farm housing

The Oregon Department of Justice confirmed last week the state OSHA has the authority to adopt rules for farm worker housing.  Opponents claimed OSHA had reached beyond the agency’s legal authority when ag labor housing rules were crafted.  The DOJ said ...

The Oregon Farm Bureau is warning that legislation moving through the state House could have a detrimental impact on farm worker housing operations.  Under House Bill 3194, landowners can be held liable for any worker, housed illegally on the property and in violation of OSHA regulations.  The Far...

Earlier this week, Oregon state Representative Anna Scharf published a legal opinion determining the state’s OSHA ag labor housing rules broke state law, by reaching beyond the agency’s legal authority.  The Amity Republican said the problem started six years ago, when OSHA started an updated rule process.  She noted the agency ref...

Last month, we told you about an effort in Oregon to use kit homes to address the housing crisis in rural communities, and even farm worker housing.  Washington may be moving in a similar direction.  State senator Jeff Wilson recently introduced two bills to streamline the permitting process for kit homes.   “The kit h...

Oregon farmers say new farmworker housing rules could lead to workforce shortages.  Farmworker advocates said the rules don’t address all of their concerns, while farmers say they can’t afford the changes.   Oregon is updating farmworker housing rules that some advocates have said are alarmingly outdated.  The requirements come af...

A North Portland company is looking to make a dent in the housing shortage in rural Oregon.  Through a partnership with the USDA, the modular building company has unveiled a new workforce housing option.  The panels for the homes are created with mass timber.   “It is a h...

On Wednesday, USDA’s Rural Housing Administrator Joaquin Altoro announced that more than $4 million in grants and loans will be used to repair and rehabilitate farmworker housing in Central Washington.     “The funding we’re announcing today will provide safe, modern homes for those who work hard to feed our nation, while also creating jobs for tradespeople who will build and restore these homes,”

The state of Oregon was recently awarded $956,333 for a project to rehabilitate a McMinnville multifamily affordable housing complex that serves farmworkers and their families.  The announcement of the USDA funds was made Tuesday by Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden and Representative Andrea Salinas.  Community Hom...

The Ag community is worried proposed changes to how water wells are governed in Washington could lead to a shortage of farmworker housing.  The proposal from the Washington Department of Health would add small shared water wells including those used for farmworker housing.  Dillion...

Under a proposal being considered by Oregon OSHA, farmers who provide housing for agricultural workers within the state would have to follow new rules.  Oregon OSHA already has rules for working outdoors in the heat.  This proposal would change that rule to include cooling farm worker’s housing.   "To be capable o...