OCTOBER 2020
COVER STORY
Farmers: The Tools Needed to Sustain the U.S. Food Supply and Successful Harvests, pg. 18 pg. 19 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2020 1
Contents Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com
About Us
Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader
Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad. Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com
5 Be Prepared: 5 steps to Build Your Emergency Fund 7 Tips for Landing a Job in the COVID-19 Era 9 Multigenerational Households Provide Outstanding Benefits During COVID-19 & Beyond 11 Cybersecurity Stewardship During Trying Times 12 Five Simple Ways to Support Teachers All Year Long
and an Uncertain Future 16 Six Questions to ask When Taking Your Business Online 17 Creating Working Environments for Families to Thrive COVER STORY 18 Farmers: The Tools Needed to Sustain the U.S. Food Supply and Successful Harvests
20 How to Do Laundry During COVID-19: Do’s and dont’s
14 How to Prepare Youth for a Digital Workforce
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Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag
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Be Prepared: 5 steps to Build Your Emergency Fund
Many of life’s interruptions can’t be predicted. Not having funds set aside for unexpected problems can leave you racking up high credit card debt or putting yourself in other difficult financial straits. “When it comes to savings best practices, it is especially clear after the pandemic how valuable an emergency savings fund can become at a moment’s notice,” said Jaspreet Chawla, Senior Vice President of Savings Products at Navy Federal Credit Union. “Here are some tips that might help you kick start your emergency savings.” Here’s how to create an emergency fund to protect your finances. 1. Do the math; set a goal. If your first instinct is to save an enormous sum that will cover all expenses for many months, think again. While financial experts recommend having between three and six months of living expenses in an emergency fund, this number might not be realistic if you’re just beginning to save. It’s often a good idea to start with a smaller goal - $500 or $1,000. Then, as you get into the habit of saving, you can slowly start to raise your future goals until you reach the three-to six-month threshold. 2. Decide where to put the funds. The money in your emergency fund should be kept separate from accounts you use for paying bills or making purchases and be easily accessible when an emergency arises. Using just one account may make it far too easy to “borrow” from your emergency fund for non-essential items. Instead, place your emergency funds into an interest-bearing account that’s specifically designated for this purpose. Good options include a savings account or money market account. Either can be easily accessed without penalties and allow your money to grow.
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3. Get creative and save. Building an emergency fund means you’ll need to trim spending elsewhere. Quick fixes like evaluating your cell phone plan, cutting the cord on cable or bringing your lunch to work can help free up money for savings. Or think bigger, like refinancing your home or car. Use a refinance calculator to see whether a new loan will save you money. 4. Save unexpected windfalls. You can boost the balance of your emergency fund when you least expect it with “found” money. Invest birthday or holiday cash gifts, work bonuses and tax refunds directly into your account and see how quickly you can reach your emergency fund goal. Since this money isn’t part of your typical spending, it’s easy to use it for saving without missing it. 5. Make saving automatic. We all know that saving money for the unexpected is a good idea, but it’s easy to delay in favor of more pressing concerns. Treat your emergency fund like any other monthly recurring bill and have funds directly deposited into your savings account each month. You’ll be less likely to miss the money and can sleep easy knowing you have a safety net when life interruptions occur. “We always try to emphasize the importance of savings and financial security, and we want to be a resource for our members when it comes to prepping for financial emergencies,” Chawla continued. “An emergency fund isn’t a luxury; it’s an important way to protect the things that matter most to you. I encourage you to talk to a financial institution you can trust, and get started saving as soon as you can.”—
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Tips for Landing a Job in the COVID-19 Era
The job hunt after college is exhilarating and emotional while at the same time stressful and exhausting. Adding a global pandemic into the mix threatens to upend the process for the nearly 4 million 2020 graduates. For recent graduates, the disruption to the hiring and internship experience has brought unexpected challenges and adversity, and tested their ability to persevere. Some internships have been canceled or pushed back and job offers have been rescinded as companies have frozen hiring to lessen the financial burden brought on by the pandemic. Travel bans are restricting graduates from taking jobs across borders and graduates are faced with fewer job openings and increased competition for those jobs. These are just some of the added roadblocks new graduates are facing in 2020. At the same time, many companies are pivoting to virtual interviews and networking events and, in some instances, entire internships have gone remote. With remote jobs and internships comes new challenges for students and grads to overcome. Kristen Wahl, director of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge and the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition program at Argonne National Laboratory, has helped thousands of students land jobs post-college during her 20-plus years leading the program. Here are a few tips from Wahl for landing that first job in the COVID-19 era: Use the virtual tools at your disposal to network with recruiters. With in-person events off the table this fall, jobseekers need to seek alternative methods for making the connections that previously would have happened at career fairs. Reach out to your network on LinkedIn and other recruiting platforms. Email the professional contacts you’ve made through industry organizations or extracurricular activities. Pick up the phone and call recruiters to learn more
