ag labor

USDA Says Seasonal Worker Numbers Jumped in 2021
USDA Says Seasonal Worker Numbers Jumped in 2021
USDA Says Seasonal Worker Numbers Jumped in 2021
The H-2A program continues to grow in popularity, or necessity, in farm country.  American agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers can fill seasonal farm jobs with temporary foreign workers through the H-2A Visa Program.  The Dep...
Simpson Calls On Senate To Pass FWMA
Simpson Calls On Senate To Pass FWMA
Simpson Calls On Senate To Pass FWMA
A bipartisan group of House members is urging the Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act as the end of the current Congress quickly approaches.  The House has already cleared the bipartisan legislation twice, but it continually gets held up in the Senate.  Idaho R...
Report: Farm Workforce Modernization Act Would Save Billions
Report: Farm Workforce Modernization Act Would Save Billions
Report: Farm Workforce Modernization Act Would Save Billions
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act awaits Senate action during the lame-duck session, and many in the farming community say this legislation is the closest meaningful immigration reform has come to the finish line in years.  Research by David Bier, Cato Institute associate director of immigration studies, said s farmers would save billions over the next few years if the Senate passes the legisla
Kind: Lawmakers Need To Address Ag Labor
Kind: Lawmakers Need To Address Ag Labor
Kind: Lawmakers Need To Address Ag Labor
As the lame duck session of Congress works through the final weeks of 2022, many farm and agriculture groups are pressing lawmakers to finish immigration reform through the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The legislation, spearheaded by Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse and others, has already cleared the House, but has not been voted on in the Senate.  Representativ...
Gastelum Says Focus Will Be Labor Advocacy and Relationships
Gastelum Says Focus Will Be Labor Advocacy and Relationships
Gastelum Says Focus Will Be Labor Advocacy and Relationships
WAFLA’s new CEO says he’s looking forward to representing farm workers and an industry that has been a big part of his entire life.  Enrique Gastelum took over leadership of the organization this spring, and says one of his biggest priorities is showing those in the farming community, and those outside the industry, the important role H-2A plays.  Gastelum says the v...
Northwest Farmers Lean On Senate To Pass FWMA
Northwest Farmers Lean On Senate To Pass FWMA
Northwest Farmers Lean On Senate To Pass FWMA
Farmers need labor certainty from the H-2A guestworker program.  After years of working for reforms, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is the best chance for agriculture to receive the labor it needs.  Shay Myers is a third generation farmer, and owner of Idaho’s Owyhee Produce a vertically integrated family farm, growing, packing and marketing nine different consumer crops, from asparagus to w
NW Tree Fruit Growers Hurt By Back-to-Back Odd Weather Years
NW Tree Fruit Growers Hurt By Back-to-Back Odd Weather Years
NW Tree Fruit Growers Hurt By Back-to-Back Odd Weather Years
Industry experts anticipate the 2022 Washington apple crop will be 11% smaller year-over-year when harvest is complete.  But why is this year’s crop smaller?   The Washington state Farm Bureau’s April Clayton, an apple grower in north central Washington, said her crop is down about 33% this year.   “So, if you do ha...

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