Labor

NCAE Column: Bingo, bango here we go with a litany of issues

The regulatory engine that is Washington, D.C., is roaring back to life for agricultural employers. In July 2019, the Trump administration Department of Labor (DOL) promulgated 489 pages of proposed regulatory changes for the H-2A... more »

NCAE column: Politicians must act for sustainability of ag labor

One of the biggest drags on agricultural employer profitability, and consequently the employer’s sustainability, are wage rates disconnected from the market for agricultural labor in the United States. This disconnect is being significantly driven by... more »

NCAE: Wage increases naturally lead to job loss – ag included

Seriously, what did they expect would happen? The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office recently analyzed the economic impact of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 and found, to the surprise of no one in agriculture... more »

Headlines a mixed bag, much like ag labor progress

The headline of the article was a real attention grabber! In fact, I looked twice to make sure I had read it properly. To tell you the truth, I was a bit skeptical at first.... more »

Retaining good employees requires an investment

I regularly encounter retail farm market managers and owners who express frustration with not being able to find, much less keep, good employees. Also, they talk about training employees to represent or at least understand... more »

Growers get proactive for workers relations

Wage rates, federal and state labor laws, food safety regulations and buyer-mandated audits are making employers’ relationships with staff increasingly more complicated. Workers need to be trained in procedures and best practices, but with the... more »

Great Lakes EXPO speakers to cover labor environment

It isn’t news to growers that the agri-labor market is a challenge. The shortage in able-bodied workers and difficulty filling H-2A visas, plus the added financial burdens included in requirements for utilizing H-2A workers, makes... more »

Guest worker legislation opposed by Western Growers

The Western Growers Board of Directors recently voted to oppose House Resolution 4760, which the group called "flawed" in its attempt to reform agricultural labor. Sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia, the resolution would create a... more »

California agriculture faced severe labor shortage, survey says

California agriculture has a chronic problem finding and hiring qualified employees, according to a survey of farmers and ranchers published by the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF). The informal survey of Farm Bureau members showed that more... more »

Tougher pesticide safety rules are now in effect

Recent revisions to EPA’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS) went into effect Jan. 2, 2017. WPS is primarily intended to reduce the risks of illness or injury to workers and handlers resulting from occupational exposures to... more »

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