USDA announced Monday it has made several changes to its Farmers.gov website to “help facilitate” employment of temporary agricultural workers.

A White House effort to lower the wages farms have to pay H-2A workers appears to have foundered amid concerns that it would put some regions at a disadvantage to others.

The Senate returns to action this month under pressure to pass another major coronavirus relief package, but a more immediate priority for GOP leaders will be to agree on fixes to the Paycheck Protection Program, a lifeline to many small businesses and farms.

All eyes on White House today * Trump expects liability protections

Almost overnight specialty crop producers changed the way they operated by staggering work times, increasing shuttle transports, and providing educational training to keep employees safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bill on H-2A workers’ rights amended to include disasters * Farm groups, Hill allies fighting payment limits * Food giveaway could be uneven

President Donald Trump assured farmers on Tuesday that the H-2A visa program would not be affected by a temporary immigration ban related to the COVID-19 crisis.

Action taken Wednesday by the Trump administration would give producers a wider pool of H-2A workers to hire for temporary ag labor.

Ag Order 4.0 comment period extended * Trump: Expect aid in ’pretty near future’ * Food industry appeals for worker aid * PPE shortage worries industry

A recent State Department move is expected to speed approval of farmworkers seeking to enter the country, but observers of the process are still keeping a watchful eye on many parts of the H-2A program.