housing

DOL Providing Housing Grants for Farmworkers in Florida and Other States

Dan Labor and Immigration

The Department of Labor (DoL) recently announced the availability of $6.5 million in grants to help organizations improve their delivery of safe and sanitary housing solutions for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents.  Administered by the DoL’s Employment and Training Administration, the National Farmworker Jobs Program will award approximately eight grants to organizations that propose project designs to provide housing services in …

farmers

Farmers Buried by New Labor Rules

Dan Labor and Immigration

The U.S. Department of Labor released yet another rule that mires farm families in excessive compliance costs while disregarding privacy concerns for farmers and their employees. With this addition, DOL sets itself apart as the agency most committed to burying farmers and other H-2A employers in a mountain of regulations. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on today’s …

Florida Bill Could Clear Way for Farmworker Housing

Dan Florida, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 18, 2024) — Florida’s agriculture industry hopes a newly passed bill that would limit local regulations on farmworker housing will bolster efforts to bring in more non-immigrant foreign workers. The bill (SB 1082), which lawmakers unanimously passed, would prevent cities and counties from taking steps to “inhibit” construction of housing for farmworkers on agricultural land. The bill has …

House Agriculture Committee Offers Farm Labor Solution

Dan Agri-Business, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

The House Agriculture Committee laid out a roadmap to relieve labor shortages that have seriously impacted America’s farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Labor Working Group (ALWG) released its final report on how to improve the H-2A guest worker program. It includes more than 20 recommendations to streamline the program and make labor more affordable for farmers. “We’re losing American farms …

A Pilot to Improve Ag Workforce

Dan Agri-Business, Labor and Immigration, This Land of Ours

A new USDA pilot program has grant funding now available for ag employees needing resources to address various farm labor and workforce challenges. Rod Bain has more in today’s This Land of Ours report. The Ag sector in recent years has faced several challenges regarding its workforce. “How to add Employer Support and create a safe and healthy work environment. …

West Coast Port Workers Ratify Labor Contract

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Labor and Immigration, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF)

Last week, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents dockworkers at all U.S. West Coast ports, voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement. The Union voted 75 percent in favor of approving the agreement that runs until 2028 six-year agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2022, and runs through July 1, 2028. U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO …