h-2a

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act makes several needed changes to farm labor provisions, but according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, comes up short of delivering what farmers need.   “Farmers need a wage methodology out of labor reform that allows them to compete against imports coming in from Central and South America where growers there can grow, ship and sell produce to be sold on

The last time major changes were made to Ag labor laws in the U.S., the New York Mets were the World Series champions.  Dan Newhouse is hopeful that 33-year drought comes to an end thanks to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act he and Zoe Lofgren introduced a few months ago.  ...

In fiscal year 2019, the H-2A farm labor program again set a record for certified positions, the number of applications processed and approved.  American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh considers the more than 258,000 certified positions in 2019 a milestone.  ...

Representative Ted Yoho, a Florida Republican, is working on an agricultural guest worker reform bill, he calls the Agricultural Guest worker Proposal.  He said his legislation differs from the Farm Workforce Modernization Act recently introduced by Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse and California’s Zoe Lofgren.   Yoho sa...

Many in the farm industry have expressed their pleasure with the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The bipartisan legislation put forward by Representative Dan Newhouse and others lays out options for foreign laborers to become legal citizens, while ensuring that farmers have the needed worker to ensure operations are maintained.  Wh...

Last week, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue spoke positively about changes the Department of Labor will make to modernize the H-2A process.  The Labor Department published a final, common-sense rule that becomes effective October 21, and eliminates the requirement to advertise job openings in local newspapers.  In...

Congress will wrap up its August recess this week, and return to D.C. September 9th to start the final push of 2019.  Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse, like many other representatives from farm districts is hopeful USMCA can be brought forward for a vote in the coming weeks.  He said ...

New data shows that 2019 growth in the H-2A program is slowing.  According to the Labor Department, the number of on the farm position requests increased just 2% this year, compared to a 29% increase in 2018.  American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Veronica Nigh said there are two potential causes for this drop.   “...

Just a few days remain in the lame duck session of Congress, but lawmakers are still working to get key pieces of legislation approved.  Representative Dan Newhouse said in the remaining days of 2018, he and others want to see the issue of Ag Labor addressed.  He...

The House of Representative broke for their August recess last week, without taking action on the Ag and Legal Workforce Act.  Several lawmakers, including Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse were very supportive of the legislation, which would replace the current H-2A with an updated H-2C.  Newhouse...