Farm Walk & Ag Industry Under Fire

Farm Walk & Ag Industry Under Fire

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

Monday July 8th the Wilson Banner Ranch in Clarkston will be host to a WSU Small Farms Program and Tilth Producers of Washington Farm Walk. As a family heritage farm Wilson Banner Ranch practices sustainable ag methods. Those joining the farm walk will have an opportunity to learn about their orchards, vegetable row crops, pastured animals, and recently-installed and certified cider press. For exact time and location information visit tilthproducers.org.

The Evans Fruit lawsuit, in which a foreman for Evan’s Fruit was charged in an alleged assault on a female worker, continues to bring the ag industry unfavorable attention, even though the lawsuit against Evans Fruit was dismissed. Washington Farm Labor’s Dan Fazio says recent articles highlighting this incident stating that such acts happen frequently in agriculture just aren’t true.

FAZIO: There’s absolutely no proof that sexual assault or harassment occurs more frequently in agriculture than in construction, retail, the military or any other industry. That being said, we take all these kinds of reports as constructive criticism and there’s no question that agriculture has got to put systems in place.

Fazio says that, while the ag industry does not have a higher number of such incidences than any other industry, it is important for employers to take steps to protect themselves.

FAZIO: Washington Farm labor Association has a complete program for compliance. We have model policies, on-site training, webinars, investigations, mediations, etc. and they’re all available at our website. I will say that the agriculture employers from what I’ve seen in Washington State have greatly increased the number of people that go to training.

For more information on WAFLA training programs visit wafla.org.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.