An eleventh-hour court injunction has stopped the Obama administration’s plan to suspend H-2A reforms put in place by the Bush administration back in January. The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association was part of the suite that challenged the Department of Labor’s action and President Mike Stuart says that overturning the suspension is good for all involved.
The H2A Rule continues to be point of contention with growers and Joshua Craft, assistant director of Ag Policy for the Florida Farm Bureau explains why.
This in today from the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA):
FFVA JOINS SUIT TO FIGHT H-2A REFORM
FFVA and other growers’ associations filed suit June 9 against the U.S. Dept. of Labor in order to stop the present administration’s attempt to suspend Bush-era H-2A regulations that most of the industry still supports because of their simplicity and ease of use. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleges that newly appointed Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis violated the Administrative Procedure Act in her efforts to withdraw the present H-2A rule.
The associations are asking for a permanent injunction to stop the administration from suspending the present H-2A regulations.
“It’s extremely important that the present regulations not be suspended as Florida growers have yet to file their H-2A certifications for the upcoming season,” said Walter Kates (photo), FFVA vice president of Labor Relations.
As a light on an immigration bill flickers to life, Florida Farm Bureau Assistant Director of Agricultural Policy, Joshua Craft, says immigration and labor are top priorities to the state of Florida.
This reminder in today from Gene McAvoy, County Extension Director, Regional Vegetable Agent IV, UF/IFAS Hendry County Extension, LaBelle, Florida 33935
Revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Effective April 3, 2009
Introduction
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a reminder that effective April 3, 2009, all U.S. employers are required to use the revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, (Rev. 02/02/09). The revision date can be found in the lower right-hand corner of the form. Read the rest of this entry »
As the Florida Legislature continues their brief Easter Break, we continue to catch up on some pressing issues that are facing them with Florida Farm Bureau’s Director of State Legislative Affairs Ben Parks.
People can make adjustments to this economy, but they can not quit eating. Everett Griner talks today about the impact of the recession on agriculture.
Farmers involved with the H2A labor program need to be aware of this immediately if they have not yet received word about it in the last few days. CLICK HERE to see a previous news posts regarding this matter, and CLICK HERE to see the original post we did when this story first broke more than a week ago. And click the two icons below to hear what Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association ag labor expert has to say on the matter. Saying that farmers are not happy about this would be a gross understatement.
The recent move by the U S Labor Department to suspend the rules put in place in January, making the H2A labor program more efficient and workable for farmers, has struck a raw nerve in labor intensive areas of farm country. With only ten days open for public comment, farmers and the folks who represent them are scrambling to provide input and look into other possibilities to stop the proposed suspension. The H2A rule adjustments went into effect just days before the Obama administration took over. Hear more in our previous new post a few days ago, and an update in this commentary. Farmers interested in knowing more would be best to contact their favorite grower organization, probably knee deep into this already.
In this report, details of a move by the U S Department of Labor to suspend for 90-days the recently implemented changes to the H2A rule. This proposal is expected to be published in the Federal Register this week on March 17, and there will be ten days for public comment. Florida, Georgia and North Carolina are reported to have the most numbers of H2A certifications.
In these reports, an overview of some of the ag news headlines in Tallahassee in recent days. In this first report, Florida Farm Bureau’s Ben Parks helps set the record straight on benefits of tax certain tax exemptions to the state.
In this report, comments on why lawmakers are on pretty much on hold on budget matters until state revenue estimates are in this Friday. Also a mention of proposed university tuition increases and why, if passed, they will not mean much for agriculture research or extension.
This next report focuses on agriculture permitting and efforts by some lawmakers to streamline the process for obtaining permits, AND the fees associated with them.
And this final report aired early this week on the network, has more headlines of agriculture interest from Tallahassee.
We’re hearing from numerous contacts that the Florida Dept of Business & Professional Regulation may be ramping up its enforcement measures in the wake of the recent cold snaps affecting Florida agriculture. Our sources say at least sixteen investigators have been placed in agriculturally significant areas of the state to ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. Investigators are assigned to the following areas: Homestead, Ft. Pierce, Ft. Myers, Belle Glade/Clewiston, Immokalee/Labelle, Sebring Wauchula, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, and Quincy. Farmers should be aware of the possibility of routine checks, inspections, and investigations of farm labor contractor employees including field sanitation, payment of wages, and passenger vehicle safety.
