Labor

Oregon rule extends COVID-19 workplace protections, including no bunk beds

Oregon OSHA has adopted a rule to maintain risk-reducing safety measures for workers across the state against the coronavirus. Although the rule includes several changes based on the public comments received since the rule was... more »

Farm labor challenges span decades

The social and economic forces that have contributed to present trends in the agricultural labor situation are likely to continue. As a result, growers will keep responding as in the past, so more mechanization and... more »

NMSU-DACC partnership aims to develop smart-farming workforce

The New Mexico State University’s College of Engineering and College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences along with Doña Ana Community College have formed a partnership to prepare the next-generation workforce to use innovative smart... more »

H-2A workers likely have lower on-the-job death rate than native-born Americans

Guest worker visas are the best way to increase temporary migration of lower‐skilled workers in the current policy and political environment. Doing so has the additional benefit of reducing illegal immigration by channeling them into... more »

Ruling favors Washington farm groups in suit over unreasonable COVID rules

Yakima County Superior Court Judge Blaine Gibson ruled in favor of agriculture groups, prohibiting the state of Washington from enforcing unreasonable emergency COVID-19 regulations farm leaders say don’t incorporate best science, the arrival of vaccines... more »

Equipment manufacturers cite challenges faced by specialty crop producers

Most of us eat some type of specialty crop every single day. Whether you’re eating your fruits and vegetables, or even using certain seasonings to help complete that perfect dish, you’re using specialty crops. Despite... more »

Rules extended for farmworkers amid surge in Michigan COVID-19 cases

As broad community spread of COVID-19 continues, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) within the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has extended its emergency rules, originally issued Oct. 14, 2020,... more »

North Carolina reimbursing employer expenses for quarantined farmworkers

North Carolina employers that have farmworkers with valid H-2A visas who must be quarantined during the 2021 growing season due to COVID-19 will be able to apply for assistance to offset quarantine expenses. A total... more »