U.S.
farmers, guest workers pay a price to stay legal [Los Angeles Times]
…Much
of the debate over immigration reform has focused on the millions of
undocumented workers living in the United States. But many say fixes must also
be made to the programs that bring tens of thousands of guest workers to
America every year to work at farms, hotels and restaurants. Such programs were
among those that led to a standoff between congressional negotiators before
their spring recess. A tentative agreement reached over the weekend covered
some low-wage workers but not agricultural employees. Employers say that the
H-2A agricultural visa program, under which Garcia is employed, is broken and
that the complicated rules and high costs push employers to hire undocumented
workers. Labor advocates say that the programs create a group of second-class
citizens who are brought here to do grueling and often dangerous work without
protection against abuses. Placating both sides will be a challenge.
Rubio
says immigration bill still has a way to go [New York Times]
As
several of the eight senators taking part in a bipartisan effort to overhaul to
the nation’s immigration laws appeared on television Sunday to voice optimism
about the negotiations, Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the group, issued a
strongly worded message of caution. “No Final Agreement on Immigration
Legislation Yet” was the headline, all in capital letters, of a statement
released by his office on Sunday….Despite Mr. Rubio’s remarks, Congressional
aides and several of the eight senators say the group is still on track to
introduce comprehensive immigration legislation when Congress returns from its
break….Mr. Rubio was referring to news reports on Saturday that the nation’s
leading business and labor groups had agreed on a guest worker program for low-skilled
workers, one of the final sticking points in the negotiations among the eight
senators.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/us/politics/rubio-offers-words-of-caution-on-immigration.html?_r=0
Farm
Beat: On Chávez's birthday, UFW struggle goes on [Modesto Bee]
…So,
is the work of César Chávez, who would have turned 86 this Sunday, complete?
No, it isn't. Farmwork- ers remain among the lowest-paid people in the work
force. Statewide last year, the median hourly wage was $8.98 for those who
handle crops and $10.91 for those who work with livestock, the California
Employment Development Department reported. Some critics say farm owners simply
should increase the pay, especially in this time of strong prices for many of
their products. A report in November from the California Farm Bureau Federation
said some growers did indeed boost wages to deal with a labor shortage.
"However, wage increases are only possible where the grower's profit
margin can tolerate the erosion caused by an increase in costs for labor, which
represents a critical input for many crops," the report said.
Oakdale
Irrigation District weighs water sale to West Side farmers [Modesto Bee]
The
Oakdale Irrigation District board on Tuesday will consider a one-year water
sale to drought-stressed parts of the West Side. The water would be delivered
this spring via the lower Stanislaus River, which could benefit young salmon
headed out to sea, OID General Manager Steve Knell said Sunday. The district
and the adjacent South San Joaquin Irrigation District each propose to sell
40,000 acre-feet of water. It would be bought for $100 per acre-foot by the San
Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority, made up of numerous irrigation
districts, and the California Department of Water Resources.
Dairies
in California consider incentives to move out of state [Los Angeles Times]
Other
states have long poached California manufacturers and jobs. Now they're coming
for the cows. Seizing on the plight of the state's dairy industry, which is
beset by high feed costs and low milk prices, nearly a dozen states are courting
Golden State dairy farmers. The pitch: cheaper farm land, lower taxes, fewer
environmental regulations and higher prices for their milk….Although the
migration is not yet a stampede, some California dairy farmers have left for
what they see as better opportunities….The federal government regulates milk
prices in most states to prevent price volatility, but not in California, which
has its own milk pricing system, established in 1935. California dairy
operators complain that the state's system is too stingy, and they're pushing
officials to bring prices closer in line with the federal pricing system,
partly to recover from tough years recently.
Feds
want $18 million back from timber counties [Associated Press]
The
U.S. Forest Service's demands that rural timber counties pay back millions of
dollars in federal subsidies under automatic budget cuts have outraged members
of Congress from both parties and caused concern in those counties with
struggling economies. Thirty-one members of the House this week sent a letter
to the Obama administration protesting demands that they return $17.9 million
in revenues that pay for schools, roads, search and rescue operations in rural
counties as well as for conservation projects.…Forest Service Chief Thomas L.
Tidwell sent letters to 41 states telling them they need to repay $15.6 million
disbursed in January under the Secure Rural Schools Act, which since 2000 has
sent billions of dollars to 700 rural counties to make up for reductions in
federal logging revenues due to fish and wildlife protections. The top
recipients have been Oregon, California and Washington.
Ag
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