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about an open position. It’s all about taking the extra step to stand out from the crowd when first impressions are no longer face-to-face. Take advantage of virtual recruiting fairs and career prep sessions. Is your school hosting a virtual career fair? Is the student organization you’re a member of bringing in a guest speaker for a virtual chat? Identify the many opportunities available to connect with potential employers and use them to make connections. To stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to be an active participant. Ask questions. Share thoughts. Contribute to the conversation. Don’t be afraid to speak up, but also make sure you do your research on the company first. At EcoCAR, we identified ways to connect students with prospective employers. We quickly ramped up virtual recruiting webinars and career prep sessions, continued facilitating personal introductions and industry mentoring opportunities and revised our recruiting tools to better match talent with relevant positions. And finally, practice your virtual personal sales pitch and refine your digital professional presence to reflect all you have to offer. Make sure your LinkedIn and portfolio highlight your experiences and skills. Go beyond just sharing your degree information and articulate your value proposition. This includes showcasing your out-of-the-classroom experiences, leadership training, previous internships, as well as describing times you overcame adversity. Recruiters want problem solvers and critical thinkers. They want someone who will pick up a new skill quickly and learn fast. So, instead of looking at the pandemic as a setback on your job search journey, view it as an opportunity to demonstrate you possess these qualities and are right for the job. Good luck!—
Multigenerational Households Provide Outstanding Benefits During COVID-19 & Beyond Eighty-two percent of multigenerational families say that living together has increased their bonds among family members, according to a study published by Generations United. As COVID-19 has led to increased hardships throughout the United States, many families have taken the opportunity to use this time to live together and create lasting memories they couldn’t before. Multigenerational households are like beehives; everyone has their own unique purpose in the living environment and contributes to the success of the hive. Unfortunately, society views older family members as a hindrance; however, living together under one roof shows us that our loved ones provide much more than just hugs and kisses, they provide lifelong lessons and experiences we wouldn’t get to appreciate and understand with just a yearly visit or update from a nurse’s aide. When preparing to live in a mutigenerational household, consider the below tips and technologies to help assist with safety and comfort for all family members:
* Move from fear to freedom: Living with an older loved one doesn’t have to mean being cautious of their every move. It means designing a space they can feel comfortable in. Design each room with L.O.V.E., which stands for Light, Optimize, Visualize & Ease. Integrate plenty of natural light, to regulate sleep cycles. Optimize the space by including items that will help with mobility while adding personal touches. Visualize each room by giving it a clear purpose, like eating dinner at the dining room table versus in front of the TV or alone in a separate room. Ease in navigating clear paths to the bathroom, etc. * Make the household user friendly for each generation: Depending on levels of mobility, households will need to be retrofitted to avoid slips and trips to the emergency room. If older members of the family have issues with using the restroom on their own, a perfect addition to the bathroom is a bidet. A Brondell bidet replaces a normal toilet seat that washes and blows dry. Plus, it’s customizable, heated, and includes a splash guard and a nightlight. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2020 9
* Fire safety isn’t just for kids: Make sure that everyone is being safe while they cook with tech devices like iGuardStove and FireAvert, which automatically shuts the stove off if food starts smoking to prevent a fire or burned pan from unattended or forgotten cooking. * Exercise: Wellness devices like Fitbit, Garmin, Apple watch, and Kardia are all great tools to keep the family moving. Arrange a 10-minute group exercise and get creative. Depending on mobility, the entire family can take walks around the neighborhood, do yoga, or even chair exercises on rainy days. * Utilize remote health monitoring devices: The Livio AI hearing aid has fall detection and tracks body and brain health in 27 languages. MouthLab by Aidar Health monitors more than 10 medical parameters like temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, breathing patterns, heart rate, lung function and more in 30 seconds. CarePredict assesses day-today movements including sleep, walking, eating and more. The MedWand handheld device allows users to conduct remote office visits and uses real-time collection of vital sign readings to accurately monitor medical conditions regardless of location. * Control moods: Hapbee is a wearable device and
