COVID-19 Information and Support for Landscapers, Nurseries, Turf Managers, Garden Centers, Arborists, and Greenhouse Operations in Massachusetts

The Baker-Polito Administration’s comprehensive plan to safely reopen the Massachusetts economy, get people back to work, and ease social restrictions while minimizing the health impacts of COVID-19 was announced on May 18, 2020 beginning with Phase 1 of a gradual reopening. Learn more at Reopening Massachusetts at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts.

General Business Guidance

ALL BUSINESSES must self-certify and meet these requirements before reopening. Businesses operating to provide Essential Services, as defined in the Governor's March 23, 2020 Executive Order, updated on March 31, April 28 and May 15, may remain open and have until May 25, 2020 to comply with these mandatory safety standards. 
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-mandatory-safety-standards-for-workplaces

Mandatory safety standards and recommended best practices for sectors that are eligible to open in Phase 1.

• COVID-19 control plan template – Template that satisfies the written control plan requirement for self-certification.
• Compliance attestation poster – Poster that customer facing businesses are required to print, sign, and post in an area within the business premises that is visible to workers and visitors.
• Employer and Worker posters – Posters that businesses can print and display within the business premises to describe the rules for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, and cleaning and disinfecting.

Reopening: When can my business reopen?

This is not an exhaustive list of all possible businesses that can open in each phase; it may be updated from time to time.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-when-can-my-business-reopen#businesses-

Category	When you can reopen	Additional comments
All businesses deemed essential by previous orders.	Currently allowed	These businesses will be required to comply with Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards and any applicable sector specific safety protocols / best practices by May 25, 2020.
Retail (such as clothing stores, toy stores, jewelry stores, nurseries and garden centers that don’t sell food products, adult use cannabis stores)	Phase 1 – May 25 for curbside pickup and delivery only Phase 2 – browsing inside the store with restrictions

Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Massachusetts at www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information.

Learn about businesses and organizations defined as providing "COVID-19 Essential Services" in Massachusetts at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-essential-services

Related Activities Excerpted from the MA Essential Services List

These include:

• Nurseries, landscapers, greenhouses, garden centers, and agriculture supply stores
• 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.
• Vegetation management and traffic control for supporting (electricity industry) crews.
• Workers who support infrastructure, such as by road and line clearing and utility relocation, to ensure the availability of and access to needed facilities, transportation, energy and communications.
   

COVID-19 Essential Services FAQs
Q. Can businesses that don't operate out of a bricks-and-mortar location continue to operate?
A. YES with social distancing. If the service a business provides is not on the essential services list, that business must cease all in-person activities at its bricks-and-mortar facilities. These non-essential businesses are encouraged to work remotely. Businesses that do work remotely, whether as part of their normal activities or as a result of this order, must maintain social distancing requirements: six feet of separation between all employees, and between employees and members of the public.

Q. Is landscaping considered an essential service?
A. YES if providing services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, businesses and certain other buildings. This currently includes golf course maintenance (see list at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-essential-services for full details).

Q. Is non-emergency tree removal considered an essential service?
A. NO but you may be able to continue operating. If the service a business provides is not on the essential services list, that business must cease all in-person activities at its bricks-and-mortar facilities. These non-essential businesses are encouraged to work remotely.  Businesses that do work remotely, whether as part of their normal activities or as a result of this order, must maintain social distancing requirements: six feet of separation between all employees, and between employees and members of the public.

Q. Are nurseries considered essential?
A. Yes, if they sell food or food plants and follow DPH guidance. Nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers, and agriculture supply stores that sell food or food producing plants for human consumption have been designated as COVID-19 Essential Services and may therefore continue to operate their brick and mortar premises. Workers supporting these operations are included within the COVID-19 Essential Workforce for approved purposes. These operations that remain open for business must deploy strategies to reduce COVID-19 exposure for their customers and employees by following DPH guidance. These guidelines are detailed at https://www.mass.gov/doc/dph-nurseries-guidance/download. Any nursery, greenhouse, garden center or agriculture supply store that sells solely plants that do not produce food for human consumption shall remain closed. 

