perdue usmca

Perdue Responds to UGA Study on USMCA

Dan Georgia, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

He oversees nation’s farm policy and he has bone to pick with UGA trade deal study The University of Georgia (UGA) recently published a study claiming the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) would cost some Georgia vegetable and fruit growers revenue and jobs. The sensational assertions are flat wrong. As a proud UGA alumnus, I’m here to tell you USMCA …

immigration

Farm Bureau Statement on Trump Immigration Reform Proposal

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Farm Bureau welcomes President Trump’s focus on fixing our nation’s broken immigration system. However, nowhere is reform more critical than in the agricultural sector. Labor shortages now are being felt by farmers and ranchers across the country, in dairy, fruits and vegetables, mushroom, livestock and other sectors. …

florida

USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help with H2A Applications, Managing Loans

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched two new features on farmers.gov to help customers manage their farm loans and navigate the application process for H2A visas. “Customer service is our top priority at USDA and these new features will help our customers as they manage their farm loans and navigate the H-2A temporary agricultural …

AFBF Concerned about Labor, Trade if Border Closed

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration, Trade

The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging the administration to make sure that any steps undertaken to tighten enforcement at the U.S. border do not create more uncertainty for agricultural producers. “Right now, farmers and ranchers are toughing it out,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Many of our products are caught up in a trade dispute. Mother Nature has devastated the …

mexico

Talk of Closing Mexico Border Concerns Ag Groups

Dan Labor and Immigration

There has been a lot in the news the past few days about President Trump’s threats to close the southern border unless Mexico takes steps to stop the illegal border crossings. And the possibility of this happening concerns many ag groups. Dairy producers point out that Mexico remains the largest export market for U.S. milk products, accounting for $1.4 billion …

desantis

E-Verify Plan a Heavy Lift

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign vow to require Florida businesses to use federal “E-Verify” checks on the immigration status of new hires remains a tougher lift than his call for a sanctuary-city ban, which is speeding through the Legislature. But he’s not giving up, even as he blames a lack of unanimity among Republican lawmakers for slowing the red-meat proposal that …

Workforce Modernization Act

Labor Discussed at Farm Bureau Convention

Dan Labor and Immigration

President Donald Trump was one of the speakers during the recent American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual convention. While he did discuss wanting support for a border wall between the United States and Mexico, he also promised to make it easier for seasonal farm workers to enter the country. During a press conference, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said immigration and farm labor …

florida

Navigating the H-2A Guest Worker Program

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

U.S. farmers and ranchers discussed the current state of regulations governing the farm labor market and efforts to navigate it, at a workshop during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. The H-2A visa program has experienced massive growth over the past decade, with the number of visas being issued to temporary workers rising 500 percent. Still, demand is …