Source: HELENA AGRI-ENTERPRISES, 3/23/20

RE: Impact Statement

March 23, 2020

Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC (Helena), one of the nation’s leading agronomic solutions providers for more than 60 years, remains committed to our industry amidst the recent COVID-19 pandemic. While the long term impacts on businesses are still uncertain, we believe that nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our employees, customers and communities.

Helena is an integral part of the supply chain providing products, services and guidance to growers across the country who are responsible for producing and protecting our nation’s food supply. It is essential that Helena be allowed to continue to operate our business in order to serve our customers’ needs. This would require federal, state and local governments, as well as private industries, to recognize Helena as an “essential” business to allow necessary business transactions to continue throughout any shelter-at-home, curfew or other mandated shutdown of businesses.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s declaration from March 19, 2020, specifically identifies the food and agriculture industry, as well as those involved in supporting this industry, as part of the essential critical infrastructure of the nation. The COVID-19 Guidance issued by the President on March 16, 2020, states: “If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”

We ask that state and local governments, as well as our vendors, support the recent federal declaration and agree to exempt Helena’s business as “essential” in support of the food production supply chain.

Helena will continue to monitor the situation relying on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities to guide our decision on how to respond to current situations regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Should you wish to discuss, please contact Sean McCarty at 901-661-2486.
Best Regards,
Sean McCarty
Director, Government Affairs