Labor

Attorneys spar in court over forced-labor tariffs

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:32:53 -0400

A panel of Court of International Trade judges expressed skepticism of the federal government’s argument that the U.S. Trade Representative could impose forced-labor tariffs on 86 countries without clearly explaining why they’re necessary to protect the U.S. economy.

CEO compensation report: FMI and API lead 2026 pay

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:12:00 -0400

The annual CEO salary report for nonprofit organizations across the farm, food, finance, environmental and energy sectors is a must‑read for anyone moving up the organizational ladder and for board members responsible for hiring and firing decisions.

California to spend $35 million on workers’ rights outreach

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:01:00 -0400

California’s Department of Industrial Relations is giving $34.9 million in grants to more than 100 organizations to promote workers’ rights. An industry attorney says the project will put more pressure on farm and ranch owners to comply with labor laws.

Cattle groups report shipment delays, workforce disruptions amid ICE activity in southwest Kansas

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:39:18 -0400

Amid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in southwest Kansas this week, shipments of cattle to processing plants have been delayed and parts of the beef supply chain have seen workforce disruptions, according to industry groups.

Christine Birdsong was intrigued by Reservoir Farms. Now she works there

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:04:00 -0400

Reservoir Farms on Monday announced that former California Department of Food and Agriculture Undersecretary Christine Birdsong has been hired as its head of external affairs, and she’ll shepherd the innovation hub’s growth into new regions and institutions across the U.S. and internationally.

USDA reorganization paused until Oct. 2 as judge considers injunction request

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:07:00 -0400

A federal judge has paused USDA’s reorganization and most associated employee relocations until Oct. 2 as part of a lawsuit brought by federal employee unions and allied parties.

Daybreak Sept. 9: Trump escalates trade war with Canada

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:22:18 -0400

Molasses, whey and alcohol are among the Canadian goods President Donald Trump has decided to ban from importation, as the trade war between the two countries escalates.

Judge clears way for USDA reorganization

steve@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:49:27 -0400

A federal judge is allowing USDA’s reorganization plan to move forward, denying a request from federal employee unions and other interested parties for an injunction to stop it.

Daybreak Aug. 27: AEWR rule sent back to Labor Department

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:01:28 -0400

A Labor Department rule on farmworker wage must be rewritten, a federal court ordered Wednesday, putting additional pressure on Congress to come up with a solution.

CHS, OCP announce plans to build phosphate plant in Louisiana

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:30:00 -0400

CHS and OCP North America plan to build the first phosphate fertilizer plant in the U.S. in more than 40 years.

Unionized workers vote to reject John Deere contract extension offer

noah@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:00:03 -0400

Unionized John Deere workers on Sunday rejected the company’s offer to extend their union contract by two years, keeping the current agreement’s October 2027 expiration date in place.

USDA employees push back on reorganization plans

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:15:00 -0400

USDA employees are amping up their concerns over a brain drain at the agency as reorganization plans proceed apace affecting multiple functions in the department, including trade, food and nutrition assistance and forest management.

Daybreak July 31: E15 expected to be in farm bill

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:39:51 -0400

The Senate Agriculture Committee is planning to add an E15 measure to the proposed farm bill that Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., seeks to advance through his panel by the end of next week, people familiar with the matter say. Marcos Carias, an economist for Coface for North American trade, tells Agri-Pulse that President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on Canadian dairy, wine and automobiles aren’t a strong enough negotiation tool to force Canada to open its dairy tariff-rate-quota to U.S. producers.

Daybreak July 17: Trump pushes for election bill

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:28:55 -0400

President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act and urged Americans to call Capitol Hill and demand action on the bill that would require photo identification to vote in federal elections. The House Budget Committee has favorably reported its $95 billion reconciliation 3.0 package, which would provide up to $12 billion in farm aid, $10 billion for the GOP’s signature Save America Act and a total of $73 billion for the war with Iran.

Loss of Haitians due to Supreme Court decision poised to hit ag and food industries

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:12:00 -0400

A recent Supreme Court decision ending Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Haitians would have ripple effects across the economy, affecting the agriculture and food industries and other sectors, according to immigrant advocacy groups.

Q&A: Brashears outlines USDA’s food safety priorities amid screwworm response

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:09:00 -0400

USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears sits down with Agri-Pulse to discuss the agency's response to the spread of New World screwworm, as well as its broader agenda that includes Salmonella reform, line-speed regulations, support for small meat processors and expanded use of Product of USA labeling.