In this report, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson says 2007 U S Census of Agriculture figures for Florida released this week proves the agriculture industry in Florida continues to be a powerful force for the state’s economy, important for lawmakers to consider as they tackle the tough budget session this spring.
To learn more about Florida agriculture at the Florida Ag Statistics Service website, CLICK HERE.
As we get into a new year and new administration Congressman Jack Kingston says that there will be challenges to overcome and that it is more important than ever for farmers to get involved.
In this report, more details about this upcoming regional fruit and vegetable conference from Charles Hall of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (GFVGA).
GFVGA organizes and hosts this conference each year, and it has become a major meeting of fruit and vegetable interests from throughout the southeastern U. S. Find more information on the conference, its agenda and registration information by clicking here.
SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference Announces Sold Out Trade Show The SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association and South Carolina Peach Council, announces the 2009 trade show has been completely sold out. The trade show provides conference attendees the opportunity to compare products, talk with industry representatives, observe demonstrations, and learn about the latest in fresh produce technology while networking with other growers. The conference will be held January 9 - 11, 2009, in Savannah, GA, and also offers informative educational sessions, including a special food safety focus forum, designed to bring the most up-to-date and relevant information to the fruit and vegetable industry. Read the rest of this entry »
It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia.
Please find details regarding Lee’s memorial services at the end of this news post.
For nearly a decade until making a move into a new career opportunity last year, Lee was a regional representative of this radio network. He travelled the region and nation, and occassionally overseas, newsgathering and representing the network from his home location Read the rest of this entry »
The Department of Homeland Security has made some changes to the “No Match” letters being sent to employers of workers with social security number issues, but American Farm Bureau officials say problems remain for producers who hire temporary labor.
The U.S. Department of Labor has granted a two-week extension of the comment period for the proposed overhaul of the migrant farm worker visa program. The original deadline was Monday. Under the program changes, employers would be required to seek U.S. employees for a longer period of time before they could recruit foreign workers.
The H-2A visa program is designed to help farmers and ranchers hire seasonal workers from Mexico and elsewhere. The administration wants to allow growers to apply directly through the federal government, rather than state agencies. The Department of Labor envisions a transition to an Internet-based submission system in the future.
An eleventh-hour court injunction has stopped the Obama administration’s plan to suspend H-2A reforms put in place by the Bush administration back in January. The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association was part of the suite that challenged the Department of Labor’s action and President Mike Stuart says that overturning the suspension is good for all involved.
The 9 month suspension on the H2A rule has begun and Joshua Craft with the Florida Farm Bureau Federation says that eventual outcome is unclear. 
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleges that newly appointed Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis violated the Administrative Procedure Act in her efforts to withdraw the present H-2A rule.
The Florida House and Senate both passed their budgets last week but that’s where the similarities end.
People can make adjustments to this economy, but they can not quit eating. Everett Griner talks today about the impact of the recession on agriculture.
The recent move by the U S Labor Department to suspend the rules put in place in January, making the H2A labor program more efficient and workable for farmers, has struck a raw nerve in labor intensive areas of farm country. With only ten days open for public comment, farmers and the folks who represent them are scrambling to provide input and look into other possibilities to stop the proposed suspension. The H2A rule adjustments went into effect just days before the Obama administration took over. Hear more in our 
In this report, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson says 2007 U S Census of Agriculture figures for Florida released this week proves the agriculture industry in Florida continues to be a powerful force for the state’s economy, important for lawmakers to consider as they tackle the tough budget session this spring. 
In this report, more details about this upcoming regional fruit and vegetable conference from Charles Hall of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (GFVGA). 
It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia. 
The Department of Homeland Security has made some changes to the “No Match” letters being sent to employers of workers with social security number issues, but American Farm Bureau officials say problems remain for producers who hire temporary labor.
