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Farm Bureau dissecting DOL farmworker rules

The American Farm Bureau Federation says it’s analyzing the Department of Labor’s new farmworker protection rules as more details are released.

John Walt Boatright says over the past two years, “We’ve had eight or nine rules come down in various stages, and this latest rule-making has really toppled 3,000 pages in new regulations that America’s farmers and ranchers are going to have to comply with if they’re using the H-2A program.”

He tells Brownfield the program is complicated and extremely expensive, making it difficult for farmers to navigate.

“In these new rulemakings, it greatly expands their exposure to potential risk and as a result, it’s really added a lot of concern and questions, and more than anything just a lack of clarity with some of these rulemakings as well,” he says.

The Department is releasing a new proposed rule on heat safety soon, which includes prioritizing inspections at facilities employing H-2A seasonal workers.

Boatright says the requirements will require additional legal costs to comply.

“When this becomes too unwieldy and too burdensome as it has for many over the past couple of years, farmers are going to choose to either shift to a more mechanized crop or simply get out of the business altogether,” he says.

Boatright says Farm Bureau is working with lawmakers to rescind portions of the department’s rulemaking and calling for a pause to H-2A wage increases.

AUDIO: John Walt Boatright American Farm Bureau Federation