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smartphone app that can make you feel happy, calm, sleepy, alert, focused, etc., with the click of a button. Also, the Human Charger introduces light therapy through ear buds to reach the photoreceptors of the brain, which can help those who may have the winter blues, sleep issues, or just want more energy and alertness. * Get a carefree companion pet: Hasbro Joy for All companion pets are designed to bring comfort, companionship and fun for older loved ones who may not be able to get out and walk, feed or care for a real dog or cat. These pets deliver a soothing, joyful experience that inspires smiles, laughter and fond memories. * Keep the house clean: With just the push of a button, iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop wet- and dry-mops your floors and is tiny enough to get under cabinets, beds, furniture and even around the toilet! Living together is a wonderful experience, enjoyed by millions of families across the world. By using simple technologies, we can help our older loved ones stay safe and comfortable.—
Cybersecurity Stewardship During Trying Times Data breaches, identity theft, phishing attempts and malware literally “pop up” every day. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which each year reminds us why it is critical that we remain vigilant when it comes to you and your family’s digital activity, habits and overall cybersecurity. Cybercrimes have skyrocketed in 2020 - Barracuda Networks reported in March that COVID-19-themed spear phishing emails skyrocketed 667% between March 1 and 23. As fraudsters seek to take advantage, Schwab reaffirms our commitment to our clients to keep their data safe and secure. “The spike in cyber-attacks during the pandemic underscores the importance of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and acts as a critical reminder to remain vigilant against fraudsters and cyber theft,” said DJ Johnson, senior vice president of Corporate Risk Management at Schwab. “We have a team of approximately 350 full-time and 200 contracted cybersecurity experts and employees dedicated to information security. Each day they are committed to ensuring we have the critical policies and tools in place to best secure and protect our clients’ data and sensitive financial information. In addition, we strive to ensure our clients are updated with the latest tips,
best practices and ‘red flags’ they need to be prepared to prevent fraud attempts and cyberbreaches.” Protection you can see, and protection you can’t see: When combatting fraudsters and scammers who look to exploit vulnerabilities, we focus our protection activities on three key areas: our clients and employees, our systems, and the information we are entrusted with. Some of these activities are visible to our clients: * Authentication process - Our approach to security and fraud protection is anchored by multiple levels of physical and digital safeguards. We require secure identification and authentication before initiating transactions and maintain strict rules for the creation of secure user IDs and passwords to stop others from obtaining user login information. * Protecting vital passwords - Passwords are stored in the database as “hashed” values, which are oneway mathematical functions that convert an original string of data into a seemingly random string of characters that is not useable by fraudsters. Other activities are not visible, but are equally important: * Connections process - We provide a secure transmission connection to our Schwab websites GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2020 11
through security technologies and encrypted cookies to establish and maintain a secure transmission connection designed to prevent unwanted visibility or interception. * Ongoing security evolution - We implement policies to fight against new and changing security challenges through constant assessments of our email security and login standards. Transaction monitoring, employer oversight and access control provide additional oversight to help identify unusual account behavior. We also have internal transaction monitoring systems in place to identify potentially suspicious and fraudulent activity. This year, with cyber-attacks on the rise during the pandemic, as well as our increasingly digital and
remote working network environments, cybersecurity awareness and preparedness is more critical than ever. We will continue to proactively pursue and invest in new ways to combat cyber-criminals, which we hope provides our clients with much-needed peace of mind and confidence that their data and information is safeguarded during these uncertain times. For information on more ways to educate and protect yourself and your family members from cybercrimes, visit schwab.com/schwabsafe/security-knowledge-center.—
Five Simple Ways to Support Teachers All Year Long A love of learning and a passion for children is what makes teachers special. As COVID-19 impacted schools across the country earlier this year, teachers proved their agility in shifting gears quickly to teach students as effectively as possible. Now schools begin the 2020-21 school year, and teachers again are critical in shaping children’s education during uncertain times.
