farm workers

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association has thrown its support behind two pieces of legislation looking to address ag overtime.  Jon DeVaney has the latest.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to...

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 State University's Luisa Santamaria discusses her efforts to provide bilingual education to vineyard workers.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com ...

A federal judge issued an injunction against the Biden administration’s expanded protections for farmer workers in the country under the H-2A program.  The injunction, issued by a U.S. District Judge in Kentucky, applies in Ohio, West Virginia, Alabama, and Kentucky.  Plaintiffs in...

With agricultural labor challenges across the entire sector, some farmers and ranchers are turning to a unique type of visa to alleviate the burden.  Samantha Ayoub is an associate economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation;   “TN visas are part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agr...

Immigration is a hot buttoned issue not only locally, but nationally as well.  What impact are those conversation and policy discussions having on tree fruit producers across the Northwest?  We put that question before Mark Powers with the Northwest Horticultural Council.     I...

Ag Organizations across the country are seeking a nationwide injunction against a new U.S. Department of Labor rule, allowing foreign farmworkers to form unions, as well as other considerable changes to the H-2A program.  A federal judge in Georgia has already blocked the DOL rule, “Improving Farmworker Protections” in 17 states, including Idaho.  In mid-September, a...

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 International Fresh Produce Association and nine co-plaintiffs filed a lawsuit contesting the U.S. Department of Labor’s regulatory overreach and limitations on the freedom of speech of farmers who employ temporary workers.   “DOL is exacerbating an already enormously challenging labor crisis for growers and agriculture employers across the country. This lawsuit ch...