Labor

Ag workers responsible for COVID-19 case hikes in Florida?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 16 again echoed his recent sentiments from about COVID-19 spread among Florida farmworkers as the state reported the highest increase in new coronavirus cases Tuesday, however, the Florida Department of Agriculture... more »

Expansion of workplace health, safety measures set in Ontario

The Government of Ontario is taking additional steps to better protect workers in the agri-food sector during the COVID-19 outbreak. The province is significantly expanding the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program and committing up to $15... more »

Safety conditions for children addressed in new guidance document

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Labor have introduced joint guidelines and accompanying checklists to help agricultural employers keep workers and others – including young people on farms – safe... more »

Report: Canada ag sector impacted as Mexico holds back workers

Mexico plans to keep migrant workers from traveling to Canada amid a wave of coronavirus outbreaks on farms, threatening a labor squeeze in the northern nation’s fruit and vegetable industry as harvests start to ramp... more »

Firm’s ‘Can Do Done Daily’ puts focus on dedicated workforce

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc., Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc., a Coral Gables, Florida-based marketer and distributor of fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, introduced on June 15 its new ‘Can Do Done Daily’ campaign,... more »

Specialty crops: Highest share of labor costs to total cash expenses at 39%

Some types of farms rely more on farm labor than others. According to data from USDA’s Agricultural Resources Management Survey, hired farm labor (including employees and contract labor) accounted for 13% on average, of the... more »

Legal alert eyes guidance for ag employers during COVID-19

The CDC and the U.S. Department of Labor recently released interim guidance for all agriculture employers to provide an action template to protect agriculture workers from COVID-19. Atlanta,, Georgia-based law firm Fisher Phillips has issued... more »

NCAE Column: Strong people come to the forefront in troubled times

Hard times create strong people. That must be why farm and ranch families are so tough. They’ve seen more than their share of hard times. Think of it. The cherry grower had a perfect bloom.... more »