Labor

California farms have chronic work shortage, study says

Across California, farmers and ranchers face chronic problems in finding and hiring qualified employees, according to a survey conducted by the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF). The informal survey of Farm Bureau members showed that more than... more »

Agricultural Act of 2017 unveiled, would replace H-2A program

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., this week unveiled a bill to create a new agricultural guestworker program. The Agricultural Guestworker Act of 2017 (AG Act) replaces the H-2A program with a more efficient, flexible and market-driven... more »

Farming can be difficult when you’re managing pain

Chronic pain is common among farmers and gardeners because of the physical nature of their work. Pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and walking can all aggravate existing conditions, or cause new disabling or painful conditions. If... more »

Grower finishes 17 years of labor advocacy in capital

For the better part of two decades, tomato grower Fred Leitz has regularly left the family farm in Sodus, Michigan to advocate in the nation's capital for reform of agricultural labor laws. Leitz this spring... more »

Nassif to take part in National Immigration Forum

On Oct. 5, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif will participate in the National Immigration Forum’s event, Leading the Way: A New Approach to American Immigration. The event will bring together faith, law enforcement,... more »

Congressman unveils Agricultural Guestworker Act

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has unveiled a bill to create a new agricultural guest-worker program for farmers and ranchers. The Agricultural Guestworker... more »

Michigan college gets grant to help farmworkers, families

Western Michigan University has been awarded more than $2 million over the next five years to support first-year, first-generation undergraduate students who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers, or the children of such workers. The U.S. Department... more »

Michigan farmworkers detained, moved out-of-state

A non-profit that offers legal services to seasonal workers is concerned about the treatment of migrant blueberry pickers who were taken into custody Sept. 19 near New Era, Michigan. According to a report from WZZM-TV... more »