Opening Reflections and California Concerns The AgNet News Hour began with hosts Nick Papagni and Lorrie Boyer sharing lighthearted Friday greetings before shifting to California’s serious agricultural challenges. Papagni noted …
California Agriculture at a Crossroads
Morning Reflections and California’s Challenges The AgNet News Hour with Nick Papagni and guest host Lorrie Boyer began lightheartedly, reflecting on post-Labor Day routines, before quickly turning to the serious …
John Duarte on Water, Immigration, and Fixing California
John Duarte, President of Duarte Nursery and former U.S. Congressman, joined The Ag Meter with Nick Papagni for a wide-ranging interview on the urgent issues affecting California agriculture—water, immigration reform, …
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 …
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 …
Amicus Briefs Filed Supporting Fight Against Card Check Law
Multiple industry groups have filed amicus briefs in support of a lawsuit that seeks to stop the implementation of California’s card check law. The Western Growers Association and ten other …
New Labor Rule Developed in ‘Bad Faith and Should Be Immediately Withdrawn’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 …
Farm Bureau Highlights ‘Tsunami of New Rules’ from Department of Labor
The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a final rule aimed at strengthening protections for temporary ag workers by making several changes to the H-2A program. DOL has noted the …
Supporting Farm Operations Act Introduced in Congress
The Supporting Farm Operations Act, H.R. 7046, was introduced in the U.S. House Representatives last week. It seeks to address the high cost of agricultural labor by freezing the Adverse …
Wage Declines from AB 1066 an ‘Ironclad Rule of Economics’
Farm employers are reducing the hours of overtime worked by their employees due to hourly limitations established by AB 1066. Bryan Little, Director of Employment Policy with the California Farm …
Congressional Effort Seeks to Address H-2A Wage Concerns for U.S. Farmers
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has voiced concern about the increasing H-2A wage and its impact on family farmers. Seventy-five U.S. House of Representatives members penned a letter to the …
Average Pay Levels Decline for Ag Workers After Two Years of New Overtime Rules
California’s 2019 overtime law for ag workers appears to have resulted in reduced weekly working hours and earnings for crop workers over the subsequent two years. The findings are highlighted …
H-2A Usage Continues to Grow Even with High Costs
In fiscal year 2023, H-2A visa usage in the U.S. reached a record high of 378,513 certified positions, marking a two percent increase from the previous year, as revealed in …
New Paid Sick Leave Requirements to Become Effective January 1, 2024
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 616 into law, ushering in significant changes to paid sick leave (PSL) requirements. Effective January 1, 2024, this legislation, put forth by state …