Labor
H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate to be frozen through 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced Nov. 2 a final rule updating the methodology for determining the annual Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) ... more »
USDA praises labor department’s new H-2A wage rule
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praised the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new H2A Wage Rule, which delivers on President Trump’s promise ... more »
Agriculture worker coalition urges for more COVID protection
More than 160 farm, food and agriculture organizations, all members of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, sent a letter Sept. 24 to the White House ... more »
Mexican produce dumping concerns to be addressed
On Sept. 1, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Department of Commerce, and USDA released a report detailing the Trump Administratio... more »
USDA-NIFA to establish seven artificial intelligence institutes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Science Foundation announced they are establishing ... more »
Court upholds Michigan order requiring COVID testing of farm workers
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan has upheld an emergency order that requires COVID-19 testing for migrant or seasonal farm... more »
Mobile sanitation station introduced by Birko
Birko has launched the Birko Mobile Mister sanitizing equipment for various industries and facilities. Birko’s Mobile Mister was developed to ... more »

Michigan farmers may legally challenge COVID employee testing order
An Aug. 3 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Emergency Order mandating COVID-19 testing by farm employers with 20 or more farmwo... more »
Ag employers group petitions DOL on H-2A wage rates
On Aug. 4, the National Council of Agricultural Employers petitioned U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to amend the regulatory methodol... more »
Michigan requires COVID testing for agriculture, processing workers
On Aug. 3, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order requiring COVID-19 testing for ag... more »