AEWR

Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 107th annual convention adopted several policies to guide the organization’s work in the new year.

Perhaps Congress is recognizing the many challenges farm country is facing today.

Last week, the Department of Labor published an Interim Final Rule, better known as an IFR, revising the methodology for determining the H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate.

Specialty crop growers scored, what many have called "a significant win" last week when the USDA announced its intention to discontinue the Farm Labor Survey.

American agriculture is still facing an uphill battle in finding enough labor for their farms.  Mike McCarthy, a specialty crop grower from Hood River, OR, recently shared his experiences with members of Congress.   “We're in a fruit-growing area, and we grow apples, pears, and cherries, along with a lot of other farmers in that area," McCarthy said.  "It's what you'd c...

At this week’s convention, the American Farm Bureau adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2025.   “Policy priorities include everything from passing a new farm bill, enacting regulatory reform, and creating new markets for the men and women dedicated to keeping America’s pantries stocked,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.     Recognizing the challen...

Farm employers face a variety of challenges right now, but one of the biggest is finding adequate labor and the cost of paying it.  And when it comes to H-2A reform, Kate Tynan, Senior Vice President at the Northwest Horticultural Council, said the biggest hurdle to overcome right now is costs as well as regulatory burdens.  But she...

The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging Congress to pass legislation freezing the “flawed” 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rate, or AEWR.  AFBF said the rate distorts labor costs for farmers across the country who hire nearly 400,000 employees through the H-2A program.   The bipartis...

Ag labor is the top issue for many agricultural operations across the Pacific Northwest, but many in the farming community feel lawmakers in D.C. continue to kick the problem down the road. While fruits and vegetables typically come to mind when talking about Ag labor, Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairyman’s Association says their industry is also extremely dependent on farm workers. Des ...

Farmworker groups filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of trying to suppress worker wages. Their suit asks a federal judge to set aside a Labor Department rule that could cut agricultural guest worker wages by up to $170 million over the next ten years ...