WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced this week a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on its proposal to modify the methodology used to determine the hourly Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for the H-2A program. The proposed changes will better enable the department to meet its statutory mandate to ensure the employment of H-2A workers will …
Labor Crisis: Farmers Need to Vocalize Concerns for Reform to Occur
By Clint Thompson Southeast producers who have concerns over the proposed Farm Workforce Modernization Act are encouraged to voice their displeasure to members of Congress. It is the only way real change can be made with the current Ag labor system, says Bob Redding, who works for the Redding Firm and serves as a lobbyist for agricultural groups in Washington, …
DOL Extends Comment Period for COVID Vaccination, Testing ETS
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration has extended the comment period for the COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) to Jan. 19, 2022. OSHA extended the comment period by 45 days to allow stakeholders additional time to review the ETS and collect information and data necessary for comment. Submit comments identified …
Florida, Georgia Remain Top Users of H-2A Program
Florida and Georgia remained the top two users of the H-2A program, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of Sept. 30, 2021. For the fiscal year (FY) 2021, the number of certified positions for Florida numbered 44,706, or 14.1% of the total certified in FY 2021. Georgia was second with 35,205 positions or 11.1%. The other top states …
Heat Standard Impact: Comment to OSHA Before Dec. 27
By Clint Thompson Potential rules protecting indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat could have significant ramifications for vegetable and specialty crop producers. Imagine 35-to-45-minute paid rest breaks every hour if the temperatures are high enough during the summer. Ellen Hendley, vice president at AgWorks H2, LLC, can’t fathom it, either. That’s why she encourages growers to be as vocal …
Additional Workers: DHS Announces Six Countries Now Eligible for H-2A, H-2B
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State, announced this week that nationals in six new countries are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in the coming year. The notice listing the eligible countries was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday. “The Department of Homeland Security is committed …
Bridging the Gap: Southeastern, Western Producers Need to Compromise
Ag Labor Reform a Complex Issue By Clint Thompson A resolution to the lingering issue of Ag labor legislation starts with bridging the gap between southeastern growers and western producers. Bob Redding, who works for the Redding Firm and serves as a lobbyist for agricultural groups in Washington, D.C., discusses the impact that would be met if both sides could …
Registration Ongoing for Labor Forum
By Clint Thompson Registration is still ongoing for the upcoming Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum on Nov. 9-10 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The two-day conference will feature talks specific to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, Department of Labor (DOL) wage and hour audits, being compliant with OSHA and DOL in the COVID-19 …
FFVA President: H-2A Program is Old, Outdated, Broken
By Clint Thompson The H-2A temporary agricultural workers program is a “old and outdated system.” Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) President Mike Joyner argues it is a “broken” system in need of immediate repair. “I think first and foremost we struggle to get any domestic workers to work on the farm. We rely so heavily on the H-2A program. …
AFVGA Conference to Address Challenges Farmers are Facing
By Clint Thompson Challenges are nothing new for Alabama’s vegetable and specialty crop producers. Whether it is labor issues, crop production or unfair trade, no grower is immune from the daily rigors of maintaining a successful farming operation. Next month’s Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) Conference and Trade Show will address issues pertinent to the state’s producers, says …