Based on a snow survey conducted by the California Department of Water Resources, California already has 108 percent of its typical water supply for the entire year. In response to the findings, Western Growers, California Farm Bureau Federation and California Farm Water Coalition distributed a joint press release asking the state to use the survey ...
Tax reform will be a significant priority for the Congress in 2017 with both Congress and the Trump Administration looking to revamp the nation’s tax system. Earlier this month, Senator John Thune (R-ND), and Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Rob Bishop (R-UT) introduced legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, that would repeal ...
In his first week in office, President Trump signed a flurry of immigration-related executive orders. The “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” executive order primarily concerns the building of a wall along the U.S. Mexico border. Republican congressional leaders have said they will move forward with plans to approve funds for the wall, which they…
Pacific International Marketing president, Tom Russell, passed away on Tuesday, January 31, in Phoenix. Russell was a member of Western Growers since 1990. At the time of his death, he was involved in about 40 business partnerships, including several with Western Growers’ directors and members. Russell combined his financial and sales talents to become one ...
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced it is accepting applications for State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) grants as of February 1, 2017. According to a CDFA press release, competitive grant funding totaling approximately $3.75 million will be made available “to provide financial assistance to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse…
Western Growers and industry partners have filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in the case of Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. California Agricultural Labor Relations Board and United Farm Workers, now pending before the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District. The case challenges an ALRB ruling which upheld an administrative law judge’s ...
On Tuesday, Congressman David Valadao (R-Hanford) issued a letter to President Trump urging the president to work with him and other key members of Congress to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. The son of Portuguese immigrants who represents a large agricultural district, Valadao is personally connected to the issue. An excerpt from his letter ...
As previously reported in Spotlight, President Trump issued a number of immigration related executive orders (EO), including the “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States” EO which focuses on interior immigration enforcement. Members should begin preparing for increased worksite enforcement and renewed emphasis on Form I-9 audits. This means that employers should ...
Western Growers and industry partners have sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown expressing dismay with the process for appointing Isadore Hall to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board as well as conflicts of interest demonstrated by Member Hall, a staunch UFW supporter. The letter notes that “the ALRB has been, and continues to be, aligned ...
Most employers are required to complete OSHA’s Form 300A and post the “Summary” page from February 1 to April 30 of the year following the year covered by the “Summary.” It must be displayed in a conspicuous location where notices to employees are customarily posted. A copy of the “Summary” must also be made available ...
Immigrant rights groups have leveraged social media to organize employee walkouts and protests across the country today, Thursday, February 16. The planned “Day without Immigrants” is intended to protest the Trump administration’s executive orders with respect to immigration and underscore the importance of migrants to the country’s economy and social structure. It is unclear to…
The Arizona Department of Agriculture is inviting stakeholders to participate in a series of listening sessions that are “part of the governor’s mission to reduce regulatory burden and promote customer-service-orientated principles” for the agriculture industry and the general public. The Department will not be discussing proposed language changes for the rules, but instead is seeking…
Along with a group of other agriculture and horticulture organizations, Western Growers co-hosted a luncheon for Arizona legislators on the grounds of the state Capitol earlier today. A bi-partisan group of fifty-six legislators, members of their staffs and other public officials came out to the annual ‘Ag Day at the Capitol’ to socialize with members ...
IRVINE, California (February 16, 2017): In response to President Donald J. Trump naming Alexander Acosta as the nominee to head the Department of Labor, Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement: “We look forward to meeting Secretary-designate Acosta. American farmers are looking to the Trump Administration for leadership on many challenging ...