USDA's reorganization plans for FNA, ARS, other agencies unlawful, groups claim

steve@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:55:28 -0400

A coalition including unions and nonprofits is challenging the Agriculture Department’s reorganization of agencies including the Food and Nutrition Administration and Agricultural Research Service, citing the department's own plan to allege that the reorganization is specifically designed to reduce personnel.

Daybreak July 2: Thompson optimistic about labor bill’s prospects

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:24:22 -0400

A bill to overhaul America’s H-2A agricultural guest worker program stands out from prior attempts thanks to a secure U.S. border, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson tells Agri-Pulse Newsmakers. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday the administration would not renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement, but the agreement is still in place.

For growers and employers, Thompson’s ag labor bill offers hope for long-sought workforce stability

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 06:09:00 -0400

Phil Glaize, a third-generation farmer in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, arrived in Washington this week with renewed optimism for long-needed ag labor reforms. Glaize and dozens of ag producers from across the country gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday for the release of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.

Thompson unveils sweeping ag labor reform bill backed by broad farm coalition

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:31:14 -0400

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., has unveiled legislation to significantly expand and modernize the H-2A agricultural guest worker program with the backing of more than 400 farm organizations, setting up what supporters hope will be the most significant opportunity for ag labor reform by Congress in years.

Daybreak Tuesday, June 30: Ag labor bill out today

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:19:49 -0400

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., will formally introduce his Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act today, setting up what supporters hope will be the most significant opportunity for ag labor reform by Congress in years. The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the president’s ability to fire the leaders of several independent agencies at will, overturning a 91-year-old precedent that had shielded them from executive influence.

Washington Week Ahead: Agricultural trade and labor outlook in spotlight

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:15:31 -0400

Almost a third of all U.S. agricultural exports are on the line as the first joint review of the North American trade deal starts later this week. In Congress, debate over foreign farm workers begins anew with the unveiling of a plan to revamp ag labor law.

Daybreak June 25: Ag groups like Trump’s E15 push

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:01:14 -0400

President Donald Trump made the biggest pitch for year-round E15 since his first term, calling on Congress to include the pro-ethanol measure in a nearly $88 billion legislative package to fund a raft of items, including the Iran war and $11 billion in financial aid for farmers. Members of Clean Fuels Alliance America gathered on Capitol Hill this week to stress the need to pass legislation to expand biomass-based diesel use in ocean-going vessels.

Former USDA officials dispute Rollins' criticism of their screwworm efforts

steve@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:05:00 -0400

Former officials at USDA who dealt with New World screwworm as it advanced closer to the U.S. push back against criticism of the Biden administration's efforts leveled by Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Daybreak June 11: USDA using terminated food programs to fund screwworm efforts

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:18:39 -0400

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the $1.3 billion fight against a potentially deadly livestock pest includes federal funds reallocated from a local food buying program. Rollins said USDA is “stretched” on using the Commodity Credit Corporation because the $30 billion annual cap has not been increased since 1987.

Rollins touts deregulation, nutrition reset and ag labor reforms to produce sector

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:25:55 -0400

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins used her time with the International Fresh Produce Association to highlight the administration’s deregulation push, as well as efforts to reshape federal nutrition policy, expand export markets, lower labor costs and support specialty crop producers.

Daybreak June 10: Ag labor draft bill would expand H-2A

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:51:52 -0400

House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., is calling to broaden a U.S. temporary agricultural worker program under an early draft of a proposed ag labor bill.

Daybreak June 9: Senate Ag’s farm bill gets pushed back

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:28:08 -0400

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to consider a farm bill during the work period between July 4th and August recesses, Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., says. The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the nomination of Glen Smith to be undersecretary of agriculture for rural development along party lines, setting the stage for a Senate floor vote.

Vaden, union clash over relocation of food and nutrition employees

steve@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:04:34 -0400

Union members at USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration – formerly the Food and Nutrition Service, or FNS – are pushing back against criticism by the Ag Department’s deputy secretary that their demands during relocation negotiations are unreasonable.

National Women in Agriculture study results released at Farm Bureau's ACE summit

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:03:37 -0400

The results from the pilot National Women in Agriculture study were revealed on Wednesday at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s ACE summit celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer, highlighting women's strengths and barriers to leadership.