| GAPC Tobacco and Hemp Certification Application Now Open! |
|
|
The application period for the 2024 GAPC Tobacco and Hemp Certification programs is now open!
|
All growers participating in the GAPC Certification programs must apply every year in order to maintain Certification.
|
-
Visit www.gapconnections.com
- In the upper right hand corner, find "Log In" then "Log In to View Member Tools"
- Enter your 6 digit Grower ID and password
-
From the Grower Dashboard find, "Apply for Tobacco (or Hemp) Certification", "Start Tobacco (or Hemp) 2024".
- Complete the application. You have come to the end when payment is submitted. Payment will be processed upon approval.
|
Deadline to submit an application is April 15, 2024
|
|
|
The future of hemp starts with you.
|
Establishing a higher standard across the industry requires accountability and collaboration at every step of the way. The GAPC Hemp Certification Program was developed to increase transparency and foster an environment which promotes sustainability, safety, compliance, profitability, and competition.
Not a current GAPC Grower member? Get started today by visiting www.gapconnections.com.
Upon the completion of the grower registration form you will be issued a Grower ID number and
mailed a Grower ID card.
Growers who successfully achieve GAPC Hemp Certification have the option to apply to the U.S.
Hemp Authority to gain official status as U.S. Hemp Authority Certified.
Learn More.
|
|
|
Need assistance with GAPC Certification? Consider hiring a consultant. |
A consultant is an independent person/company that the grower hires to assist them through the certification process. Consultants are not GAPC employees and using a consultant does not guarantee Certification will be granted. Rather, they are well versed in all things Certification and have completed detailed training from GAPC to help educate their growers. The consultant's role is to help guide the grower through the Certification process and assist with paperwork and record keeping practices. Learn more.
2024 GAPC Consultant Partners
|
|
|
That Farm Gal
Primary Contact: Mandy Johnson
Contact Number: (919) 499-3108
Email: mjfarmconulsting@gmail.com
Website: www.thatfarmgal.com
|
| Farm Finance Doctor
Primary Contact: Tommie and Sheila Welcher
Contact Number: (270) 766-7132
Email(s): trwelc01@gmail.com; sheilax97@gmail.com
Website: www.farmfinancedoctor.com
|
|
|
| 2024 Annual GAPC Training
Available Online and In-Person |
|
|
GAP Connections (GAPC) coordinates GAP Training annually to provide growers the opportunity to learn from content experts about the latest crop, environmental, and labor best management practices. GAPC appreciates and recognizes the partnerships we have with the tobacco Extension Educators and Specialists and other content experts to best serve the growers.
In 2024, Annual GAP Training will be available online and at a select few in-person training locations and events.
|
Online training is now open and can be found on the Grower Dashboard in the Training Section. Deadline is June 30, 2024.
|
Growers will have a variety of content videos in crop & environment, labor, and GAPC that they may select from to view. Once a grower completes watching the video, a short quiz will evaluate knowledge gained. Growers must score a 100% on the quiz for training credit to count.
|
To complete Annual GAP Training online and earn training credit, growers will be required to complete:
|
- 3 crop & environment videos and quizzes
- 3 labor videos and quizzes
-
3 GAPC videos and quizzes
|
Not sure about online training?
|
GAPC will be partnering with the County Extension offices, company members, and other partners to offer in-person training. In-person locations and dates are being scheduled now. Watch the GAPC Training Events Page for an in-person meeting near you.
For questions about Annual GAP Training, please contact Amy Rochkes, Training and Resource Coordinator, at (865) 622-4606, extension 107 or arochkes@gapconnections.com.
| |
Special Guest Speaker, Brian Pasternak, Presenting on the H-2A AEWR Final Rule |
GAP Connections is pleased to announce Brian Pasternak, Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, Employment Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor will be presenting information on the 2023 H-2A AEWR Final Rule and answering questions to help attendees gain a better understanding and be informed on the Final Rule.
Grower needing to complete Annual GAP Training should arrive at 1:30pm.
Growers who have already completed Annual GAP Training but would like to attend the special presentation on the AEWR are encouraged to join at 2:30pm.
|
Friday, February 2
North Carolina State Fairgrounds
Holshouser Building
1025 Blue Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
|
|
|
Events and News from Others |
|
|
2024 Virtual Agricultural Seminar January 25, 2024 |
| OSHA's Revised Final Rule on Injury and Illness Tracking went into effect January 1, 2024 |
|
|
Please join us for this year’s agricultural virtual seminar hosted by the Wage and Hour Division’s Northeast Region. We will be joined by representatives from OSHA, ETA’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification, and Regional Monitor Advocates. The discussions will focus on federal labor laws in agricultural employment. We will cover the topics below (and more):
|
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act
- H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program and Foreign Labor Certification
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Regional Monitor Advocate System
|
Do not miss this opportunity to learn about requirements for wages, housing, transportation, field sanitation, farm labor contractor certification, retaliation, and more.
FREE TO ATTEND
Date: January 25, 2024
Time: 9:00am - 4:30pm ET
Click here to learn more.
Register for the event here.
|
|
The revised final rule on requirements for submitting workplace injury and illness information to OSHA became effective Jan. 1, 2024. Under the new requirements certain establishments must electronically submit to OSHA detailed information about each recordable injury and illness entered on their previous calendar year's OSHA 300 Log and 301 Incident Report forms. This includes the date, physical location, and severity of the injury or illness; details about the worker who was injured; and details about how the injury or illness occurred.
Establishments with 100 or more employees in designated industries are required to submit case-specific information from the OSHA Form 300 Log and the OSHA Form 301 Incident Report. Agriculture is considered one of the "designated industries".
Online aids, including new videos and a fact sheet, are available to help walk employers through the data submission process.
Learn More.
GAPC has updated the standards and questions asked during the Certification Monitoring Visits to be in compliance with OSHA rule. Review the requirements in the 2024 GAPC Certification Compliance Guide.
|
|
|
TN-KY Tobacco Expo | February 6 | Springfield, TN
|
Western Rim Tobacco Update and Annual GAP Training March 7 | Dover, TN
|
Give it a try...GAPC HR/Legal Helpline |
GAPC has a partnership with Jackson Lewis to provide growers with a comprehensive risk management helpline service carefully designed to help manage workforce employment issues and reduce exposure to employment-related liability.
This helpline is FREE to all GAPC grower members. Growers can access the helpline by phone (833) 499-0275 or email GAPConnectionsHotline@jacksonlewis.com. When contacting the helpline, please be prepared to provide, your name, GAPC grower ID #, location, type of issue, phone, and email (if available).
|
|
|
865.622.4606 | info@gapconnections.com | 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive Knoxville, TN 37996
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
2450 E.J. Chapman Drive | Knoxville, TN 37996 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
| |
|
|
