We are starting to see areas in Texas where shelter in place orders are beginning to take effect.  TCGA and other industry organizations believe that we are considered “Critical Infrastructure”  as explained below.  Of course the problem will be whether the local law enforcement agrees, if this ever comes up in your county.  Please give us a call if you have questions – we are working on standard language that you can use if this becomes an issue, and will be glad to send this language to you if your gin becomes subject to one of these orders.

Gins are an agricultural operation that has been deemed a “Critical Infrastructure” by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the US Department of Homeland Security Agency.

The following Agriculture related practices are included as ‘critical infrastructure’, and are applicable to our operation:

  • Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed in food processing (packers, meat processing, cheese plants, milk plants, produce, etc.) facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging
  • Farm workers to include those employed in animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically
  • Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health; manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, etc, transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation of deceased animals for disposal; raising of animals for food; animal production operations; slaughter and packing plants and associated regulatory and government workforce
  • Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary to agricultural production and distribution