House Agricultural Labor Bill Ready?
House lawmakers expect to introduce a bipartisan comprehensive agricultural labor reform bill as early as October 23. The core group of negotiators, led by Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), also includes Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Republicans Dan Newhouse (WA), Mike Simpson (ID), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), and Doug LaMalfa (CA). […]
AmericanHort Weighs In on Hours of Service Changes
AmericanHort submitted public comments on October 18 on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding trucking hours-of-service (HOS) changes. The proposed measures, aimed to give added time flexibility to commercial drivers, have been a priority at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as of late. Flexibility with regard to HOS rules has also been […]
Martinez to Step Down from Transportation Regulatory Agency
Administrator Ray Martinez of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced he will leave the agency at the end of October, ending his term as administrator after being confirmed in February 2018. Martinez, citing a desire to spend more time with family, will remain at the Department of Transportation and oversee redevelopment construction at […]
H-2B and Appropriations
Fiscal year 2020 began on October 1. The federal government is currently operating under a temporary spending bill or “continuing resolution” (CR) that runs through November 21. To date, little progress has been made in discussions among House and Senate leaders on final spending bills. Also, the Senate has yet to pass annual spending bills, […]
One Less Pest in NYC, While Another Pest Experiments with Planes
No More ALB in the Big Apple–Earlier this month, USDA APHIS announced the successful eradication of Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) from areas in New York City. “I am proud to say that we have eradicated Asian longhorned beetle from Brooklyn and Queens,” said Greg Ibach, USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “This officially […]
Pest Alerts
Crape Myrtle Bark Scale in SC – Clemson University Department of Plant Industry announced in September that crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) was positively identified throughout the Columbia metro area. This is the first confirmation of CMBS in the state. The infestation was described as being ‘extensive’ and likely present for quite some time. CMBS was […]
New Research Priorities Set for IR-4 Project
IR-4 recently convened their biannual meeting to set priorities for research needs over the next two years. Dubbed the ‘Week of Workshops,’ this year combined the food crops program with the Environmental Horticulture Program (Env Hort) for the first time in an effort to be more efficient for participants. AmericanHort participated in the priority-setting process, […]
AmericanHort H-2A Comments Filed Too
On September 24, AmericanHort filed official comments on the Administration’s “notice of proposed rulemaking” (NPRM) that seeks to streamline and modernize the H-2A agricultural worker visa program. The comments describe in detail where we believe the proposed changes would improve the current program, and where we believe the Administration misses the mark or could go further. More […]
Americanhort Files Official Comments On Trucking Agricultural Commodity Definition
AmericanHort has filed extensive comments on the “agricultural commodity” definition in use by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The comment period ended September 27, advancing by one step a potential regulatory change that is much needed as the current FMCSA definition of what is an “agricultural commodity” remains a cause of major confusion. Included in […]
H-2B Cap Fate Tied to FY2020 Government Spending Solution
On September 19, the House of Representatives passed a temporary spending measure to fund the federal government through November 21. The Senate is expected to pass the measure next week. Senate Democrats and Republicans, however, remain deeply divided over many appropriations bills, making it more likely that Congress will pass a second year-long continuing resolution […]