Labor
Wage rules change as ag faces host of new state laws in California
Farmers and ranchers will find themselves subject to new laws in 2022 that will raise wages, redefine animals' living arrangements and allow ranchers better access to livestock in evacuation zones. Effective Jan. 1, California's minimum... more »
More progress shown by Equitable Food Initiative in 2021
Despite ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 was a year of progress for Equitable Food Initiative as it drew strength from its multi-stakeholder approach, bringing new insights from retail partners, produce growers, workers... more »
Effective Dec. 29, 2022 Adverse Effect Wage Rates now official
The Department of Labor (DOL) published Dec. 15 its 2022 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR), which are the minimum an employer must pay H-2A nonimmigrant agricultural workers, and has proposed some changes to how those... more »
Support for petitions for citizenship comes from California Farm Bureau
California's largest membership agricultural organization is partnering with immigration advocates to support U.S. citizenship applications from farm employees who may be eligible for naturalization. California accounts for one in every three farmworkers in the United... more »
Ag workers’s exemption from travel restrictions from South Africa sought
The American Farm Bureau Federation — along with more than 60 other agriculture groups – sent a letter Dec. 13 to the Biden administration requesting agricultural workers be exempted from travel restrictions from South Africa.... more »
15 felony counts directed at Stockton farm labor contractor
Alfredo Casas, 62, of Stockton, California, has been arraigned on 15 felony counts of insurance fraud, grand theft and tax evasion. Casas allegedly underreported payroll for his farm labor contracting business by over $1 million,... more »
Violation of H-2A rules by Florida beekeeping farms hit by labor department
Three Florida beekeeping farms felt the sting of civil money penalties for failing to comply with federal laws regarding pay practices and the employment of migrant and seasonal workers. In separate investigations, the U.S. Department... more »
Citizenship effort set with California Farm Bureau, Immigration Forum
The California Farm Bureau and the National Immigration Forum announced a partnership Dec. 6 to support California farmers and ranchers wanting to help their agricultural employees become U.S. citizens. Under the program, the Farm Bureau... more »