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Whether your community’s schools are welcoming students back in person, online or a mix of both, it’s the teachers who have the hard work of making school a positive experience no matter the circumstances. This year in particular, it’s critical to support teachers to position them for success so students can thrive. Consider these five steps in supporting teachers and showing you care.
Add extra supplies: Go beyond the supplies list and buy extras for the teacher. This might be adding extra glue sticks and pencils, or, making a teacher’s care basket with personal items like hand lotion, sanitizing wipes, tea and coffee, stickers, etc. What’s more, remember that supplies are needed all school year long. At the start of school the supply closet is bursting, but a few months later it might be sparse. A mid-year supply drop-off is sure to be appreciated. You might even consider running a supply drive to help teachers in need throughout the year. Ask about volunteer opportunities: In-person volunteer opportunities may be limited or unavailable right now, so be proactive and ask teachers about virtual or distance volunteering options. You might be able to lead a virtual story time, organize a book club, help by checking digital papers, dropping off items at students’ homes and much more. Simply reach out to your teacher to show your willingness to help and you can discuss volunteer opportunities that match your skills and interests. Beyond the classroom, check out volunteer opportunities at libraries, study halls, community centers and more. Vote to fund a cause: As a supporter of public school teachers and students since 2009, SONIC provides essential funds needed for learning materials and innovative teaching techniques to inspire creativity. SONIC donates to public school teacher
projects multiple times throughout the school year including during the fall voting campaign and Teacher Appreciation Month in May, as well as through special funding events throughout the year. Visit LimeadesforLearning.com to learn more about how to get involved and help teachers. Stay up to date: Being informed not only helps you understand what’s happening in your student’s world, it helps you be a more engaged partner in their education. Teachers appreciate parents and caregivers who stay up to date by reading grade newsletters promptly, checking emails from the school often and visiting classroom websites or social media pages regularly. Additionally, consider attending school board meetings, even if it’s virtually, so you know what’s happening in the district. Practice patience and understanding: The 2020-21 school year contains a lot of unknowns. Whether it’s in-person, virtual or hybrid, remember to practice patience and understanding with educators as they navigate these new waters. Everyone is in this together and teachers are doing their best. Remember, the attitude you project about school is what your children will reflect, so make sure to stay positive and make the best of any situation as the year unfolds.—
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How to Prepare Youth for a Digital Workforce and an Uncertain Future
For young people preparing to enter the workforce, knowing how to secure a job is challenging enough - but now there are even more obstacles to overcome due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People around the country are experiencing greater difficulty adapting to everchanging work environments and ongoing economic shifts. Pew Research Center recently shared that 90 percent of jobs lost during COVID-19 were positions that could not telework. Fortunately for young people now entering the job market or making career moves, programs are available to help them succeed in any future career or workplace. Boys & Girls Clubs of America, in partnership with Toyota and The Coca-Cola Company, provides youth nationwide with workforce readiness programs, which includes access to real-life job experiences and resources needed to build valuable skills and become career-ready. Below are three tips leveraged from Boys & Girls Clubs of America for how young people can prepare for success in the workplace and in life: 14 RuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2020
1. Develop Skills for Remote Work. With so many uncertainties in the world right now, it is critical you focus and refine skills that help position you as a strong candidate in the applicant pool. Establishing strong verbal and non-verbal communication skills ensures easier transitions to a remote workforce, which many people are adapting to. Practice public speaking and writing with your friends and family, and ask them to make constructive critiques. With each time, you will learn how to better articulate your thoughts and present yourself with confidence and poise. Practicing proper body language, like eye contact and good posture, is also beneficial to best communicate with hiring managers during interviews as well as coworkers once you land the job. Furthermore, identifying your areas of improvement is also very valuable to work on when preparing for a job. Is time management a struggle in fast-paced environments? Do you sometimes find it difficult to adapt to unexpected changes? If the answer is yes to either question, Purdue University sug-
