Labor demands continue to stretch thin the farming operations of specialty crop producers across the U.S., with rising wage rates and record usage of the H-2A visa program. Meaningful reforms to the federal government’s guest worker program must be a priority for Congress by the end of the year. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), along with more than 350 …
GFVGA Issues Letter to Georgia Congressional Delegation Following AEWR Announcement
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association issued a letter on Dec. 5 to the entire Georgia Congressional Delegation. The letter was in response to the 14% increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, which would increase from $11.99 per hour in 2022 to $13.68 per hour in 2023. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia …
GFVGA Executive Vice President: AEWR Increase Will Cost Growers Additional $100 Million
By Clint Thompson The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for Georgia’s specialty crop producers will increase from $11.99 per hour in 2022 to $13.68 per hour in 2023. A 14% increase in the AEWR for the state’s farmers is not sustainable, says Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA). “Our guys continue to …
Florida’s New AEWR Projected to be $14.33
Florida’s new Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for 2023 is estimated to be $14.33, pending an official notice in the Federal Register by the Department of Labor (DOL). It would be an increase of nearly $2 from the $12.41 rate from the previous year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the results of its most recent Farm Labor Survey last …
GFVGA Leader: H-2A Dominates the Conversation at Labor Relations Forum
By Clint Thompson The H-2A program remains a hot topic for Georgia’s specialty crop producers. It certainly was a focus of the Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum hosted by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) earlier this month. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the GFVGA, discussed the meeting which was held on Nov. 9-10 in Tifton, Georgia. …
Farmworker Groups Lobby for Immigration Bill
More than 60 farmworker groups from across America traveled to Washington last week to urge the Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The United Farmworkers (UFW), the UFW Foundation and other groups made the trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the bill, which is a compromise between farm and labor leaders and supported by most farm groups. …
Sweet Corn Producer: H-2A’s Regulatory Makeup is Intense
By Clint Thompson The most significant challenge to sweet corn production isn’t disease or pest pressure or water requirement, says one Georgia/Florida producer. It is finding and utilizing a labor workforce to pick the crop, says Karla Thompson with JET Farms. She and her family’s business utilize the H-2A program to find nearly 250 workers every year for their fall …
H-2A Complicated but Necessary Program
Alabama to Host Pair of Meetings for Specialty Crop Producers By Clint Thompson The H-2A program is a complicated process for the most experienced agricultural employer. It can be intimidating for those beginning users just learning how to use the program. Adam Rabinowitz, Alabama Extension economist, is helping lead a pair of meetings on Nov. 2 at Jefferson State Community …
Alabama H-2A Meeting Scheduled for Nov. 7
Alabama specialty crop growers are reminded that the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Alabama Department of Labor and Alabama Cooperative Extension will educate growers on the H-2A guest worker program during an in-person educational session on Nov. 7. It will be held from 8 a.m. to noon in the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries auditorium at 1445 Federal …
Ag Labor Relations Forum Rescheduled Following Ian
The 48th annual Agricultural Labor Relations Forum has been rescheduled following the postponement from Hurricane Ian. The forum will now be presented in a virtual format over a four-week period, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25. The Florida Specialty Crop Foundation presents the forum. It educates agricultural employers, including growers, shippers, farm labor contractors and other employers, on compliance with Ag labor …