Following passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA) last week in the U.S. House of Representatives, the steering committee of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) called on the U.S. Senate to develop and pass legislation addressing the labor crisis faced by agriculture. In a letter to Senate leadership, the AWC states: “We must address ...
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions. With at least $6 billion dedicated toward the new initiative, the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 ...
Irvine, Calif. (March 3, 2021) – In response to the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement: “We appreciate the efforts of Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Dan Newhouse, and all of our congressional champions, to keep the agricultural ...
IRVINE, Calif. (March 12, 2021) – A coalition of agricultural organizations has filed a lawsuit in Riverside Superior Court to block Coachella’s urgency ordinance mandating that farmers and other agricultural employers pay an additional four dollars per hour to their employees for at least 120 days. In the complaint, plaintiffs Western Growers Association, California Fresh Fruit ...
IRVINE, Calif. (March 31, 2021) – Recognizing the constructive elements of conservation, efficiency, recycling and watershed management included in the Biden administration’s initial infrastructure proposal, a national coalition of over 200 agricultural organizations and urban and rural water districts said today it would urge the federal government to further bolster investment in the…