strike

Labor Strike at JBS

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Economy, Labor and Immigration

Some major media outlets have reported that the labor strike at the greedy Colorado beef plant is going to reduce the amount of meat available to consumers. Bottom Line analysts say that’s simply not true. The strike at the plant, entering its fifth day now today, it is by the way the first strike at a U.S. meat packing facility in some 40 …

strike

Labor Issues at Beef Plant in Colorado Impacting Markets

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Commodities, Economy, Export/Import, Exports/Imports, Labor and Immigration, Marketing, Trade

Labor issues at that JBS beef plant in Colorado plowed an otherwise positive beef trade in our review. Beef packer margins improving here last week. By the way, happy St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish and friends of Irish, heavy consumers of beef and various beverages as well. But spring coming up here at the end of the week, and that consumer demand we …

jobs

Jobs Report Good News Bad News

Dan Agri-Business, Commodities, Economy, Labor and Immigration

Strong Jobs Report Dampens Rate Cut Hopes Ahead of Three-Day Weekend “Good news is bad news” has been the theme on Wall Street late this week as investors digest strong economic data while recalibrating expectations for Federal Reserve policy. An impressive jobs report released Wednesday initially appeared positive for the broader economy. Solid employment growth typically signals economic strength and …

shutdown

DOL Reopens H2A Application Processing

Dan Agri-Business, Labor and Immigration, USDA

Department of Labor Reopens H-2A Processing Amid Government Shutdown The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has reopened its H-2A application operations even as the federal government shutdown continues. This critical development arrives at an important time for growers across the Southeast, who are preparing for the current harvest season and beginning to secure H-2A agricultural workers for the spring 2026 …

h2a

Department of Labor Reopens Operations To Process H-2A Applications

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Labor and Immigration, USDA

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has reopened a portion of its operations despite the ongoing federal government shutdown to process H-2A applications. As many agricultural producers begin preparing for the spring 2026 harvest, this reopening means that the DOL can now resume processing labor certification applications and prevailing wage determinations in the H-2A program. This move is especially significant …

slavery

George Washington and Slavery: A Complex Legacy

Dan Agri-Business, American Agriculture History Minute, Labor and Immigration, This Land of Ours

George Washington’s Complicated Relationship with Slavery George Washington, the first President of the United States, had a deeply complicated relationship with slavery. Over his lifetime, he controlled more than 577 enslaved individuals who worked on his farms and in his Philadelphia household. These individuals were forced to labor under a system that supported both his personal wealth and the early …

department of labor

Department of Labor Announces Major H-2A Program Updates

Dan Agri-Business, Labor and Immigration

DOL Announces Rule Change for H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued an interim final rule that updates how adverse effect wage rates (AEWRs) are calculated for H-2A agricultural workers, marking a significant shift in wage policy for farm employers across the country. Under the newly announced rule, the DOL will now use state-level …

farm labor survey

USDA Discontinues Farm Labor Survey Amid Rising Concerns Over AEWR

Dan Agri-Business, Funding, Labor and Immigration, USDA-NASS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will discontinue the Farm Labor Survey, a decision that may have significant implications for farm wage reporting and the future of agricultural labor programs like H-2A. According to a filing in the Federal Register, USDA is ending the long-standing survey due to “recent improvements to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of …

foreign

USDA Fires 70 Foreign Researchers Following Security Review

Dan Labor and Immigration, Research, USDA

USDA Acts on National Security Concerns in Food Supply Chain In a significant development reported by the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has terminated 70 foreign contract researchers. The move follows a national security review aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. food supply from foreign adversaries. A USDA spokesperson confirmed the action, …

epa

EPA Announces Reduction in Force

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Funding, Labor and Immigration, Legislative, Regulation

EPA Restructures to Refocus on Core Mission and Science Priorities The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a major reduction in force (RIF) as part of its broader restructuring strategy, marking a significant shift in the agency’s approach to science, research, and regulatory support. This realignment is projected to save $748.8 million and will primarily affect the Office of Research …