gests managing these situations better by identifying time wasters, setting goals and establishing routines. 2. Create Your Own Virtual Career Fair . Entering the workforce can be scary, but spending time researching and investing in resources to help you learn about different career paths can diminish that fear and make the job search fun. Creating your virtual career fair will help you identify various job opportunities, become familiar with the skills employers seek out in specific career settings and widen your horizons on the jobs available to you. You might be asking yourself, “how do I create my own virtual career fair?” First, consider utilizing free, online resources like youth.gov and mynextmove.org that provide you with skill and interest assessments and point you to jobs that match your results. From there, you’ll be able to view job applications and internship opportunities with an idea of what you like and what interests you. Alternatively, virtual field trips or virtual career exploration tools are becoming more prevalent and popular among today’s youth. For example, for teens who might be interested in manufacturing or engineering, Toyota North America offers a virtual behind-the-scenes look at their manufacturing plants through their Teen Drive 365 video series.
3. Prepare for Virtual Interviews. Before any interview, preparation is imperative so you’re able to put your best foot forward. First, you must create a resume that clearly and concisely highlights why you’re the perfect match for the job. Your resume is a recruiter’s first impression of you. To ensure you “wow” any recruiter, research free online resume writing tutorials or download resume templates to spruce things up. Also, ask for a second pair of eyes on your resume to check for any spelling or punctuation errors as well as to provide overall feedback. Additionally, host mock video interviews with a parent or peer to make you feel fully prepared for the actual interview. Recruiters across the country are hiring young people virtually now, so becoming comfortable speaking through a computer will improve your confidence and show the recruiter you mean business. Boys & Girls Club of America’s Workforce Readiness programs arm youth with a special set of skills and resources to shape their futures, feel confident exploring new opportunities and envision endless possibilities. Learn more at bgca.org/workforce.—
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Six Questions to ask When Taking Your Business Online Whether you run a solo small business, or your business is moving from brick-and-mortar to e-commerce, you’ve likely got a long to-do list - and you may not know where to start. Or if your business is already online, you may be trying to improve your website and stand out from the competition. Do you have the skills and know-how to make that happen? Not everyone does. Chances are, you know a lot about your products or services, but not necessarily how to promote your business and run it successfully using today’s digital tools. And due to the pandemic, increasing your online presence and running your business virtually has become even more crucial. According to survey data released by Fiverr, 49% of U.S. small and medium-sized businesses are optimistic about their future prospects after the lockdown has passed, but not surprisingly, nearly a quarter (22%) of them do plan to increase their digital marketing spend as a result of COVID-19. If you’re one of the many entrepreneurs trying to figure out your next steps for taking - or optimizing your business online, here are some questions to ask: 1. What are you selling? Are you selling a product or a service? This makes a difference in how you run your business. Can your business happen virtually (if it’s a service), or do you have to manage manufacturing, inventory and shipping on top of marketing and advertising, online 16
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ordering and finances? 2. Do you need your own website or online store? Many small businesses can succeed - or at least start out - by selling products on an existing platform like Etsy or Amazon, rather than creating their entire online store from scratch. But it may not be as hard to build your own site as you think. 3. What do you need on your website? What will best serve your business? “About” and “Contact Us” pages? Do you want to include a blog? Customer testimonials and special promotions for new clients? Do you need a catalog of products and services? Does your business need to include a list of services, rates and shipping costs? Making a list of what your business needs is a useful starting point for whoever you hire to help build your website. 4. What web templates do you see working best for your business? Are you familiar with WordPress, Wix and Squarespace? Which would be the best to suit your particular business? 5. What type of content do you want to see on your site? Would you like to see custom-made illustrations or animation? Stock or custom photography? How about videos? 6. How do you make sure customers can find your website? There’s a lot of competition out there. Unless you’re well-versed in SEO and how Google algorithms work, you may not know how to build an
online presence others can find using a web search. Some entrepreneurs find the thought of putting their business online daunting, but with an expert in your corner, it can be simple and hassle-free. Fortunately, there’s a service that can help you find the right talent to create a web presence that really reflects your unique brand: Fiverr is a platform connecting businesses of all sizes with skilled freelancers offering digital services in over 400 categories including graphic design, digital marketing, programming, video and animation. You can view professionals according to their skills, along with ratings, reviews and cost of the service you need. And now there’s a new tool to make it even easier to get started building a website for your business
- Fiverr’s The Shift. This new resource hub includes a website developer matching experience that will match you with a verified, highly-rated professional specializing in web design and development. For those new to creating a website, the matched talent will act as a guiding force throughout the website creation process. On The Shift hub, you can also browse inspiring case studies, read stories about how businesses have transformed their digital presence and get tips from helpful blogs, podcasts and many other useful resources for small and medium-sized business owners across all industries.—
Creating Working Environments for Families to Thrive No one has escaped the effects of the pandemic, but working parents are struggling. Staring down a lack of childcare, new work-from-home situations, and insufficient support from employers or public resources, these individuals are nearing the end of their rope emotionally, and for many, financially. The start of the school year further complicates matters as parents grapple with difficult decisions and limited options due to school policies or their own financial and employment constraints. While parents navigate this fraught period for their families and bank accounts, the country must understand three things: Where parents stand now, what they need from their employers in the future, and what can be done in the meantime to find relative peace and security. Where Parents Stand. According to Prudential’s Financial Wellness Census, over half of Americans said their financial health was negatively impacted following the outbreak of the pandemic. For Millennials and Gen X, many of whom are parents of school-aged children, more than one in five households saw their income fall by half or more. It is no surprise, then, that 58 percent of caregivers, a group which includes parents, are currently concerned for their financial futures. Working parents today are scared and depleted. Doing their jobs at home while simultaneously managing their children’s health, entertainment and education all day, parents have been juggling at least two full-time jobs since March. On top of that stress, their changed financial situations have led to higher stakes and fewer solutions when it comes to education and care as the school year begins. What Parents Want. In the midst of a financial crisis, the Financial Wellness Census found that
Americans turn first to the federal government for help, followed closely by family and friends. Only 14 percent sought financial assistance from employers during this time, but results concerning employees’ feelings about benefits reveal how workplaces can evolve to provide parents with greater support. The statistics are particularly telling for women, who typically carry a disproportionate amount of household childcare responsibilities. In fact, 43 percent of women want more flexible work options compared to only 29 percent of men. “Flexible work options” means the freedom to work remotely or at nontraditional hours of the day, but for parents it means being present for their children at bedtime and making their kids’ lunch without anxiously checking work emails. Less constraining expectations around working hours can even open up the possibility of homeschooling for high-risk families who cannot afford private tutors. What They Can Do Now. Times are hard and deep systemic problems can slow needed changes. In the meantime, Amanda Clayman, financial therapist and Prudential’s Financial Wellness Advocate, is guiding parents. “As parents in a state of fear and exhaustion, processing reality is difficult, which puts us at risk of reacting (often financially) instead of thoughtfully responding to our situation,” says Clayman. “I recommend slowing down and asking yourself: What are the facts? What aspects of this situation do I control? And what is outside my control?” From there, Clayman encourages parents to find a best-fit solution for their family within their financial means. “Be open to giving up the idea of a feel-good decision and remember your family solution will look different from your peers,” she says. Continued on Page 20 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2020 17
COVER STORY
Farmers: The Tools Needed to Sustain the U.S. Food Supply and Successful Harvests Farmers in the U.S. understand that many factors must come together for a successful growing season. From the right balance of rain and sun to planting at optimum times and controlling weed growth, farmers do their best to plan around uncertainties and use the technologies available to handle new challenges each season. However, if one of their essential tools is taken out of the equation, it can devastate an entire harvest.   The crops that farmers grow feed the world, but there are other green plants growing in their fields 18
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that do the opposite: weeds. Broadleaf weeds can be particularly difficult to manage, as they overtake fields and choke out healthy plants. About 38 states in the U.S. now also have at least one species of weeds that has resistance to common herbicides.   For soybean and cotton farmers, this issue directly threatens their livelihood as nutrients are drained from the land by invasive weeds. This not only impacts farmers’ ability to run a sustainable business, but it can have consequences for a safe and affordable food supply.
A big problem that is only getting worse. Weeds have always been an issue for growers, but one of the biggest problems for the modern farmer is that weed species are evolving. Broadleaf weeds are becoming more herbicide-resistant, which means that farmers need more efficient tools and new innovations to control and protect their fields. One tool that’s helped farmers manage these weeds is dicamba, an over-the-top weed control product that is effective on certain herbicide-resistant weeds, like pigweed and Palmer amaranth. Dicamba has been used on fields for over thirty years, across multiple generations of farmers, and has evolved into different formulations to control resistant weeds. For dicamba-based product Engenia herbicide, which is effective on more than 200 broadleaf weeds, its future is currently with the U.S. EPA to review and determine its registration for the 2021 growing season. Prior to the availability of dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton seed varieties, growers reported a minimum 50% yield loss in fields with resistant pigweed, as just one example. Without dicamba-based products, farmers would be estimated to lose up to $10 billion and $800 million in soybean and cotton yields alone, according to the National Agriculture Statistics Service and the National Cotton Council. The U.S. EPA approval of dicamba is an important decision that is weighing heavy on farmers’ minds. Many have already been forced to make decisions
and investments in seed trait systems, herbicides and application tools for the next growing season. A disruption in their access to post-emergent tools like dicamba would be devastating to their yield and their business. Finding a solution for the farmer and Mother Nature. The heart of a farmer resides in the health of the land. Finding strategies that work for the modern grower can be a challenge, especially as new problems emerge such as herbicide-resistant weeds. Dicamba is not a new treatment; farmers have used dicamba for the last 50 years. Over-the-top formulations of dicamba are designed to work with specific herbicide-tolerant crops and control specific weeds and, when applied correctly, can help a farmer have a better growing season with minimal passes in the field. Farmers and applicators also complete annual training to ensure correct application of the product, in line with its current label, as good stewards of the land helping to preserve the value of the technology for the next generation. Many farmers have a lasting legacy and connection to the land that goes back generations. They depend on healthy fields for a bright future and to feed a growing population, while relying on products that support their efforts for a successful growing season. To learn more, visit agriculture.basf.us.—
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Creating Working Environments, Continued from page 17 Try looking to community resources for support and solace. No path forward is perfect in a pandemic, but by regularly tuning in to personal priorities, leaning on their communities, and reminding themselves of their emotional and financial adaptability, families can find avenues for support. Working parents have responded to financial and situational setbacks with creativity and courage this
