Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Labor and Immigration”
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
Declining labor force participation, lower birth rates and a collapse in net migration are combining to squeeze the U.S. labor supply. The looming labor shortage could begin to weigh on businesses and strain economic growth as soon as later this year, according to a new quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. With the labor supply about to get tighter, businesses …
USA Peanut Congress 2025: Ag Economy Stable, But Challenges Remain At the recent USA Peanut Congress, agricultural economist Jeffrey Dorfman of North Carolina State University provided an in-depth look at the U.S. economic and agricultural outlook for the coming year. Dorfman highlighted that supply chains are mostly back to normal, giving the broader economy a solid footing. However, housing remains …
We are hearing a lot of stories about the trade war currently underway with China. Mark Oppold has a look at what is being discussed by some about the situation. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida …
