Posts By: Stephanie Metzinger

PRESS RELEASE: Western Growers Officially Opens Center for Innovation & Technology

SALINAS, Calif., (December 10, 2015) – Today Western Growers held the grand opening of its Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT), a technology incubator aimed at bringing innovative entrepreneurs together with farmers to facilitate creative solutions to the biggest challenges facing agriculture. Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, was instrumental in coalescing the ...

GMOs To Label or Not…That is the Question

Discussions about the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were abuzz in the hallways following the “GMO: What’s on Your Label” workshop at the Western Growers 90th Annual Meeting in San Diego this November. Led by a group of industry experts, the workshop engaged the audience in an informative and lively dialogue about the potential ...

THIS THURSDAY — AB 1513 Piece-Rate Compensation and Safe Harbor Seminar

The California Department of Industrial Relations has now posted information about AB 1513 including a Fact Sheet, FAQs, and a PowerPoint presentation. Also, the Piece-Rate Back Pay Election Form and List of Employers who have submitted a Notice of Election to Make Back Payments is now available. To help members better understand the implications of ...

Personnel Transport Carrier Regulation Goes Into Effect

A regulation approving the limited use of agricultural personnel transport carriers (PTCs) in California goes into effect January 1, 2016. General Industry Safety Orders §3441 has been amended at new subdivision (i) to create an exception for PTC use under certain circumstances. Here is a brief summary of the new regulation: Use of PTCs would ...

Tips to Protect Your Home and Property During the Holidays

In the excitement and high activity of the holiday season, we sometimes overlook the need to be vigilant and take care of our personal items.  Allstate Insurance indicates that burglaries increase by 11 percent during the holidays and items stolen from vehicles increase by 17 percent. When we are out buying presents and materials for ...

Labor Agency Issues Guidance on New Piece-Rate Law

The Department of Industrial Relations has posted on its website several new resources to help employers comply with the New Piece-Rate Legislation (AB 1513).  This administration-sponsored law does two things: Going forward, it establishes pay requirements for mandated rest and recovery breaks and other nonproductive time, including related wage stub requirements. Looking backward, it…

Have a Safe Holiday Season

This is the time of year when more time and effort goes into celebration and revelry than any other season.  The festive spirit leads to decorations and parties in the office while everyone enjoys the holiday scene.  Employees need to be especially vigilant at this time of year because there is more potential for accidents ...

WTO Allows Retaliatory Tariffs on US Imports to Mexico and Canada

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has upheld its previous decision to rule against the U.S. and the October 20, 2014 Panel Report, citing that U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations that apply to imported meat discriminate against Canada and Mexico. This is the third time the WTO has rejected the modified U.S. regulations stating ...

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Variety of Tax Provisions

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to extend or make permanent several tax provisions. The legislation will be considered by the Senate tomorrow. Western Growers has been engaged on several of the items included in this package and applauds Congress for providing greater tax certainty through this legislation. The legislation will make Section ...

Lunch & Learn: How Can Technology Assist with Affordable Housing for Farmworkers?

This month’s Lunch and Learn Webinar on Wednesday, December 16, will highlight technological advancements that have the potential to offer affordable net zero energy homes for farmworkers. Jason Resnick, Western Growers’ vice president and general counsel, will provide an overview of the current housing requirements for farmworkers under H-2A visas. He will also share the ...

Merry Christmas from Western Growers

Western Growers offices will be closed on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25 in recognition of the holiday. We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! 

Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology Celebrates Grand Opening

Today Western Growers celebrated the grand opening of its Center for Innovation and Technology (WGCIT) in Salinas, Calif. The new technology incubator aims to bring innovative entrepreneurs together with farmers to develop creative solutions to the biggest challenges facing agriculture. The event kicked off with remarks from Tom Nassif, Western Growers President and CEO; Bruce ...

WG Staff Thanks Arizona Key Influencers with Farm Fresh Holiday Baskets

This week, Western Growers staff presented holiday gift baskets to the Speaker of the House David Gowan, Senate President Andy Biggs and Arizona Department of Agriculture Director Mark Killian to thank them for their generous support of the Arizona’s fresh produce industry. Each basket was filled with delicious, Arizona grown produce. (Pictured above is Arizona ...

World Agri-Tech Summit to Discuss Sustainable Agricultural Technology

Western Growers invites you to attend the World Agri-Tech Investment Summit in San Francisco on March 16-17, 2016. The summit will bring together agribusiness leaders, agtech innovation drivers, venture capital investors and technology developers from around the world to discuss the future of agriculture and develop ideas to achieve transformational change in the industry. The ...

HR 102: Labor and Employment Laws for Agriculture

Scott Wilson, an employment law attorney, will provide an overview of the California and Federal labor and employment laws affecting agriculture, including wage and hour, harassment and discrimination, farm labor contractor regulation, union organizing and mandatory leaves of absence on Tuesday. LOCATION San Diego County Farm Bureau 1670 E Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92027 DATE & ...

Congress Expected to Take Up Spending Package Tomorrow

Early yesterday morning, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees filed a $1.15 trillion Omnibus spending bill for the remaining ten months of FY 2016 ending September 30, 2016.  The bill includes funding for the 12 annual appropriations bills and reflects the increased domestic discretionary funding provided by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, enacted on November 2.…

New H-2A Wage Rates in Effect TODAY

Today, December 22, 2015, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor (Department) issued its Federal Register Notice to announce the 2016 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs). The notice applies to the employment of temporary or seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H–2A workers) to perform agricultural labor or services. AEWRs are the minimum wage…

Webinar Tomorrow on How Technology Can Assist with Affordable Housing for Farmworkers

Tomorrow’s Lunch and Learn Webinar will highlight technological advancements that have the potential to offer affordable net zero energy homes for farmworkers. Jason Resnick, Western Growers’ vice president and general counsel, will provide an overview of the current housing requirements for farmworkers under H-2A visas. He will also share the challenges and possible solutions associated…

IRS Extends Forms 1094 and 1095 Filing Deadlines

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released notice yesterday (Notice 2016-4) that it is extending the 2015 tax year filing deadlines for health benefits reporting required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  This guidance applies to filings required by both small and/or applicable large self-funded employers, Forms 1094-B and 1095-B and Forms 1094-C and 1095-C respectively. ...

OSHA Discloses Top Ten Violation Categories of 2015

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently identified the 10 most serious cited violations for 2015. Although some of these have little to do with agriculture, a number of them do occur with some frequency in farming operations. Fall protection was the most frequently cited serious accident with approximately 6,000 violations nationwide, while scaffolding ...