In the immigration debate, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue hopes that lawmakers pay attention to the critical shortage of farm workers for U.S. farms. Gary Crawford has the story. Concerns Rising about Farm Worker Shortages Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Remember to Invest in Farm and Ranch Employees
When it comes to farming, it’s important to remember your number one assets. Forget about all the fantastic technology and equipment available for ag these days, focus on the most important cog in your business machinery, your people. As labor becomes harder and harder for growers to find, its important invest the time to develop a culture at your business …
Ag Labor Fix Tied to DACA Bill in Congress
A complete overhaul of the American agricultural guest worker program is a major part of a House of Representatives’ plan to fix the immigration status of young people involved in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA). The DACA program is currently tied up in an immigration reform battle on Capitol Hill. A DTN report says Virginia Republican Bob …
Agri View: Migrant Labor Program Changes Dragging
Everett Griner takes a look at the H-2A Program, explains what it is, and why it is important to agriculture in today’s Agri View. Migrant Labor Program Changes Dragging Officially it is known as the H-2A Program. It is a law farmers use to bring migrant workers into the United States to help produce our crops. In reality, farmers do not …
AFBF President Zippy Duvall Discusses Farm Labor
Delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention this week unanimously re-elected AFBF President Zippy Duvall. Delegates also approved measures to help assure a prosperous agricultural and rural economy in the coming year and beyond. During a press conference, one issue Duvall was asked about was immigration reform and farm labor. This past year, many farmers were forced …
Dairy Farming Desperate for Immigration Reform
Next to the cost of feeding their animals, the cost of labor on dairy farms will always take up a large share of the budget. A Milk Business Dot Com article says labor costs will rise in the new year. As of January first, farmers in some of the largest dairy-producing states now face government-mandated higher minimum wages. California farmers …
DuPont Pioneer Confirms Iowa Layoffs
DuPont Pioneer officials earlier this week confirmed the company has laid off “an undisclosed number of workers” in Iowa. A spokesperson for the company said the layoffs are an effort to “integrate our operations and establish a streamlined, efficient, built-for-purpose organization.” DuPont and Dow Chemical closed their $150 billion merger this fall, with plans of creating several smaller companies, including …
Services are Available for Immigrant Laborers on American Dairy Farms
Immigrant labor is important to American agriculture, especially in the dairy industry. Dairy farmers across the country may not know that Mexican consulates in every state have services available to help their immigrant workers adjust to life in America. Monica Cruz of the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul, Minnesota, says there are a variety of ways employers and their employees …
E-Verify Requirement Sought in Florida
Florida businesses would have to verify through the federal government that newly hired employees aren’t undocumented immigrants, under a measure that moved closer Tuesday to appearing before voters in 2018 despite opposition from agriculture interests. A panel of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission unanimously backed a proposal (P 29) that would require all employers in Florida to use the U.S. …
H-2A Minimum Wage for Guest Workers Likely to Rise in Several States
The minimum wage for H-2A guest workers is likely to rise in several states during 2018. The National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) surveys the prevailing wages of field and livestock workers in different regions across the country. The NASS calculations are normally adopted by the U.S. Department of Labor in December as the Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for the …