Many states are looking to the federal government for clarity on essential services classification and how it impacts farms in their communities.The USDA and other federal partners, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have released guidance to help state and local jurisdictions and the private sector to identify and manage essential services. The CISA’s coronavirus resources page contains many resources on essential services, including food and agriculture. Please consult the CISA website below for further information.

CISA doesn’t dictate how individual states have to classify essential services, but rather they offer guidance only. Additionally, some states have provided more specific guidance on particular segments of agriculture including sod production as well as horticultural industries, landscaping, etc. Given the rapidly evolving status of Coronavirus worldwide these classifications can change daily, so please consult global, national, and local resources when possible for applicable laws in your area.