Farm Workforce Modernization Act

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

Groups like the American Business Immigration Coalition Action, the National Milk Producers Federation, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and many others involved in U.S. dairy held a press conference on labor shortages during World dairy Expo in Wisconsin...

Time may be running short, but Dan Newhouse remains optimistic that the Senate will address ag labor needs via his Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The legislation which already cleared the House, has stalled in the Senate.  And while the window for the 117th Congress is starting to close, the Chair of the Western Caucus believes lawmakers can act in the coming months.    “We have ...

Dan Newhouse says he's frustrated over the lack of movement on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The legislation cleared the House of Representatives in March 2021 and since then has been in a holding pattern in the Senate.  The central Washington Republican said time is running out. "Ther...

Last week, Republican leaders from the Agriculture and Budget Committees introduced the Reducing Farm Input Costs and Barriers to Production Act.  Dan Newhouse, chair of the Western Caucus, said the legislation would protect and promote American agriculture by reversing the Biden Administration’s regulatory barriers to domestic production, while providing immediate relief to farmers and families a

Ag Labor remains one of the chief concerns for the farming community, not only due to increasing costs, but limited availability in 2022. Dan Newhouse, chair of Western Caucus said unfortunately, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which has already cleared the House is stalled in the Senate ...

In today's Focus on Fruit, Jon DeVaney with the Washington state Tree Fruit Association takes a look at the Ag Labor situation for the season ahead. If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia... Read More ...

As producers look to a new growing season, several issues remain unresolved, chief among them is the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Because of delays in D.C., the Adverse Effect Wage Rate is forecast to increase to $17.41 an hour this year ...

As lawmakers start a new year in Washington D.C., one of the biggest questions the farming community is hoping to see addressed revolves around Ag labor and immigration reform. Dan Newhouse, coauthor of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, said despite passing the House, the legislation has stalled in the Senate, primarily because President Biden’s Build Back Better contains some provisions to a

This was a difficult year for local asparagus growers not just because of the weather. The biggest challenge was a lack of labor to pick and process their fields, hurting yields and quality. Executive Director of the Washington Asparagus Commission Alan Schreiber ...