PRO FARMER

Labor Department Finalizes Rule for H-2A Ag Worker Program

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 22:59:19 GMT

The Department of Labor finalized a new rule for agricultural workers in the U.S. under the H-2A visa program, which will take effect on June 28. This rule enhances protections for these workers, allowing them to participate in labor organization activities without fear of retaliation from employers. Although the rule does not compel employers to recognize labor organizations or engage in collective bargaining, it does require them to provide no-cost housing and daily transportation.

Significantly, the rule introduces the ability for workers to invite or accept guests in the housing provided by their employers, deviating from previous restrictions. Additionally, it specifies conditions under which a worker can be dismissed for cause, ensuring workers are aware of relevant policies. The rule also demands greater transparency from employers in the recruitment process, particularly concerning the disclosure of information about recruitment agents.

Another safety improvement is the new requirement for seatbelts in buses and vans used to transport workers. Applications for the H-2A program submitted before Aug. 28 will be processed under the existing rules, while those filed on or after Aug. 29 will fall under the new regulations. This upcoming change may prompt a surge in applications prior to the new rule’s enforcement to avoid the new requirements.

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States Restrict Cattle Movement From Those With BIAV

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 21:29:28 GMT

In an effort to prevent domestic cattle from being exposed to Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV), 17 states have restricted cattle imports from states where the virus has infected dairy cows. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia have blocked cattle movement from Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Michigan and Idaho, where BIAV has been confirmed by USDA.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will not be issuing federal quarantine orders at this time, nor is the agency recommending any state quarantines or official hold orders on cattle. “However, we strongly recommend minimizing movement of cattle as much as possible, with special attention to evaluating risk and factoring that risk into movement decisions. Do not move sick or exposed animals,” APHIS previously noted.

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China May be on a Major Buying Binge (hoarding)

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 15:58:31 GMT

At China’s central economic work conference earlier this month, Beijing identified securing the supply of primary goods such as agricultural products and minerals as one of five significant issues to prepare for amid global challenges. The leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Xi Jinping said China must establish a “strategic baseline” to ensure self-sufficiency in key commodities, for securing the supply of primary products will help advance the country’s long-term agenda. Analysts say that tensions with the U.S. and its allies such as Australia, another major food exporter to China, could prod the communist regime to dramatically raise food reserves.

Another strategic product is computer chips, with some believing China’s nationwide hoarding played a role in the global chip shortage. They note that China’s State Administration for Market Regulation in August launched a probe into hoarding and other speculative practices as the regime found it disrupted its own market. The U.S. Commerce Department requested global major semiconductor manufacturers to provide their sales data in September. The information it sought included who were the top three buyers of the firms’ products in each of the last three years. Some analysts said Washington needed the data to figure out to what extent China’s storing caused the chip scarcity. One China watcher notes that China began hoarding chips in 2019 when the Trump administration imposed sanctions on its telecom giant Huawei. Fearing they could be next, Chinese companies, many of which are state-run, purchased a large number of chips – enough to cover their needs for the next few years.

Garnering the world’s cobalt supply is another top China priority. As the leading country in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, China is aggressively sourcing cobalt, a key metal in making EV batteries, from overseas. In the past five years, the second-largest economy has acquired most of Congo’s cobalt-producing mines, which produces two-thirds of the world’s supply. As of last year, 15 of the 19 mines in Congo were owned or financed by Chinese companies, according to a recent New York Times report.

The list does not stop with the products mentioned, as China has been on a buying tear for lithium and liquid natural gas, locking up production and/or supply agreements for years.

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