H2A Reversal

H2A Reversal. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Dan Fazio with Washington Farm Bureau has his hands full keeping track of a number of ag issues including a reversal recently on H2A.

FAZIO: We were very disappointed that the administration is going to roll back the new H2A rules which had been successful and we’re very confused as to what will happen after the rules are rescinded. The rescission looks like it will happen at the end of June.

Notice of the change was sent on May 27 that the rules would change on June 28.

FAZIO: We’ve got basic questions. In Washington State for example the rules don’t even specify whether or not a person can deduct worker’s comp premiums which are required to do under Washington law you deduct about 25% of the workers worker’s comp premium, we don’t know what reimbursements have to happen.

There is also a very large minimum wage attached to these rules as well and Fazio says they are disappointed.

FAZIO: The improvements that we worked long and hard to get in the H2A program look like they’re going away at the end of this month so it looks like we’ve got two groups of farmers, ones that have gotten their H2A applications in before June 28 and one that have gotten them approved after June 28.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.