December 2020 - 44

AG LABOR REVIEW
Ag Labor Forum to present timely industry updates
MICHAEL MARSH
President & CEO
National Council of
Agricultural Employers
Michael@ncaeonline.org
sticking around for a while. Thankfully,
we will not have the same steep learning
curve we experienced this year and, this
forum should give you a leg up on your
competition.
At NCAE's Virtual Ag Labor Forum
I am sure you have heard the old saying
that " Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. "
Looking back at the 2020 season, most
farmers and ranchers would probably say,
" How could I have planned for that? "
And, hopefully, your business is still
standing.
The National Council of Agricultural
Employers (NCAE) was as surprised
as anyone with the eruption of a global
pandemic. We would always rather be
proactive than reactive but sometimes,
you have no choice.
This year we have a choice to plan and
we are doing just that with the topics
and insight that will be shared at our
Virtual Ag Labor Forum scheduled for
Dec. 2-4, 2020. Since all the discussions
and presentations will be done online,
social distancing should be a breeze and
you should not have to wear a mask
when interfacing with your computer!
Planning in this coming year will
be key as it appears this virus will be
attendees will get a chance to hear from
us as to what our plans are for the coming
year to continue aggressively advocating
on behalf of U.S. farm and ranch
employers. It will be a fight, as it always is,
but a fight that must be won.
Attendees of the forum will get a
firsthand look inside the new Congress
following the election. Experts will weigh
in on what critical committees may look
like and provide participants with ideas
as to how they can help our cause when
members of Congress return home from
D.C. to face constituents. And, regardless
of who wins the presidential race, changes
are sure to come to cabinet appointments
and we will take a look at how that may
impact ag employers.
Economic analysis will also be
discussed. Some of this analysis will
examine the farm and ranch impacts of
COVID-19 from a business perspective
and what those impacts may portend
for the future. One of the things to be
considered in this discussion is what
this might mean for the rise of labor
activism and whether unions will be
emboldened to be more assertive in
attempting to organize the farm labor
workforce.
We will also pop open the hood
and take a look at what's happening in
those " Canary in the Coal Mine " state
legislatures of California and Washington.
Because, as we know to our misfortune,
some of those strange anti-farmer
initiatives that start there, don't stay there.
A panel on immigration reform will
" crystal ball " for attendees what that
might look like in the new Congress and
how agriculture can best work together to
assure we end up with reform that does
not undermine the sustainability of farms
and ranches. Experts from across the
country will be on hand to dissect this hot
topic and will be one forum participants
will not want to miss.
The Agricultural Safety and Health
Council of America will turn a spade
on what farmers and ranchers can do to
best plan for protecting their workers,
their families and themselves in a
COVID environment for the next year.
What planning can be done and how
can we better access personal protection
equipment? The session will also examine
best practices learned from 2020.
Two separate tracks of H-2A will also
run during the Forum. H-2A 101 will
crack open topics for new users of the
program and H-2A Advanced Topics
will dive deeper into the regulations for
more seasoned users. Trying to tease a
little intrigue into this program will be
a session walking through changes to
regulations that have been cooking at the
Department of Labor for over a year.
Experts from the Departments of
State and Labor will be available to
provide updates on their programs
and answer questions for attendees.
Undeniably, we will have a lot to talk
about.
We are looking to wrap this year's
forum with a couple of special invited
guests. The Trump administration
negotiated bi-lateral agreements with the
governments of Guatemala and Honduras
for provision of workers in the H-2A
program. The Ministers of Labor from
both countries will address the audience
and share the details of their programs.
We hope you will join us for this
exciting event and use it as part of your
plan for success in 2021. Details can be
found at www.ncaeonline.org.
I look forward to virtually seeing you
there!
Have a blessed and happy
Thanksgiving! VGN
Join us during the
Great Lakes
Expo
Virtual Event
DANVILLE EXPRESS
No Drift Chemical ApplicatorsSince 1985
3 Gallon Edger
Rollers same as
5 QUART Model
$267.95
6 - 12 - 18 "
The Plastic Mulch Lifter-Wrapper (PR2500) combines the lifting and
wrapping of plastic mulch into ONE EASY PASS. As it splits and lifts the plastic, it
rolls the dirt, vines, and trash to the side and wraps the plastic neatly into rolls that
are easy to dispose.
Hand Model DEX 30
Tank capacity.........4 gal.
* Gravity flow
* Roller width 30 " .
Only
$276.95
5 QUART EDGER
Commercial Pull Model
36 to 72 "
$482.95
From
to $850.95
The Picking Assistant
(PA1600) is a motorized field hand
designed to boost your planting
productivity and reduce sore backs!
It features adjustable height & width,
variable speed controller, an allweather
canopy and a solar
charging system.
High Pressure Produce
Sprayers are designed with features
specifically for the thorough application
of fungicides and pesticides on fruit and
vegetable crops to effectively control
insects and disease.
CropCareEquipment�com | Lititz, Pennsylvania
Manufactured by PBZ LLC, a Paul B� Zimmerman, Inc� company
Please contact your local dealer with any questions�
New York
White's Farm Supply, Inc.
Canastota ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 315-697-2214
Waterville ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 315-841-4181
44 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
Applies chemicals
down aisles,
around potted
plant containers,
young tree rows,
etc. without
worry of drift.
* Tank capacity
5 quarts
* Gravity flow
* Interchangeable
Tank capacities ....... 12 or 20 gal.
* Gravity flow
* Rollers available in 48 " , 60 " , 72 " .
(smaller sizes available)
roller sizes
(4 " , 6 " , 12 "
or 18 " )
$178.95
No pumps required on all models
55 Gallon
Models Available
From $1,667.95
to $1,699.95
Danville Industries
124 West Main, Harper, KS 67058
1-800-662-4212 * Fax (620) 896-7192
Email: Danville11@msn.com
620-896-7126
View other products at
www.danvillenodrift.com

http://www.ncaeonline.org http://www.danvillenodrift.com http://www.VegetableGrowersNews.com

December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2020