nppc

Pork Producers Urge Congress to Address Comprehensive Labor Reform

Dan Labor and Immigration, Pork

According to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the U.S. pork industry is suffering from a labor shortage that could increase production costs and consumer food prices if not addressed through visa reform to provide better access to the foreign-born workers on which it depends. And NPPC President Jen Sorenson testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee about this shortage. …

heat-related

Avoiding Heat-Related Deaths

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Dairy, Field Crops, Fruits, General, Hemp, Herbs, Labor and Immigration, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pecans, Research, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, Vegetables, Weather

A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report showed 215 people in Florida died from heat-related causes in the last 10 years. The fact that heat-related deaths happen throughout the year surprised the researchers who wrote the report. Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, helped write the report. She and …

house

Florida Immigration Fight to be Heard in September

Dan Florida, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

(NSF/June 6, 2021) — A federal appeals court will hear arguments in September in Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s challenge to immigration-enforcement moves by the Biden administration. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled arguments the week of Sept. 20 in Miami, according to court documents. Moody went to the appeals court last month after U.S. District Judge …

Local Working Group

Crew Leaders Backed in Overtime Fight

Dan Florida, Labor and Immigration

A federal appeals court sided with two crew leaders on Friday in a dispute about whether they should be paid overtime for driving farmworkers to accomplish tasks like buy groceries, go to the bank and do laundry. Crew leaders Jose Ramirez and Joel Santana filed the lawsuit in 2017 against Statewide Harvesting & Hauling, LLC, which is a Florida company …

Local Working Group

Vilsack Discusses History of Discrimination by the USDA

Dan Labor and Immigration, USDA, USDA-FSA

During that hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers, “We will over the next four years do everything we can to root out whatever systemic racism and barriers that may exist at the Department of Agriculture.” In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, Vilsack explained what they are looking at. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know …

nrcs

Secretary of Transportation on American Jobs Plan

Dan General, Labor and Immigration

As the Biden Administration rolls out the American Jobs Plan, there is a focus on helping agriculture and rural America. Pete Buttigieg, the new U.S. Secretary of Transportation, says transportation and infrastructure are vital for rural areas. The American Jobs Plan is a $2.3 trillion investment in infrastructure, the issue now is getting members from both parties and both chambers …

government shutdown

House Hearing will be Foundation for Anti-Discrimination Legislation

Dan Labor and Immigration, Legislative

Last week, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to review the state of U.S. black farmers. Committee Chairman David Scott from Georgia said the hearing will lead to future anti-discrimination legislation. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says American agriculture needs much more diversity. The new American Rescue Plan introduced by the Biden administration does include steps to help address discrimination …

department

Department of Labor Targeting Southeast Agriculture

Dan Citrus, Labor and Immigration

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is engaged in an education and enforcement initiative to increase compliance with federal labor laws in the Southeast’s agricultural industry. In addition to enforcement activity, the initiative provides compliance assistance to employers and educates workers and other stakeholders. The division is working with industry stakeholders in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, …

immigration reform

House Passes Ag Workforce Bill

Dan Labor and Immigration, Legislative

(NAFB) — “Farmworkers are vital to the wellbeing of our country and our economy,” says President Joe Biden. “For generations, farmworkers across America, many of whom aren’t in the country legally, have worked countless hours to feed our nation and ensure our communities are healthy and strong.” He says that’s even more clear because of COVID-19. Democrat Zoe Lofgren of …