Labor

RSS

Poultry integrators will have to provide more financial information to prospective or current growers before entering into contracts with them, under a USDA final rule designed to increase transparency and prevent discrimination in the industry.

A bipartisan working group formed by the House Agriculture Committee to recommend possible changes to the H-2A visa program issued an interim report Tuesday that outlines a number of complaints by farmers, from rising wage rates to lengthy delays in getting approved workers into the country.

Rep. Dan Newhouse, a moderate House Republican and congressional leader on ag and immigration policy, said Friday he wants to hear from the speaker candidates how they plan to move a farm bill as well as appropriations and other legislation.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who was the longest serving female senator and a long-time advocate for ag labor reform, died at her home in Washington on Thursday evening.

House Republicans remain unable to agree on a continuing resolution to keep the government funded in October. Meanwhile, senators left town Thursday still unable to get agreement on bringing up a three-bill spending package that includes its version of the USDA-FDA bill.

Agricultural employers can now apply for a new competitive grant program to help recruit H-2A workers and improve working conditions as part of a new pilot program launched by USDA.