farm labor

According to a labor cost study for Washington Apples, labor costs consumed 99% of grower net returns per bin in 2023. That figure is considerably higher than the 37% per bin reported in 2013.  Mark Powers, President of the Northwest Horticultural Council said this data supports what growers have been saying for the past couple of years.  He said if t...

The 2025 Oregon Legislative Session gets underway next week in Salem.  And while the priorities for the farming community vary quite a bit, there will be several key issues discussed; water, regulation and overtime.  For Jeff Stone Executive Director for the Oregon Nurseries Association, overtime will be one of, if not the top issues.   “What we'r...

Demand continues growing for farm labor through the H-2A program.  John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said that even though the increase in positions certified was small, it still demonstrates how important the program is.  ...

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...

Most eyes are focused on the Farm Bill, or lack thereof, but that is not the only issue farm county needs to watch as 2024 draws to a close, and we start a new year.  Mary Kay Thatcher, Senior Manager Federal Government and Industry Relations for Syngenta, said taxes will be a topic of note early in 2025.   “...

The Washington Legislative Session starts January 13th, and already the farming community is preparing for a host of issues that will have major impacts now and well into the future.  Bre Elsey, Director of Governmental Affairs at the Washington Farm Bureau, said when looking at the data, labor will be one of the most pressing topics.  She not...

NASS will kick off its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in October.  More than 1,000 Northwest farmers and ranchers will be asked to participate in the survey On-line or by mail.  The survey allows producers to provide accurate information about hired farm labor, including total number of hired farm workers, total hours worked, and total wages paid for the weeks of July 7-13 and October 6-12.  

Are farmers in Oregon and Washington moving east because of policy that makes it more and more difficult to farm?  Some say yes.   Madi Clark has a front row view from her farm Eastern Oregon farm situated south of Ontario.  She said the...

A federal judge blocked the U.S. Labor Department from enforcing a rule in 17 states that would prevent agricultural employers from retaliating against migrant workers with H-2A visas for joining labor unions.  Employers also couldn’t retaliate for workers organizing against wage theft, trafficking, and other abuses.   Courth...

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...