farmworkers
California considers permits for farmworkers in U.S. illegally
After waiting fruitlessly for Congress to act, "California lawmakers are considering a measure to allow work permits for farmworkers living in the country illegally," reports the Los Angeles Times.
Rural poor suffer in drought; tech wizards offer water apps
"For many Californians, the state’s long drought has meant small inconveniences such as shorter showers and restrictions on watering lawns.
Farming is among occupations with widest gender gap in pay
Farming and ranching have one of the largest pay gaps between men and women, says the Chicago Tribune, based on data from the Census Bureau.
In top U.S. yogurt state, dairy farm workers are hard to hire
California is the No. 1 dairy state, but the popularity of Greek-style yogurt has turned New York into the top state for yogurt production, with more than 40 producers including Chobani, says the Los Angeles Times.
Prospects for immigration reform dim in Congress
Comprehensive immigration reform, "until at least after the next election, is more likely to be fodder for the campaign trail than congressional action," says Politico.
Farm Bureau opposes E-Verify bill in House
The six-million-member American Farm Bureau Federation opposes the workforce regulation approved by the House Judiciary Committee. AFBF president Bob Stallman said the bill would drive away farm workers without providing a way to find replacements. Half or more of farm workers are undocumented. Stallman told reporters that a vote for the Legal Workforce Act, HR 1147, known as E-Verify, "is a vote to harm U.S. agriculture."
Vilsack, Kansas lawmaker argue over immigration reform
Standing almost shoulder to shoulder, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Rep. Kevin Yoder expressed different views of immigration enforcement during a news conference near Kansas City.
Agriculture coalition says fix immigration system first
An umbrella group of agricultural employers, worried about its workforce, warned lawmakers there would be "a devastating impact" if an identity-check system is mandated "in the absence of a legislative solution for agriculture's labor needs."
Labor Dept drops Oregon “hot goods” case against growers
The Labor Department dropped all charges against two Oregon growers that it accused of failing to pay the minimum wage to 1,000 workers, says the news site FairWarning.
“We’ve got to fix a broken” immigration system, says Obama
President Obama called for immigration during the annual State of the Union speech to Congress and warned against backsliding on the issue. There is no point in "refighting past battles on immigration reform when we've got to fix a broken system," he said before threatening to veto legislation that would reverse administration decisions to let some undocumented immigrants remain in the country.
Ebola brings hunger to far more people than it kills
The outbreak of Ebola infections in western Africa is disrupting food production so that hundreds of thousands of people will face hunger in coming months, says The Atlantic.
Immigration reform important for Midwest agriculture-Report
One of five farms in the Midwest relies on hired labor, says a report from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. "Midwest agriculture currently employs 57,000 immigrant workers across a variety of sectors, including crop production, dairy and...
Obama order affects 250,000 farm workers, maybe lots more
President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration will affect indirectly at least 250,000 and perhaps as many as 500,000 farm workers, says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Congress may move on immigration early in new session
The incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says lawmakers could set to work on immigration reforms early in the session of Congress that opens on Jan 6. Sen Chuck Grassley says his counterpart in the House, Rep Bob Goodlatte told him "the House will act early." Grassley reiterated his preference for the the House to move first because it stalled immigration legislation in 2013 and this year.
No specific protection for farm workers likely in Obama order
When President Barack Obama unveils an executive order affecting up to 5 million illegal immigrants, it is not expected to include agricultural workers, according to published reports.
Let House go first on immigration reform, says key senator
The incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says he'll let the House move first on immigration reform in the new session of Congress. "That way, we wouldn't be wasting our time," said Sen Chuck Grassley of Iowa. The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill, including a separate path to citizenship for farm workers, after weeks of divisive debate in 2013.
Farm groups urge immigration, guest-worker reforms
Broad-ranging reform is needed for U.S. immigration and guest worker laws, said three farm groups who supported the comprehensive reform bill passed by the Senate in 2013.
Reports of three new human cases of bird flu include California child
Arizona health officials said two workers employed at poultry farms have recovered from mild cases of bird flu while the public health agency in Marin County, north of San Francisco, said it was investigating a possible bird flu infection of a child. If confirmed by the CDC, the U.S. total for bird flu infections would rise to 61 people in eight states this year.