By Clint Thompson Looming Congressional Review Act resolutions could reverse recent changes to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). But it will require specialty crop producers and industry leaders speaking out against substantial pay increases that could force some farmers to close up shop. GT Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, shared that belief during Monday’s Farm Bill …
How New AEWR is Impacting Florida Farmers
The newly implemented Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) will negatively impact specialty crop producers across the U.S. That’s the belief shared by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). “We are disappointed in DOL’s (Department of Labor) final rule on the AEWR methodology,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This administration says it wants to help family farms, but its agency largely …
New AEWR Harmful to Farmers’ Future
The newly implemented Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) will negatively impact specialty crop producers across the U.S. That’s the belief shared by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). “We are disappointed in DOL’s (Department of Labor) final rule on the AEWR methodology,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This administration says it wants to help family farms, but its agency largely …
GA Senators Pass Resolution for Farmworker Awareness Week
Georgia Senators Sam Watson (District 11), Shelly Echols (District 49), Larry Walker III (District 20), Lee Anderson (District 24) and Russ Goodman (8th District) filed a resolution last week that recognized March 25-31, 2023, as Farmworker Awareness Week. Watson, managing partner of Chill C Farms in Moultrie, Georgia, who produces squash, zucchini, bell pepper, cabbage, eggplant and cucumbers, highlighted the …
GFVGA Leader Concerned for Growers With Complicated H-2A Program
By Clint Thompson The convoluted and sometimes perplexing nature of the H-2A program has Chris Butts concerned about the ramifications of one misstep by his producers. Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), continues to voice his concerns with how the methodology is constructed to determine the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR); the expense …
Sens. Ossoff, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reverse Adverse Effect Wage Rate Increase
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is working to reverse this year’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) increase. Sens. Ossoff and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Farm Operations Support Act, which would revert the AEWR to the December 2022 rate for the remainder of 2023. The AEWR in Georgia rose 14% from $11.99/hour to $13.67/hour in January …
AFBF’s Boatright: H-2A Becoming More Difficult to Utilize Over Time
By Clint Thompson The future of the H-2A program rests with legislative reform. Specialty crop interest groups have lobbied for changes to the program for years. The fight continues. Groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) continue to educate legislative leaders about the importance of reform to the sustainability of farming operations across the country. John Walt Boatright, director …
UF/IFAS and UF College of Medicine Partner for Nutrition Event to Help Farmworkers
Faculty from the University of Florida (UF/IFAS) and the UF College of Medicine will test farmworkers for chronic diseases from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 23 in Arcadia, Florida. The screenings will be at the Turner Agri-Civic Center, 2250 NE Roan St. The clinic will be held in conjunction with a UF/IFAS Extension agricultural employee safety training at the same …
Florida Remains Top User of H-2A Program
By Clint Thompson The top users of the H-2A program remain the same. The order at the top, though, has changed in recent years. According to John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs with American Farm Bureau, Florida was still the top user of the program from Fiscal Year 2021 to Fiscal Year 2022 with 50,973 certified positions. California was …
Labor Leads List of Grower Concerns
By Zhengfei Guan and Kuan-Ming Huang In a packed conference room at an industry event, a Florida grower sitting in a discussion panel was asked: “You wake up at 2:00 in the morning. What worries you the most?” “Labor,” answered the grower without a second of doubt. Labor has been an issue that bothers not only Florida farmers but those …