…afford a giant 10 wheeler semi truck. Agriculture is just as dependent on these vehicles as any other industry. How may farms can stay functional without farm labor? Now. Here…
Trade Assistance Details Still Being Worked Out
…how much help farmers will get and how they’ll prove economic harm. More details are scheduled to come out after Labor Day. USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson says soybean farmers,…
New Labor Proposal Includes Same Challenges for California Agriculture
A new labor proposal introduced in the House of Representatives recently, the AG and Legal Workforce Act (ALWA), has received mixed reactions from the agriculture industry. Many provisions in the…
Republicans Introduce New Immigration Bill in House
…also says the bill provides generous visa allocations to ensure that labor needs are met, gives needed flexibility to avoid farm disruptions, eliminates regulatory burdens, and provides effective means of…
Trade War Endangers Farmers, Farm Bureau Tells Congress
…and tariff threats. Throughout history, some farmers have survived by expanding their operations. Today, that option is nearly impossible for many because of the lack of qualified labor. We also…
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…
The Answer to Reforming Immigration Remains Elusive
…would the legislature want to give us an agricultural labor bill that doesn’t add labor to our workforce but detracts and diminishes the labor supply we have in this country?”…
First 2017 Crop Report has Little Lingering Drought Effects
The latest Monterey County Crop Report that was recently released highlighted a four percent increase in the value of agricultural production in 2017. Despite certain weather and labor challenges, Monterey…
Senate Approves Pesticide Registration Improvement Act
…passed H.R. 1029, their own reauthorization of PRIA, with strong bipartisan support on a voice vote. A variety of agriculture, non-agriculture, environmental, and labor interests all have come out in…
Perdue Signals Aid Plan Announcement Possible Around Labor Day
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in Chicago this week says he is hopeful his aid program for farmers will be released by Labor Day and the harvest season. Perdue spoke at…
Ganaz, GroGuru Win Radicle Automation Challenge
Answering the call to help solve agriculture’s severe labor shortage, Western Growers and Radicle Growth today awarded Ganaz and GroGuru each with $250,000 in seed funding to advance their automation…
NPPC Wants Regulations Reined In Further
American pork producers are facing the triple-whammy of declining income, a growing labor shortage, and volatile markets caused by trade disputes. They don’t also need to contend with costly red…
CFBF: Farm Bill and Immigration Bill Bring Benefits for California
…use of the E-verify program and what that would do to the labor pool was also a substantial concern. “Even though we now have significant shortages of workers, at least…
Trump Reorganization Plan Offers Big Changes to USDA
…would also merge the education and labor departments of the federal government, move the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works from the Department of Defense to the Department of Transportation…