year. Their efforts have kept them afloat, but they are tired. As these parents look to the future, workplaces can help by offering environments, benefits and scheduling options that allow their employees - and their employees’ children - to thrive. Until then, keeping a firm grasp on their emotional and financial reality, being gentle with themselves, and taking pride in their flexibility will keep working parents going.—
How to Do Laundry During COVID-19: Do’s and dont’s Good laundry practices in the home are more important than ever. Recommendations from the North American Cleaning and Sanitization Expert Panel, which recently convened in a workshop hosted by the University of Arizona, offer guidelines to help reduce the spread of infections and illness when it comes to laundry practices in your home. These methods can give you better peace of mind, knowing that you’re doing all you can to help reduce the spread of viruses that cause COVID-19, the flu and colds. Here are some easy-to-follow do’s and don’ts for laundry best practices in your home: DO use a deeper-cleaning, high-quality laundry detergent that removes deeply embedded soils and germs. According to one of the experts on the panel, 20
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microbiologist and University of Arizona professor Dr. Charles P. Gerba, regular good laundry practices, combined with the use of a deeper-cleaning, high-quality detergent and precautions like washing your hands after handling soiled or wet laundry is enough to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. “Viruses that cause colds, flu and COVID-19 are very sensitive to the surfactants found in deeper-cleaning, high-quality laundry detergents,” said Dr. Gerba. “Combined with the regular laundry process and special handling precautions including hand washing, deeper-cleaning detergents can provide better protection for you and your family versus the use of lighter cleaning detergents.” DO always wash or sanitize hands after handling soiled laundry and transferring wet laundry from washer to dryer, even in healthy households.
DO use special precautions if COVID-19, the flu, or a cold is suspected or confirmed. Wear disposable gloves if possible when handling dirty laundry (clothes and linens) from a person who is sick. Dirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people’s items. Do not shake dirty laundry. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers, appliance and other surfaces that contact soiled laundry. Remove gloves, and wash or sanitize hands right away. Wash or sanitize hands again after transferring wet laundry from washer to dryer. DO frequently wash clothing and other items such as bath towels, hand towels and kitchen towels. Bedsheets and especially pillowcases also require frequent laundering. DO use the highest temperature clothes washer setting you can safely use, according to the care instructions for the items being laundered if a respiratory illness such as COVID-19, the flu or a cold is suspected or confirmed. Healthy households can wash clothes in cold water. DO regularly clean and disinfect your home’s clothes hampers, appliances or other surfaces that come into contact with soiled laundry. DON’T use a laundry sanitizer for everyday cleaning. Laundry sanitizers are an added extra step needed during specific illnesses, such as the stomach flu, and are not needed to protect you and your family against the viruses that cause colds, the flu, and COVID-19. In special situations where a laundry sanitizer is recommended for use, it should always be used after washing with a deeper-cleaning laundry
detergent. DON’T wait to wash soiled clothes or bedding of an ill family member - wash those items as soon as possible to avoid spreading infection in your household. DON’T wash bedding or clothes from a family member who is ill with an enteric virus (stomach bug, vomiting and diarrhea), has a weakened immune system, or work clothes contaminated by germs from sick people or animals together with laundry from other members of the household. Keeping that laundry separate can help prevent viruses or bacteria from spreading to others. Wash in hot water, using a deeper-cleaning laundry detergent plus a registered sanitizer and/or sanitizing cycle on the washing machine. Dry in a dryer on high heat. Wearing disposable gloves when handling soiled laundry from an ill household member can provide an extra layer of protection. Following these laundry practices can help ensure your family will be less likely to spread bacteria or viruses, says Dr. Gerba, helping to reduce the risk of illness for everyone in your home. Learn more about good laundry and cleaning practices as recommended by the North American Cleaning and Sanitization Expert Panel by visiting News.Arizona.edu/story/dirt-laundry-and-how-reduce-your-risk-getting-sick.—
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RuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2020