and materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, live animals, animal by-products, and deceased animals for disposal.
- Workers who support sawmills and the manufacture and distribution of fiber and forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood and fiber products.
- Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for agricultural production and distribution.
If you are an Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker, you may find a link to the authorization letter below.
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This is an official government document subject to the provisions of Texas Penal Code Sec 37.10 – Tampering with Governmental Record. Misuse of this document subjects a fraudulent user to criminal prosecution.