ag workers

Tyson Foods says that labor unions agreed to support its requirement for U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November. According to Reuters the company will offer new benefits to workers including paid sick leave. Companies like Tyson have been trying to give employees incentives to get vaccinated through bonuses and other benefits as the Delta Variant pushes case numbers higher .

Wine grape growers, like most of the farming economy, are facing increased labor costs and labor shortages, which make it difficult to manage and harvest a vineyard while maintaining profitability. A new review by researchers at UC Davis takes a look at how growers can best utilize existing equipment ...

As lawmakers continue deliberation how to best address issues associated with farm labor and availability. "I'm here today simply to advocate on behalf of American agriculture and these workers, maintain that the capacity of this great food and agriculture industry that can either provide the benefits that we all enjoy in this country, and at the same time provide respect and dignity to farm

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval says the demand from the national organization and state farm bureaus’ that the Biden Administration secure the southern border is not a precondition for backing migrant farm labor reform, despite others say it should be. Duv ...

Starting Sunday July 25th, dairy workers in Washington will start to receive overtime once they work more than 40 hours in a week. Jeff Mayor with Washington Labor & Industries said this is due to the legislature passing Senate Bill 5172 this session, which was a response made to a Supreme Court ruling in late 2020. ...

While some claim the legislation righted a wrong, many in Washington’s Ag community say the recently approved overtime legislation does little more than hurt farmers and farmworkers. Senate Bill 5172 stair steps over time requirements for the farming community, where overtime pay will be expected past 40 hours a week starting in 2024. ...

The dairy industry is meeting vaccine hesitancy head on in an effort to get the shot in the arms of rural America. Theresa Sweeney-Murphy with the National Milk Producers Federation said organization has tried to make itself a resource throughout the pandemic, particularly on its website. ...

On Wednesday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a bill that established overtime for the Ag community. The new law will step the hours per week need to trigger overtime until it hits 40 hours in early 2024. Colfax Republican Joe Schmick said for him, that Ag overtime legislation was the biggest win for the farming community during the virtual session ...

The USDA’s NIFA recently announced more than $14 million in workforce training grants. Awarded was $9.4 million in funding for 19 Agricultural Workforce Training grants, and 12 awards totaling $4.8 million for rural economic development projects. The ...

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act recently passed recently by the House of Representatives would give dairy farmers much needed greater access to foreign labor. The National Milk Producers Federation's Chris Galen said House passage of the bill provides momentum towards addressing dairy’s labor needs. ...