Labor

Michigan asparagus growers eye good price bump

Favorable market conditions are leading to a nickel-a-pound price hike from Michigan's asparagus handlers in 2013, a figure that industry leaders hope will spur more interest among growers and add more acres in order to... more »

Speedy path toward citizenship proposed

Hundreds of thousands of migrant farm workers would be put on a speedy path toward U.S. citizenship and receive stronger labor protections under an immigration-reform proposal scheduled to be unveiled this week.The farm-worker component was... more »

Dispute over guest-worker program puts immigration talks at risk of delay

A bipartisan deal on immigration is at risk of stalling because of a worsening dispute over a new guest-worker program, exposing fault lines between crucial interest groups and threatening to delay the unveiling of a... more »

Why are Mexicans leaving farm work, and what does this mean for U.S. farmers?

Agriculture in North America traditionally has had its comparative advantage in having access to abundant low-skilled labor from Mexico. Around 70% of the United States hired farm workforce is Mexico-born, according to the National Agricultural... more »

Strategies to control sweet corn pests

Sweet corn producers must rely on timely pest monitoring and effective insecticide sprays to minimize ear damage by corn earworm, European corn borer and fall armyworm. The fresh-market can tolerate only minimal damage to the... more »

Who might replace Solis as labor secretary?

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis submitted her letter of resignation on Wednesday. Here's an excerpt from a Nov. 7 National Journal magazine story on potential replacements. National JournalTo read more, click here. more »

Labor department scraps child worker rule

Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed extensive new rules restricting the kind of work people under 16 could do on farms. The majority of the restrictions revolved around 13 Hazardous Occupation Orders,... more »

Growers will give ag a voice in Michigan Legislature

In November, a vegetable grower and a fruit grower were elected to serve in the Michigan House of Representatives. Roger Victory, who grows vegetables in the Hudsonville area, will represent the state's 88th district. Dave... more »