Labor
Farmworker overtime bill heads to California governor
The California legislature has approved a bill that would expand overtime rules for farmworkers. Assembly Bill 1066, passed on a 44-32 vote, now heads to Governor Jerry Brown's desk. The bill would offer farmworkers time-and-a-half pay for... more »
Abundant Robotics to automate orchard harvests
SRI International has launched Abundant Robotics, an agriculture technology company focused on helping make foods such as apples and other tree fruits more accessible. Abundant Robotics will commercialize and build on research initiatives in agricultural... more »
Ag groups help launch Reason for Reform campaign
The Partnership for a New American Economy (NAE) recently released 51 new economic research reports (one for every state plus the District of Columbia) and launched the Reason for Reform campaign. The campaign was created to... more »
USDA awards $26 million for farmworker housing
USDA has awarded $26 million to help provide housing for farmworkers in nine rental communities in four states. The funding will support 439 rental units in California, Florida, Kansas and Texas. The funding is provided through... more »
New York Farm Bureau seeks to intervene in labor lawsuit
New York Farm Bureau (NYFB) is seeking to intervene in a farm labor lawsuit filed against New York state and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The farm organization will file a motion today in State Supreme Court... more »
Workers sue Michigan blueberry farm
Migrant Legal Aid and Willenson Law, a Chicago law firm, have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of migrant and seasonal farm workers against Fennville, Michigan, grower Blue Star Farms and its owner Anthony Marr.... more »
Scouting crops and ticks
June is the typical time in Michigan to check field emergence and early season pest problems. As you start visiting fields, keep ticks in the back of your mind, especially if you live in the... more »
GAP training available for Latino growers, farmworkers
Michigan State University (MSU) Extension will host the first of several Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) workshops in Spanish June 3-4. MSU Extension, in cooperation with Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), will be hosting GAP... more »
Limit exposure by laundering clothing after pesticide applications
Pesticide-contaminated clothing needs to be treated differently than the rest of the family laundry. “Pesticides pose a potential health risk, even for the person handling and washing pesticide-contaminated clothing,” said Clyde Ogg, UNL pesticide safety... more »
Western Growers applauds USCIS streamlining of H-2A processing
While in Washington, D.C. for the Association’s Annual Board Fly-in, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif has released a statement on announcements made by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S.... more »