Q. If my business is non-essential, can I go to my place of business to perform routine maintenance on the facility, attend to perishable products or property, or perform other necessary tasks?
A. If you are the owner of a non-essential business, you may go to your business facility as needed to take care of crucial tasks that cannot be done remotely or to retrieve necessary materials or documents.  Your employees may not go to your bricks-and-mortar place.

Q. If I work outside and can socially distance, can I keep running my business even if it isn’t essential?
A. YES, in some circumstances. If the service a business provides is not on the essential services list, that business must cease all in-person activities at its bricks-and-mortar facilities. These non-essential businesses are encouraged to work remotely.  Businesses that do work remotely, whether as part of their normal activities or as a result of this order, must maintain social distancing requirements: six feet of separation between all employees, and between employees and members of the public.

Q. Are property management firms and landlords considered essential? 
YES

Q. Are golf courses considered essential? 
NO, golf courses are not essential businesses and cannot have employees working on-premise. Notwithstanding this restriction, essential services, such as groundskeeping to avoid hazardous conditions and security, provided by employees, contractors, or vendors are permitted.  Private operators of courses may permit individuals access to the property so long as there are no gatherings of any kind, appropriate social distancing of six feet between individuals is strictly followed, and the business operator and golfers abide by the specific guidelines for golf courses.

Municipalities may decide to open municipal courses under these guidelines, if they so choose.

Guidelines for golfers and courses developed by the Commonwealth and MassGolf:

• Security personnel can be delineated by each club (ex. a pro and the head starter) and will be present to enforce social distancing. There can be no other employees working at the recreational component of the golf operation.
• All staff must wear face coverings while on property.
• Course facilities including but not limited to the clubhouse, golf shop, restaurant, bag room and locker room must remain closed.
• No caddies allowed.
• No golf carts allowed.
• Push carts may be used. Players must either carry their own bag or use a push cart.
• All golfers must maintain proper social distancing of at least 6 feet at all times.
• Groups of players are restricted to no more than 4 players at one time.
• Members-only clubs can allow guests as determined by the security personnel on the golf course.
• Private clubs that allow non-members to make reservations can do so at their discretion.
• Maintenance personnel are permitted to work on the golf course.
• Tee Time Policy must be 15 minutes between groups.
• Golfers must stay in their car until 15 minutes before their tee time and must return to their car immediately following play.
• Online and remote payment options must be utilized.
• All golfers must use their own golf clubs. Sharing golf clubs or rental golf clubs is not allowed.
• Flagsticks must remain in the hole. Hole liners must be raised so picking a ball out of the hole doesn’t occur.
• Bunker rakes must be removed, and ball washers must be removed or covered.
• Practice putting green, driving range, and chipping areas must be closed.
• Facilities must have readily accessible hand sanitizer.

UMass Extension and the UMass Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE) are working hard to make our expertise and resources available to you in this challenging time. While in-person events and some on-campus services are suspended to protect public health, we are continuing with some scouting and farm visits, and many existing and new resources are available online and through virtual delivery. For more details, go to https://ag.umass.edu/coronavirus.

Soil Testing
The UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab has resumed accepting new orders for ROUTINE SOIL ANALYSIS and PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS orders ONLY, beginning Monday, 7/13/20. Please do not send orders for other types of analyses at this time. Orders should be sent via USPS, UPS, FedEx or other private carrier. The lab office will remain closed to the general public until further notice and hand delivered orders will not be accepted at this time. Processing time will be longer than usual since the lab is operating with reduced staff and staggered shifts. Updates and order forms are available at: https://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory.

Plant Diagnostics Lab
The UMass Plant Diagnostics Laboratory reopened June 22 and has resumed accepting samples. More details at https://ag.umass.edu/services/plant-diagnostics-laboratory.

