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. …
Congressman Yoho on Proposed Guest Worker Bill
Immigration in the U.S. is an ongoing discussion, as many sides have dug in with their versions of how it should be handled. Of course it is an issue that hits agriculture very hard. During a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, U.S. Congressman and member of the House Agriculture Committee, Ted Yoho from Florida, said he supports a bill by …
Agri View: Problems Farmers Face Each Year
Producing a crop each year isn’t the only thing farmers have to worry about. Everett Griner talks about a few of the biggest problems farmers are faced with each day of the year in today’s Agri View. Problems Farmers Face Each Year You know, producing a crop each year is not the only problem that farmers have. They, like everyone …
Mulhern Comments on Passage of Newhouse Amendment to Improve H-2A Program for Dairy Producers
“We greatly appreciate Rep. Dan Newhouse’s (R-WA) work on behalf of America’s dairy producers to expand the H-2A farm worker visa program to include year-round employees on farms. “Rep. Newhouse’s amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill would allow farm employers to use the H-2A visa program to hire foreign workers, regardless of whether those employees are engaged in temporary …
House Vote on Guest Worker Bill in Doubt
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 …
Republicans Introduce New Immigration Bill in House
Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a new immigration bill that they say will benefit agriculture. A Pro Farmer report says the Agriculture and Legal Workforce Act would take the place of the current H-2A visa program. It would require farmers, as well as all employers, to use the E-Verify Program to make sure that all their workers …
Perdue Talks Labor Reform in Southeast
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue sat down with farmers in Georgia last week to discuss labor issues and the need for reform, especially in specialty crop-producing areas. Listen to Gary Crawford’s report. Perdue Talks Labor Reform in Southeast Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 31, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
USDA Applauds Housing Eligibility for Temporary Farm Workers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released internal guidance on changes made to farm labor housing eligibility. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 amended a section of the Housing Act of 1949 to extend the Farm Labor Housing tenant eligibility to agricultural workers legally admitted to the United States and authorized to work in agriculture. Due to this rule change, …
American Farm Bureau Board Votes Unanimously to Support Goodlatte AG Act Provisions
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s board of directors voted unanimously to support House passage of H.R. 4760, a broad immigration bill, based on the strength of agricultural labor provisions included in the legislation. “The American Farm Bureau board was resolute and unanimous in its support of these agricultural labor reforms,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Those provisions authorize a new …
Trump Immigration Furor Underscored in Florida
Amid escalating bipartisan demands for President Donald Trump to stop separating undocumented immigrant children from their families at the southern U.S. border, two high-ranking Florida Democrats were denied access Tuesday to a federal detention facility in Homestead housing an estimated 1,000 minors. The Trump administration family-separation policy — which has resulted in more than 2,000 children being warehoused throughout the …