COVID-19

Ruling against farmworkers in MDHHS testing mandate to be appealed

An Aug. 21 ruling by U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney of the Western District of Michigan denying a request from farmworkers and their employers for an injunction against Michigan Department of Health and Human Services... more »

Florida farmworkers helped by hotline to get free legal assistance

Farmworkers across the state can now call a toll-free number, 1-844-44FARMWORKERS (OR 1-844-443-2769) to get free legal assistance with issues on the rise because of the COVID-19 crisis. Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS), a non-profit law firm,... more »

Washington mandates broad COVID-19 testing for farms experiencing outbreaks

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Aug 19 issued an update to Proclamation 20-57, “Concerning the Health of Agricultural Workers.” The proclamation now requires agricultural employers to test their workforce broadly when health officials identify an outbreak that... more »

DHS will allow visa extensions for farm workers amid pandemic

An action to be placed in the Federal Register on Aug. 20 allows foreign farm workers to extend their H-2A temporary work visas to immediately begin work with new employers in an effort to protect... more »

Michigan funds still available to farms, processors for COVID-19 safety efforts

Applications for grant funds are still available through the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant and the MEDC Small Farm Safety Grant programs for farmers and agricultural processors throughout the state. In tandem,... more »

Produce demand holds as fruit sales strengthen

The second full week of August was the fifth of eight non-holiday weeks between Independence Day and Labor Day, in which everyday demand alone had to drive the sales performance. Consumer concern over the COVID-19... more »

NY Farm Bureau: Protections can safeguard employees and fall harvest

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Aug. 14 a series of new initiatives related to COVID-19 testing that will improve New York State's ability to detect and control the virus in communities across the... more »

116th Annual Meeting & NW Hort Expo going virtual

After much consideration, the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, North Central Washington Fieldmen’s Association and Yakima Pom Club have decided to move the 116th Annual Meeting and NW Hort Expo to a virtual platform for... more »

LEAD New York to pause due to COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, LEAD New York has decided to pause the start of seminars for the 2020–2021 year. Executive director Larry Van De Valk and the advisory board made the decision... more »

Farmworkers file legal challenge to Michigan’s mandatory COVID-19 testing

Citing racial discrimination, farmworkers filed a complaint Aug.11 in United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, challenging an Aug. 3 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) emergency order mandating COVID-19... more »