Tick Testing

TickReport at the UMass Laboratory of Medical Zoology is open and accepting tick samples for testing. For more details on how to submit samples, go to https://www.tickreport.com. 

Pesticide License Exams - The MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has now opened up registration to take the pesticide exam to new applicants starting the week of July 6. To register, go to https://www.mass.gov/pesticide-examination-and-licensing. Exams will be held at the Colonial Inn in Gardener under a covered tent and safety precautions will be sent to the examinees ahead of time so that they can be prepared when coming to the exam site. Please be aware that space is still limited. Preference had previously been given to those scheduled for exams cancelled this spring until the backlog was cleared. MDAR has also put out a request for bids relative to an online exam proctoring service for a long term solution. 

Pesticide Exam Preparation Workshops - The UMass Extension Pesticide Education Program is offering these workshops to help applicants prepare to take the Massachusetts Pesticide Applicator's License exam. Topics covered: Pest Identification, Pesticide Types and Formulations, Pesticides and Human Health, Pesticide Label, Pesticides and the Environment, Integrated Pest Management, Pesticide Laws and Regulations, and Practice Exam. For more information, go to https://www.umass.edu/pested/training_workshops/registration_form13.htm.

Pesticide Manuals – To order a copy to study prior to taking the exam, go to https://www.umass.edu/pested/study_materials/index.htm.

Recertification Credits - UMass Extension's Pesticide Education Program is offering online workshops through June that offer recertification credits. For info on how to register for these, go to https://www.umass.edu/pested/recertification/current_workshops.htm.

For holders of Massachusetts pesticide licenses whose current three-year retraining or recertification cycle ends on 7/1/20, the MDAR Pesticide Program has extended the time permitted to earn credits to 12/31/20 as well as the number of computer-based or online credits that are acceptable for these specific individuals. This means that individuals with a three-year retraining cycle ending on 7/1/20 may obtain any portion or all of the needed training credits from online sources and have until 12/31/20 to do it. For more information, go to https://www.mass.gov/doc/pesticide-license-recertification-processes-and-related-impacts-from-covid-19/download 

Temporary Licenses - Temporary licenses are no longer available as the state has resumed offering pesticide exams (see above).

Guidance for Nurseries, Greenhouses, and Garden Centers (MA Dept. of Public Health)
Resources for Businesses and Employers (CDC)
Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (OSHA)

Masks and Face Coverings

Mask and Face Covering Order: The Baker-Polito Administration has ordered all residents over the age of two to use a face covering or mask in public places where maintaining proper social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are not possible. This statewide order went into effect on May 6, 2020 and supersedes previously issued guidance regulations relative to mask use. 

This order applies to all workers and customers of businesses and other organizations that are currently open to the public and permitted to operate as COVID-19 Essential Businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and other retail stores. 

A face covering may include anything that covers your nose and mouth, including a mask, scarf or bandana. Cloth masks should not be worn by young children under the age of two, persons with difficulty breathing, or those who are unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
 

• MA Advisory Regarding Face Coverings and Cloth Masks
• CDC Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Mask Making Instructions

CARES Act Guide

• $9.5 Billion for Specialty Crop, Livestock & Dairy Operations - The CARES Act provides the funding above for specialty crop, livestock and dairy operations. Specific details have not been announced but are expected to be announced shortly. USDA defines specialty crops as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).”  While details have not yet been announced, there is a good possibility that the USDA - Farm Service Agency (FSA) may be administering this program.  Anyone interested in this potential funding should contact their local USDA-FSA Office which can be found at https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=us&agency=fsa

Federal Crop Insurance
Note: Federal Crop Insurance is sold by price agents through private reinsurance companies.  A list of eligible agents by location is available at https://prodwebnlb.rma.usda.gov/apps/AgentLocator/#/

• Nursery Commodity Insurance - Available on operations that receive at least 40% of its gross income from the wholesale marketing of nursery plants. Closing date for 2020 crop year has passed. Closing date for 2021 crop year is May 1, 2020. Causes of loss limited to adverse weather conditions.
• Whole Farm Revenue Program  (WFRP) - Closing date for 2020 crop year has passed. Closing date for 2021 crop year is March 15, 2021. 

