“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 ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New …
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 …
Florida Congressman Discusses House Farm Bill
During a recent trip to Washington, D.C, Tony St. James with All Ag Radio Network caught up with U.S. Representative Ted Yoho. Yoho serves the 3rd Congressional District in Florida and is a member of the House Agriculture Committee. They talked about the House version of the farm bill and how immigration issues tied into the recent defeat of the bill in …
Agri View: Chicken Pickin’ Meat Processing Labor
Everett Griner talks about labor issues in today’s Agri View. Everett discusses how, and why, the meat processing industry needs a permanent labor staff. Chicken Pickin’ Meat Processing Labor Much of today’s agriculture is carried on by a migrant population. Labor comes and goes. It is almost adequate in the planning, growing, and harvesting seasons. It changes during the following …
H-2A Agricultural Worker Visa Modernization Joint Cabinet Statement
Secretary Acosta, Secretary Nielsen, Secretary Perdue and Secretary Pompeo When President Trump addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation in January of this year, he reminded the audience that his commitment to our farmers has been clear since the day his Administration began: “From that day on, we have been working every day to deliver for America’s farmers just as they …