Wednesday evening, Sec. Tom Vilsack was sworn into office from his home in Iowa virtually by Vice President Kamala Harris. Vilsack wasted no time.
Thursday morning, USDA announced a $42 million investment to help rural residents gain access to telemedicine and educational opportunities.
“Rural residents are more vulnerable to serious infection and death,” said Vilsack. “[COVID] infection rates are higher in rural America according to the Rural Policy Research Institute’s report. It’s incredibly important for the Department of Agriculture that’s focused on rural development and rural life to do what it can to expand access to healthcare facilities and healthcare generally.”
Calhoun County Ag And Food Workers Get Moved Up For COVID Vaccine
That begins March 1st.
Calhoun County Public Health Officer Eric Pessel tells WBCK despite the state’s decision to move those people up on the vaccination list, the issue is whether there is enough vaccine available to begin their dosing.
Just about every vaccine administration site in Michigan has had fewer vaccine doses available than willing recipients since the process began. But at least it is a move to help ensure that the people involved in food production at least are ready for the option of vaccination. That includes production workers at Battle Creek’s cereal companies along with those handling materials involved in food production. Farm employees handling food products are also eligible. All told, the Michigan Health and Human Services Department figures about 79 thousand people in Michigan are covered by the new vaccination order.
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Congresswoman McClain forms ag advisory council
Farmers across Thumb will inform her of agricultural issues
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Congresswoman Lisa McClain with members of her new agriculture advisory council. (Lisa McClain/Courtesy Photo) Show MoreShow Less
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WASHINGTON Congresswoman Lisa McClain has created an agriculture advisory council to help serve as farmer s voices for Michigan s 10th district, and plenty of Upper Thumb farmers are taking part.
Of the eight members that are on the council, five run farms in either Huron, Tuscola, or Sanilac counties. Agriculture is a major industry in Michigan s Thumb, and there s no one who knows the issues our farmers are dealing with day to day better than the farmers, McClain said in a statement. I look forward to routinely meeting with my new Agriculture Advisory Council to stay in tune with the issues impacting our farmers to ensure that they are represented well in Washington.