Maine has repeatedly floated bills to include farmworkers in the state’s minimum wage law, but the Democratic governor has vetoed it — and laborers say a lack of legal protections makes it impossible for them to speak up.

The Price of Picking Blueberries

Research shows that farmworkers are often exposed to dangerous chemicals with little protective equipment or recourse when they get sick. A slate of bills in the House and Senate could help.

Poisoned by Pesticides

A co-op of Wisconsin farmers now has its own trucking company — which could be one small way to shore up America’s ailing food supply chain.

Building a Better Agricultural Trucking Market

An emergent crop of labels aims to guarantee fair and humane farmworker treatment — but are they actually protecting workers as they claim they are?

A Food Label for Farmworkers

Latino ag workers face significant structural barriers to eventual farm ownership. With the right support, that could change.

From Fieldworkers to Farm Owners

Farming influencers are leading a new era of public perception on social media. The question is, can all ag producers follow their lead?

Is Every Farmer an Influencer Now?

But if we run out of water, we’re cooked.

Some Midwestern States Have Stayed Cooler Than the Rest of the Country. The Secret? Large-Scale Irrigation.

Unhealthy sagebrush habitats threaten ranching and endangered species, while fueling more frequent and intense wildfires. Incarcerated people in five Western states are helping restore these habitats.

Prisoners Are Saving Western Rangelands

States are trying — and in some cases, succeeding — to allow teens to work longer hours and in dangerous environments.

It’s Suddenly Legal for Kids to Work in Meatpacking Plants

Giving workers a slice of the pie has proven to increase production and solve labor shortages — can it be replicated in other sectors of agriculture?

Profit-Sharing is Taking Root in the Wine Industry

Legislation penalizing companies that employ undocumented workers goes into effect on July 1. Some farmworkers, fearing discrimination and deportation, are already fleeing the state.

Florida’s New Anti-Immigration Law Spells Bad News for Agriculture

Climate change is making agricultural labor more dangerous. The Farm Bill can add key protections.

How a Climate-Smart Farm Bill Can Save Lives

Small farmers and their workers sometimes clash over what comprises fair wages and true educational opportunities.

Are Farm Apprentices and Interns Getting Paid What They Deserve?

The Covid-19 pandemic amplified the demand for mental health resources, bolstering programs designed to meet the unique needs of farmers and ranchers.

Addressing Agriculture’s Mental Health Crisis

Aiming to address a state labor shortage, a proposed bill would also let employers off the hook if child workers get injured.

Iowa Pushes to Let 14-Year-Olds Work in Meatpacking Plants

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health is one of 12 groups connecting  farmers with funds to help keep them farming — safely.

Adaptive Equipment for the Most Dangerous Profession

A curious effect of climate change exacerbates extreme working conditions in cornfields. 

“Corn Sweat” Is on the Rise — And It May Make Farmwork Less Safe 

Agriculture workers could greatly benefit from proposed legislation mandating PTO during hurricanes, wildfires, and more. But who gets to take it? And who will foot the bill?

A Safety Net for Farmworkers During Climate Disasters

Oregon, Washington, and California are phasing in overtime pay for farmworkers. In response, some employers are simply cutting hours and hiring more workers.

Labor