Thursday, March 28, 2024 Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
House panel advises 20 ways to improve H-2A program
In early March, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s Agriculture Labor Working Group unveiled a report on the H-2A guest worker program, detailing 20 specific proposed changes.
The proposed changes include streamlining visa application processes, relaxing specific program regulations, revising wage calculation methods, and setting a federal standard for heat exposure protection for H-2A workers.
While the report received near-unanimous approval and garnered industry support, it has faced criticism from farmworker advocacy groups. These groups argue that the suggested changes to wage calculations could adversely affect farmworkers' earnings.
— Mónica Cordero, reporter/Report for America corps member
Farmworker advocates take issue with U.S. House ag committee recommendations on H-2A program
By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest
Farmworker advocates said proposals by a U.S. House committee to the H-2A worker program, especially the changes to how worker pay could be calculated, would hurt farmworkers financially. Farmworkers already make low wages.
“Farmworkers need stronger protections and opportunities for permanent legal status to stabilize the agricultural workforce,” said Alexis Guild, vice president of strategy and programs at Farmworker Justice, one of the stakeholders the committee met with.
Read more.
GRAPHIC: Major dairy states see 30% decrease in female producers
By John McCracken, Investigate Midwest
From 2017 to 2022, the top five states with the largest dollar value for dairy products saw a third of its female dairy producers leave the industry.
This trend matches the national decline in female dairy producers, according to Census of Agriculture data.
See the graphic.
OPINION: Farmers should beware a second Trump term
In his latest column, Dave Dickey writes about the upcoming election and the candidates for president and how they align with farmers' needs. He writes: "It’s truly head scratching how Make American Great Again Republicans — a vast number of whom are farmers — believe Donald Trump is their agricultural bestie. The official record suggests otherwise."
Read more.
Reporter Cordero honored for work on farmworkers, heat
Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest reporter and Report for America Corps member, and Harvest Public Media reporter Eva Tesfaye, earned an honorable mention from the North American Agricultral Journalists. The two wrote a story on how farmworkers are facing more extreme temperatures as the climate changes.
Get the 'inside scoop' on April 12 at Iowa City event
You are welcome to enjoy stories from five longtime journalists, Friday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at Poindexter Coffee inside The Graduate hotel in Iowa City.
This event supports reporting by the IowaWatch newsroom of Investigate Midwest.
The speakers include: Lee Rood, investigative reporter and Reader's Watchdog columnist, Des Moines Register; Dana James, founder and publisher, Black Iowa News; Maudlyne Ihejirika, author, retired Chicago Sun-Times Columnist/reporter, journalism and storytelling program officer, Field Foundation of Illinois; Randy Evans, executive director, Iowa Freedom of Information Council and a former Des Moines Register reporter/editor; and Zachary Oren Smith, eastern Iowa reporter, Iowa Public Radio.
Iowa Public Radio host Charity Nebbe will host the event. Get tickets here.
News from our partners
Farmers face a precarious future. Is the Farm Bureau on their side? By Barn Raiser
Bill calls for $2 million annually to shore up local food supply chains By Capitol News Illinois
Ice cover on the upper Mississippi River was fleeting this winter. Is this our future? By Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Investigate Midwest is an independent, nonprofit newsroom. Our mission is to serve the public as a watchdog over influential corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism.