USDA - Farm Service Agency (FSA)

• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) - Covers crops not insured by Federal Crop Insurance. Operations that receive less than 40% of their gross income from the wholesale marketing of nursery plants would be eligible for NAP along with plant varieties that would not be covered under Federal Crop Insurance Nursery Commodity Insurance. NAP covers only weather-related losses. Sales closing dates generally mirror closing dates for Federal Crop Insurance but interested individuals should contact the FSA Office that serves their operation.  A list of FSA offices can be found at https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=us&agency=fsa
• Operating, Ownership & Emergency Loans - FSA administers operating, ownership and emergency loans.  Interested parties should contact their local FSA Office (link under NAP section above) for more information.

USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - NRCS offers a variety of financial programs and technical services to agricultural producers. For more info on these programs and services, go to https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/.

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - EQIP is one of the more popular financial programs offered by NRCS. EQIP provides funding to producers to address conservation and environmental programs on their operations.  Generally EQIP provides 75% of the costs to install these practices. Signup periods vary but interested parties should contact the NRCS Field Office that serves their farming operation at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/contact/local/

Small Business Administration (SBA)

• Disaster Loan Assistance
• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) - The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has reopened the application period until August 8, 2020. The PPP original application period closed on June 30, 2020. PPP is a program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) with applications being processed through an SBA-approved lending institution. While PPP is a loan, an important point to note is that the loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (at least 60% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease. The period used to cover eligible costs and expenses has also increased from 8 weeks to 24 weeks from loan disbursement, making it easier for PPP recipients to meet the 60% payroll requirement. Special consideration under PPP is provided for seasonal businesses such as farming, nursery, greenhouse, and aquaculture operations. More detailed information, including a list of SBA-approved lending institutions that process PPP applications, can be found at: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program.

MA COVID-19 Resources and Guidance for Businesses

Applying for MA Unemployment 

Professional associations in Massachusetts and nationally have provided resources to their members to help them and their businesses respond to the COVID-19 situation. A list of some of these resources can be found here.

Please note that by linking to these resources, UMass Extension does not endorse any specific group’s policy or legislative goals.

 

LANDSCAPE & NURSERY
Cape Cod Landscape Association 
Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals (MLP) Coronavirus Update Page

• MLP Online CEU Page

Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) Covid-19 Resources

• Protective Measures for Landscaper Contractors 1 of 2
• Protective Measures for Landscaper Contractors 2 of 2
• Protective Measures for Garden Centers 1 of 2
• Protective Measures for Garden Centers 2 of 2
• Protective Measures for Growers

National Association of Landscape Professionals

Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts Small Business Ask for Help Toolkit
 

GREENHOUSE AND GARDEN CENTER OPERATIONS
Massachusetts Flower Growers Association (MFGA)

ARBORISTS
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): New England Chapter

Massachusetts Arborists Association (MAA) Coronavirus Update Page

• Massachusetts  Arborists Association Online CEU Page

Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association (MTWFA) Updates
The Arbor Day seedling sale is still on!

Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Coronavirus Update Page

• Tree Care Industry Association and International Society of Arboriculture Joint Statement

TURF
Golf Course Superintendent Association of Cape Cod (GCSACC)
Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England (GCSANE)
Massachusetts Association of Lawn Care Professionals (MALCP)
Massachusetts Golf Association (MGA)
New England Sports Turf Managers Association (NESTMA)
Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA)
 

In response to the spread of COVID-19 and the measures being taken to address it, MDAR has compiled a list of resources to keep our agricultural community informed and aware of relevant policies and best practices at https://www.mass.gov/guides/covid-19-resources-for-agriculture.

UMass Extension Fruit Program

UMass Extension Vegetable Program