Farmers scramble to find workers as some face losing crops [North County Times]
…Mike A. Mellano, whose family has grown commercial flowers in Morro Hills, one of Oceanside's last large pockets of agricultural land, said he fell short by about 10-15 percent of his labor needs to cut more than 50 varietal flowers on his 400-acre spread. Consequently, some of the product at Mellano & Co., which was established in 1925, was left to die in the field, he said….Mellano said he's been in discussions with farm bureaus across California regarding the labor shortages, and the message has been the same. "This is the first time anyone remembers significant and severe labor shortages reported up and down the state. In the past, they've been limited on a regional basis."…Al Serrato, a farm labor contractor who operates two white buses to haul workers around Pauma Valley, also is having a tough time. In the past, Serrato has worked with crew leaders who would oversee 50 to 60 workers to harvest local citrus crops or avocados. This year, he's lucky to get 15 or so workers on one of the 45-seat buses.
Federal immigration program can help young workers [Associated Press]
…Much of the attention surrounding the program that began last Wednesday has focused on students. But researchers say it could also benefit hundreds of thousands of young adults working in low-wage industries such as agriculture….Despite the possibilities, workers and advocates say farmworkers and others who are out of school could face significant hurdles when applying: a lack of information about the program, limited English skills, little access to legal advice and limited access to adult school to fulfill the program's education requirement….Some farmers are worried the program could cut into their workforce. One group of growers, the Nisei Farmers League, is discouraging farmworkers from applying, worried workers or their families could be deported once their addresses are given to the federal government.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/25/4756488/federal-immigration-program-can.html#storylink=misearch
Local farmers call for action against farmworker overtime bill; industry says it will cost workers [Imperial Valley Press]
A bill set to head to the Assembly for final approval this week could have a big impact on Imperial County’s largest industry. Assembly Bill 1313 would add new overtime regulations for agricultural workers, including those who have before now been able to work 60-hour weeks and Mondays through Saturdays. Under the bill, if a person works past 40 hours a week, they would receive time-and-a-half. Local farmers are now saying the bill will impact not only farms, but also cut hours for farmworkers.
California lawmakers move to tie fire fee's repeal to corporate tax [Sacramento Bee]
California lawmakers would repeal a controversial $150 fire prevention fee on rural homeowners in return for raising taxes on numerous out-of-state corporations under legislation proposed Friday.…Republican Assemblyman Brian Nestande proposed the compromise in hopes of it winning support from at least two GOP senators, the minimum necessary for Democrats to pass a tax measure by the required supermajority in each house….But Sen. Bob Huff, leader of the Senate Republican Caucus, turned thumbs down Friday. It makes no sense to support $1 billion in new corporate taxes in return for killing a fire fee that generates only a fraction of that revenue and can be reimposed at any time, spokesman Bill Bird said.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/25/4755663/california-lawmakers-move-to-tie.html#storylink=misearch
Central Valley Meat says USDA OKs reopening of Hanford slaughterhouse [Fresno Bee]
Central Valley Meat Co., which was shut down last week amid allegations of animal cruelty, said Sunday evening it has been given federal approval to reopen Monday. "Sunday afternoon, the USDA informed us that it has accepted our action plan and we are free to reopen," the company said in a statement. "Central Valley Meat will resume operations Monday morning and welcome our employees back to work." The Hanford slaughterhouse was forced to suspend operations last Monday after a secretly taped video triggered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its meat inspectors. The plant employs about 450 people, the company said.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/26/2965746/central-valley-meat-says-usda.html
USDA panel gets altered-crops pay plan [San Francisco Chronicle]
California voters this fall will decide a ballot measure that would require labeling of foods containing genetically engineered material. But the Department of Agriculture is already tied in knots over how to deal with the contamination of organic and conventional foods by biotech crops. On Monday, a USDA advisory panel will consider a draft plan to compensate farmers whose crops have been contaminated by pollen, seeds or other stray genetically engineered material. The meeting is expected to be contentious, pitting the biotechnology and organic industries against each other. The draft report acknowledged the difficulty of preventing such material from accidentally entering the food supply and concerns that the purity of traditional seeds may be threatened.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/USDA-panel-gets-altered-crops-pay-plan-3814480.php
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