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 …

afbf

Secretary Perdue on Dept. of Labor Rulemaking on H-2A Visa Program

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praised proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which could help farmers advertise job openings to domestic workers as required under the H-2A visa program.  The DOL rulemaking would require that employers seeking to hire temporary workers post the employment opportunities online, rather than in expensive newspapers advertisements reaching a limited audience.  …

Workforce Modernization Act

Expert Researchers Meet to Discuss Science Related to Heat Stress

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

Researchers representing disciplines such as the military, agriculture and sports medicine met in late October to discuss the latest advances in science and technology related to occupational heat stress in the Southeast. The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) brought together scientists from the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, Emory University and …

immigration

What’s Next for E-Verify Immigration System

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

All employers would be required to use the E-Verify system to check the immigration status of employees. Milk Business Dot Com says the requirement is part of some revisions to the Ag and Legal Workforce Act that’s currently making its way through Congress. If the Act gets Congressional approval, it would phase in the E-Verify system over time and phase …

study

UF Researcher to Study Migration Trends, Health of Emerging Farm Workers

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

As the University of Florida IFAS Extension director for Hendry County, Gene McAvoy has seen firsthand a sea change in the types of workers now coming to the United States to work on farms. “It used to be 95 percent or more of the workers were from Mexico,” McAvoy said. “Now, it’s about 50 percent from Haiti and the Caribbean. …

florida

House Vote on Guest Worker Bill in Doubt

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

House Republican leaders appear to be going back on a promise to hold a vote ahead of the August recess on a conservative immigration bill that includes a new guest-worker program for farmers. Back in June, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy promised several members there would be a vote. Politico says House Republican leaders now don’t have any plans to …

florida

H-2A Agricultural Worker Visa Modernization Joint Cabinet Statement

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

Secretary Acosta, Secretary Nielsen, Secretary Perdue and Secretary Pompeo When President Trump addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation in January of this year, he reminded the audience that his commitment to our farmers has been clear since the day his Administration began: “From that day on, we have been working every day to deliver for America’s farmers just as they …