I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. George Washington had a complicated relationship with slavery during his lifetime. He controlled a cumulative total of over 577 slaves forced …
California Dairies, Inc. Shuts Down Los Banos Facility
California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) announced the immediate closure of its Los Banos, California, manufacturing plant, impacting approximately 38 employees. “This was a difficult decision, one not made lightly,” said Brad …
Automation at FIRA Tackles Labor Challenges in Agriculture
Yolo County recently hosted the latest installation of the FIRA (Forum for International Agricultural Robotics) event, which attracted over 1,000 attendees on its first day. This year’s event, now in …
Dock Worker Strikes Threaten U.S. Meat Exports
Dock worker strikes across the East and Gulf Coasts threaten to disrupt the U.S. meat and livestock industries significantly, according to Erin Borror, Vice President for Economic Analysis at the …
Port Strike Could Hinder U.S. Ag Shipments
A potential strike at three dozen U.S. ports could upend supply chains and raise prices weeks before election day. Farm Policy News says the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) says it …
Addressing Farm Labor Challenges Through Technology
Collaborative efforts are underway that seek to address some of the short and long-term labor challenges in farming. Chief Innovation Officer for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gabe Youtsey, said …
Preliminary Injunction Against DOL Rule Allowing H-2A Workers to Unionize
A federal court in Georgia has temporarily blocked the Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing a new regulation that would allow H-2A visa farmworkers to unionize. The preliminary injunction, requested …
Another Increase to California’s Minimum Wage is On the Way
California’s minimum wage is set to increase once again starting January 1, 2025. The increase applies to all employers, regardless of size. The increase is based on inflation, specifically a …
Injunction Pauses Unionization Efforts Amidst Constitutionality Questions
A recent court decision has granted Wonderful Nurseries a preliminary injunction to stop the bargaining process with the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, raising significant constitutional concerns about California’s “Card …
Labor Bill Passes Appropriations
There was strong debate at the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, as the full committee marked up the bill for fiscal year 2025 funding for the Departments of Labor, Health …
Payroll Costs for California Farmers Increased 244 Percent in 20 Years
Total payroll costs for California farmers have increased dramatically in 20 years. Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Ag and Resource Economics at UC Berkeley, Ali Hill …
Governor Signs Private Attorneys General Act Reform
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 92 and Assembly Bill 2288 to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). These reforms aim to help workers get fair compensation while …
PAGA Reform Agreement Reached
After months of discussions among California’s government officials, labor advocates, and businesses, an agreement has been reached to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). The PAGA reform aims to …
New Labor Rule Developed in ‘Bad Faith and Should Be Immediately Withdrawn’
The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) has expressed significant disappointment with the new 600-page regulation from the Department of Labor (DOL). In a scathing response to the rule, Council …