December 2023 - 35

FEATURE
Technology: Coming to
an event near you
California again was the site for the FIRA USA
show, which had its second annual event in Salinas in
September. The AgTech show participants debated how
companies can work with fruit and vegetable growers
to meet their needs, not what manufacturers think
growers want.
Companies are adapting drones for many tasks on
the farm, from scanning crops for disease or nutrient
needs to spraying for insects, weeds or diseases.
Photo courtesy of Hylio.
Although California remains the hotbed of AgTech
automation, robotics and autonomous technology are
spreading eastward through trade events such as the
Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market show in
early December in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Labor: Proposed H-2A
changes panned
The year started with higher H-2A wages, known
as the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), with some
states seeing double-digit hikes. In February, the
federal government proposed higher fees, such as a
$460 to $1,080 hike for petition fees and $600 for an
asylum program fee.
Mid-November marked the end of a public comment
period for the industry on another proposal to add
worker protections and allow labor groups access to
work sites and employee housing, which is provided by
the hiring companies.
The National Council of Agricultural Employers
(NCAE) called the proposal's language " stunning in its
arrogance and disconnectedness from the reality of the
DOL's own evidence, " according to an NCAE release.
In July, a new immigration law went into effect in
Florida. Implemented by SB 1718, new regulations
enacted a host of measures designed to deter
undocumented immigrants from working in the state.
Agricultural interests warned of the consequences, and
VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM | 35

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December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2023

Editor's Letter
Watermelon Pressures
Battling food insecurities
40 Under 40 Class of 2023
Michigan Vegetable Council's proactive approach
2023: Year in review
Great Lakes EXPO News: Mastering pest management
Great Lakes EXPO News: Stop the Rot project
2024 Buyers' Guide
Consider automatic irrigation control systems
Autonomous tech invades the 'salad bowl'
Robotic risk
Robots perform field work
Cover crop mixes
Farm Market & Agritourism: Revolutionize customer relationships
Ag Labor Review: DOL's end run
Business: Effective succession planning
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
December 2023 - 1
December 2023 - 2
December 2023 - 3
December 2023 - Editor's Letter
December 2023 - 5
December 2023 - Watermelon Pressures
December 2023 - 7
December 2023 - 8
December 2023 - 9
December 2023 - 10
December 2023 - 11
December 2023 - Battling food insecurities
December 2023 - 13
December 2023 - 14
December 2023 - 15
December 2023 - 16
December 2023 - 40 Under 40 Class of 2023
December 2023 - 18
December 2023 - 19
December 2023 - 20
December 2023 - 21
December 2023 - 22
December 2023 - 23
December 2023 - 24
December 2023 - 25
December 2023 - 26
December 2023 - 27
December 2023 - 28
December 2023 - 29
December 2023 - Michigan Vegetable Council's proactive approach
December 2023 - 31
December 2023 - 32
December 2023 - 33
December 2023 - 2023: Year in review
December 2023 - 35
December 2023 - 36
December 2023 - 37
December 2023 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Mastering pest management
December 2023 - 39
December 2023 - 40
December 2023 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Stop the Rot project
December 2023 - 42
December 2023 - 2024 Buyers' Guide
December 2023 - 44
December 2023 - 45
December 2023 - 46
December 2023 - 47
December 2023 - 48
December 2023 - 49
December 2023 - 50
December 2023 - 51
December 2023 - 52
December 2023 - 53
December 2023 - 54
December 2023 - 55
December 2023 - 56
December 2023 - 57
December 2023 - 58
December 2023 - 59
December 2023 - 60
December 2023 - 61
December 2023 - 62
December 2023 - 63
December 2023 - 64
December 2023 - 65
December 2023 - 66
December 2023 - Consider automatic irrigation control systems
December 2023 - Autonomous tech invades the 'salad bowl'
December 2023 - 69
December 2023 - 70
December 2023 - 71
December 2023 - Robotic risk
December 2023 - 73
December 2023 - 74
December 2023 - 75
December 2023 - Robots perform field work
December 2023 - 77
December 2023 - 78
December 2023 - 79
December 2023 - Cover crop mixes
December 2023 - 81
December 2023 - Farm Market & Agritourism: Revolutionize customer relationships
December 2023 - 83
December 2023 - Ag Labor Review: DOL's end run
December 2023 - 85
December 2023 - Business: Effective succession planning
December 2023 - 87
December 2023 - Classifieds
December 2023 - 89
December 2023 - Advertiser Index
December 2023 - 91
December 2023 - 92
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/april-2020
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