The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety (NCCRAHS) announced resources that can be used to help keep young agriculture workers safe. NCCRAHS pointed out that there are serious risks to children doing farm work, as well as positives. During the past decade, more youth have died working in agriculture than in all other industries combined, the …
Vilsack Delivers Statement at Immigrant Farmworkers Hearing
On Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified during the “Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America” Judiciary Committee hearing. This was the first-ever appearance by an Agriculture Secretary before the full Senate Judiciary Committee. During his opening statement, Vilsack discussed the important role immigrant farmworkers have in the food and agriculture industry and the overall economy. Vilsack said we …
NMPF Urging Senate to Craft a Bill for Essential Immigrant Farmworkers
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Wednesday that highlighted the importance of immigrant farmworkers to our nation’s food supply and rural communities. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) thanked the Committee for holding the hearing. In a release NMPF said, “Immigrant employees are vital to the dairy industry, with an estimated 79% of the U.S. milk supply produced …
Pork Producers Urge Congress to Address Comprehensive Labor Reform
According to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the U.S. pork industry is suffering from a labor shortage that could increase production costs and consumer food prices if not addressed through visa reform to provide better access to the foreign-born workers on which it depends. And NPPC President Jen Sorenson testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee about this shortage. …
Avoiding Heat-Related Deaths
A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report showed 215 people in Florida died from heat-related causes in the last 10 years. The fact that heat-related deaths happen throughout the year surprised the researchers who wrote the report. Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, helped write the report. She and …
Florida Immigration Fight to be Heard in September
(NSF/June 6, 2021) — A federal appeals court will hear arguments in September in Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s challenge to immigration-enforcement moves by the Biden administration. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled arguments the week of Sept. 20 in Miami, according to court documents. Moody went to the appeals court last month after U.S. District Judge …
Crew Leaders Backed in Overtime Fight
A federal appeals court sided with two crew leaders on Friday in a dispute about whether they should be paid overtime for driving farmworkers to accomplish tasks like buy groceries, go to the bank and do laundry. Crew leaders Jose Ramirez and Joel Santana filed the lawsuit in 2017 against Statewide Harvesting & Hauling, LLC, which is a Florida company …
Vilsack Discusses History of Discrimination by the USDA
During that hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers, “We will over the next four years do everything we can to root out whatever systemic racism and barriers that may exist at the Department of Agriculture.” In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, Vilsack explained what they are looking at. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know …
Secretary of Transportation on American Jobs Plan
As the Biden Administration rolls out the American Jobs Plan, there is a focus on helping agriculture and rural America. Pete Buttigieg, the new U.S. Secretary of Transportation, says transportation and infrastructure are vital for rural areas. The American Jobs Plan is a $2.3 trillion investment in infrastructure, the issue now is getting members from both parties and both chambers …
Warnock Wants Unnecessary Trade Barriers Removed
Last week, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock toured various areas of Southwest Georgia agriculture to address the need of farmers. Tyron Spearman talked with the Senator at one of those stops where he noted his number one goal is to get Washington to remove what he says are unnecessary barriers for trade and better working conditions. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New …