legislation, Regulations

USDA takes ‘bold action’ to ban Chinese farmland ownership, elevate farm security

The USDA launched its National Farm Security Action Plan on July 8 during a cabinet-level event aimed at barring China and other “foreign adversaries” from acquiring U.S. farmland, signaling a new... more »

Labor, Midwest, Regulations

MSU study shows farm labor changes, challenges

For the first time, the Mexican immigrant population in the U.S. has started to decline, creating new labor supply pressures for industries that rely on immigrant employees. In a Michigan Sta... more »

Labor, Regulations

Soaring AEWR costs: Adverse Effect Wage Rates harming growers

Along with other increasing input costs, growers are being slammed with double-digit increases in Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) rates. This year, the combined national average field and li... more »

Crop Protection, Disease Control, Leafy Greens, West

Enza Zaden releases lettuce varieties with downy mildew resistance

Enza Zaden has released lettuce varieties highly resistant to new downy mildew, a disease that could harm California lettuce production, particularly in the Salinas and Imperial valleys. A newly id... more »

Labor, legislation, Regulations

Farm groups react to DOL H-2A final rule suspension

Produce and farm industry grower groups are responding to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) suspending enforcement of a farmworker protection rule. On June 20, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Divisi... more »

Labor, Regulations

Labor Department suspends H-2A worker protection rule

The U.S. Department of Labor has suspended a contested measure that extended protections to H-2A workers who organize to form labor unions. Components of the rule, “Improving Protections for Work... more »