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Blueberry industry to hold advocacy trip April 16–18
Blueberry industry officials have scheduled the Blueberry Hill Climb, the industry’s annual advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., April 16–18...
Agricultural Leadership Program starts April 28 in Wenatchee, Washington
Agricultural Leadership Program course in Wenatchee, Washington, starting April 28...
New AEWR rules create new job classifications and pay rates
The federal government set new Adverse Effect Wage Rate regulations that will force growers to pay workers who — even briefly — perform duties such as driving or supervising differently than the rest of their workers...
Langager: Commenting 101
The why and how of submitting comments to the federal government.
USApple creates environmental position, promotes Liwanag
The U.S. Apple Association has promoted one of its staff members to the newly created position of manager of environmental affairs.
IFTA Day 1: Shifting labor trends
The International Fruit Tree Association is holding its 66th annual conference and tours in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Feb. 12–15.
More vineyards opt to send in the machines
UC Davis extension specialist shares how California grape growers have made mechanization work.
Safety tips for growers
Panel shares ideas for creating a safe farm workplace.
Washington bill for seasonal overtime exemption to have hearing Feb. 9
Washington agricultural employer groups urge their members to tune into a hearing Thursday, Feb. 9, about a seasonal exemption to the state’s new overtime laws.
Water rule in review
Produce safety expert updates growers on proposed water quality regulations and risk assessments.
Homeland Security proposes H-2A fee increases
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed increasing foreign worker application fees, in some cases more than doubling them.
Scharlau: A proactive pathway for problem-solving
Grape industries need collaborative approaches to the challenges they face.
West Michigan Research Station up and running
New Michigan research station seeks to solve regional fruit problems.
Ag census deadline near
Feb. 6 is the deadline to respond to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, and participation is mandatory.
Changing safety standards with the changing climate
Federal, state agencies draft permanent smoke and heat exposure rules.
Washington Agriculture Safety Day in Yakima Feb. 1 and Wenatchee Feb. 22
Washington labor officials are seeking farmers for a customer service survey about the state’s agricultural workforce recruitment process.
Washington labor officials conducting customer service survey
Washington labor officials are seeking farmers for a customer service survey about the state’s agricultural workforce recruitment process.
Washington state delegates seek better U.S.-India trade
Washington state’s bipartisan U.S. Congress delegation is asking federal representatives to improve apple trade conditions with India.
Ag HR goes online
Employee management software options bring digital efficiency to record keeping, hiring, training, payroll and communication.
Omnibus bill funds NW fruit research positions
The $1.7 trillion federal funding bill passed right before Christmas includes a couple of tree fruit nuggets.
Farm labor reform doesn’t make it into Senate’s spending bill
A last-ditch effort to pass a farm labor reform bill in the U.S. Senate has
EPA proposes new rules for rodenticide use
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new regulations for the use of nearly a dozen
Ag labor reform bill introduced in the Senate
A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers has floated a late-season bill that would attempt to do many of the same things as the Farm Workforce Modernization Act...
Carbon calculations for Washington orchards
As interest grows on the climate implications of agriculture, it raises questions the industry needs more research to answer.
H-2A final rule, finally
Revisions may make guest worker program more expensive.
Great Lakes EXPO, Day 1: Don’t panic
Fruit growers worried about invasive pests heard reassuring messages from speakers on Day 1 of the 2022 Great Lakes EXPO.
NW Hort Show highlights: Day 2
Day 2 of the NW Hort Show went deep into soil health, rootstock selection, ag investments and regulation.
AEWR expected to rise in 2023
Adverse Effect Wage Rates likely will go up across the nation next year if federal labor officials follow their standard practice.
DeVaney: Prevailing problems
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association wants more transparency for growers around the state’s wage surveys, one of many labor-related priorities for 2023.
The carbon’s in the details
A pilot project for California grape growers gets into the weeds on regenerative agriculture.
2022 apple residue report released
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission announced the publication of the 2022 pesticide residue study
Rep. Newhouse, joined by industry members, urges Senate to vote on Farm Workforce Modernization Act before end of legislative session
In a Yakima press conference, Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse urged his Senate colleagues to take action on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act before this legislative session ends at the end of the year.
NCAE Ag Labor Forum slated for Vegas
The National Council of Agricultural Employers will hold its ninth annual Ag Labor Forum Nov. 30–Dec. 2 in Las Vegas.
Langager: MRLs made easy
NHC launches rebuilt online MRL database to help growers stay on top of the myriad market-specific pesticide requirements.
Growers have an extra 90 days to comply with new H-2A rule
Agricultural employers with existing H-2A workers should continue to follow the current federal rules, even if their workers’ contracts extend past the date that new rules are slated to take effect.
U.S. Department of Labor issues long-awaited final rule on H-2A regulatory modifications
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a long-awaited final rule that makes substantial changes to H-2A regulations.
Agricultural Leadership Program course starting in Yakima Nov. 4
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association, Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State University
New York lowers overtime threshold for farmworkers
New York state will gradually lower its overtime threshold for farmworkers to 40 hours per week.
Priority: labor
Northwest Horticultural Council takes new steps on labor regulations, retains ag labor lawyer to work on H-2A policy.
Grown in the tart-land of the USA
Domestic tart cherry industry makes push for geographic designation.
The mystery math of prevailing wages
Tree fruit officials question prevailing wage methodology.
Calculating wages: Show your work
Employment law experts break down the math of accurately paying ag workers.
NCAE webinar to help employers prepare for proposed OSHA heat regulation
The National Council of Agricultural Employers announced the next event in its series of educational
Grape field day focuses on WSU research into new ways to spray
The Washington State Grape Society and Washington State University hosted a field day Aug. 11 focused on WSU’s vineyard technology research, especially in the arena of spray technology.
Central Washington orchardist to sell after H-2A debarment
A Central Washington apple, cherry and pear grower debarred by the federal government from hiring temporary foreign workers is choosing to sell his family’s farm, even though he denies wrongdoing.
IFTA Day 3 — Pears and cherries
On Day 3 of the International Fruit Tree Association Summer Study Tour, the group split up. One bus for pear orchards, the other for cherries.
Codling moth control: Site-specific IPM
Spray programs and monitoring data set up mating disruption for success.
NCAE to host webinar on farmworker tax issues
The National Council of Agricultural Employers will host a webinar focusing on farmworker tax issues.
CSA surge
Pandemic drives produce shoppers to subscription services.
Rolling out orchard health care
Medical nonprofit in Oregon launches RV clinic to serve the Columbia Gorge.