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KS Toronado

(19,700 posts)
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 05:30 PM Jan 2021

Why should farmers be allowed to cut in line for the vaccine?

Ks Sec. of Ag. Mike Beam said "And because many ag workers are crucial to food production.......to recognize ....
agricultural workers as critical and essential when prioritizing the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine."
Direct condensed quote, my own thoughts about this below........

Think about it, most Ks farmers work from home and outdoors, the safest place during a pandemic, basically
only going into town for supplies. And I realize there are going to be exceptions, every issue has them. But
in a deep red state where most farmers are republican and think the virus is a hoax and refuse to wear a mask,
I don't believe those people who spend most of their time at home watching crops grow taller should be allowed
to get in line in front of so many others working a full time job inside an enclosed building. This administration
has already rewarded them with bailout money on account of his tariffs. Enough is enough already. Believe
it or not I grew up on a farm.

From Hutchinson Newspaper.... KDA: Farmers still need Covid-19 aid, vaccines

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Response to KS Toronado (Original post)

KayF

(1,345 posts)
2. maybe it's about meat factory workers
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 05:35 PM
Jan 2021

does ag worker include them or is it just crops? I'm a city boy lol.

hlthe2b

(106,721 posts)
5. Meat processing workers ARE most certainly included in the AG worker category.
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 05:43 PM
Jan 2021

Not your butcher at Safeway but actual meat processing workers.

Meat Processing workers have been subject to some of the worst COVID impacts and while largely immigrant workers, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue has allowed their big R-contributing employers to ignore safety factors, speed up the lines, and generally abuse the living hell out of them.

So, yeah, they absolutely SHOULD be getting the vaccine ASAP.

TwilightZone

(28,834 posts)
6. False.
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 07:10 PM
Jan 2021

Meat and poultry plants and production facilities are under the USDA. The meat/poultry industry is the largest segment of US agriculture.

hlthe2b

(106,721 posts)
4. Yes. It is targeted to meat processing workers who have had some of the worst COVID impacts
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 05:43 PM
Jan 2021

They may well be including Farmers and the like, but the recommendation in KS as in CO was targeted to ensure the processing workers got it ASAP

KS Toronado

(19,700 posts)
7. Yes, meat processing workers should be toward the front of the essential workers group.
Wed Jan 6, 2021, 09:44 AM
Jan 2021

And I still feel stay at home farmers shouldn't be given special treatment.

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