Episode 11 - Staying Safe on the Farm through COVID-19

Arkansas Row Crops Radio, providing up to date information and timely recommendations on row crop production in Arkansas.

Jarrod Hardke: Welcome to Arkansas Row Crops Radio, for a special COVID-19 addition. I’m Jarrod Hardke, Rice Extension Agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Today’s episode is all about keeping you and your family safe during this Coronavirus pandemic. We know there's a lot of uncertainty right now and I want you to know that the Division of Agriculture is your one-stop-shop for COVID-19 resources.

Some basic recommendations for farmworkers is really the focus for today’s episode. Just a main reminder, if you don’t feel good, please stay home. The goal is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, we should be doing this a number of times a day. Anytime you encounter frankly any surfaces that may have been contacted by others. We need to maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet, and again, avoid touching others and avoid customary handshakes still something many are tempted to do, but again we need to avoid that kind of contact. We also need to try to avoid being in enclosed spaces with other people. Even if your staying 6 feet apart, if you’re spending an extended period of time in an enclosed space, same room with other people, that still may not be enough. Really one of the biggest items that’s difficult for people to stop doing that plays a huge role is avoiding touching your eyes, face, and mouth which can contribute to virus transmission. Stuff you pick up from other surfaces, and then you basically put it on your face can lead to that transmission. 

When we’re using vehicles or farm equipment, basically you need to assume that the last person who used those items that equipment did not clean it and so you need to sterilize the surfaces before use. That may not mean every single thing but ya know, the steering wheel, the door handles, ya know, all of those things. You need to clean and sterilize vehicles and farm equipment daily and when you finish using, especially in common areas that you share with other people. You may need to make a solution to sterilize surfaces. One simple way is to use 1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water, need to make that fresh daily, certainly, there are other items that you can use. Sanitizing wipes, things like that but if you need to make your own that's one easier way to do it. Guests or other farm workers may feel the need to come to work even if they don't feel well due to the fear of being fired. Quite frankly, that's got to be discussed with the individual boss in that situation but its gotta be discussed to the point where you end up staying home.

The health of the farm and crew really depends on not spreading illness to others during this situation. When tailgate meetings have to happen at the farm with the farm crew to discuss what’s going on, what needs to be done, all those items, we still need to maintain social distancing. Means your circle around the tailgate just frankly needs to get wider, spread a little far apart. If you have any other questions, we would direct you to visit uaex.edu/covid19 for COVID-19 information for Agriculture families and communities and please remember that although many of our offices are closed right now to the public, the Division of Agriculture is still on the job and ready to help and we hope you stay safe. We will see you next time, thank you once again for joining us on Arkansas Row Crops Radio. 

Arkansas Row Crops Radio is a production of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. For more information please contact your local county extension agent or visit uaex.edu