Labor & Employment (Agriculture) in United States

in committee · United States · House Sep 3, 2026

HR 10273: Fairness for Farm Workers Act

The Fairness for Farm Workers Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to end the long-standing exemption that allows agricultural workers to be denied overtime pay. The bill introduces a phased schedule requiring employers to pay farm workers time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond a set threshold, which gradually decreases from 55 hours in 2027 to the standard 40 hours by 2030. Small farms with 25 or fewer employees are given a three-year delay, reaching full compliance by 2033. Additionally, the legislation removes several other exemptions that currently allow agricultural employers to bypass federal wage and hour protections.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags Agriculture

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 6, 2026

S 5304: Fairness for Farm Workers Act

The Fairness for Farm Workers Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to extend overtime protections to agricultural workers, who are currently largely exempt from these requirements. The bill establishes a phased schedule requiring employers to pay farm workers time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond a threshold that decreases from 55 hours per week in 2027 to the standard 40 hours by 2030. Small farms with 25 or fewer employees are granted an additional three-year grace period, reaching full compliance by 2033. Additionally, the legislation removes several existing exemptions that allow agricultural employers to bypass federal wage and hour standards, ensuring broader coverage for workers in the sector.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags Agriculture

in committee · United States · House Jul 27, 2026

HR 9974: Young Farmer Success Act

The Young Farmer Success Act expands student loan forgiveness to include individuals working full-time as employees or managers on farms and ranches. To qualify, these agricultural operations must generate at least $35,000 in gross revenue from selling agricultural products in 2026, with the required income increasing annually based on inflation adjustments. This change directly affects young people seeking loan relief who are currently employed in the farming and ranching sectors but were previously ineligible for this specific provision.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Agriculture

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 4652: Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act

This bill creates a new competitive grant program to help specialty crop farmers in the United States adopt automation and mechanization technologies. The program provides funding to develop cost-effective tools that reduce manual labor, improve farmworker safety, and increase efficiency in growing, harvesting, and processing crops. Grants will prioritize projects that include training for farmworkers to operate new technology and ensure clear communication of results to the public. Starting in fiscal year 2026, the Department of Agriculture must set aside at least $30 million annually for this initiative to accelerate the development and testing of these innovations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Tags Agriculture

in committee · United States · Senate May 21, 2026

S 4627: FARM AI Act of 2026

The FARM AI Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to integrate artificial intelligence into its research, education, and extension programs to help farmers improve productivity and resource management. This legislation mandates that federal funding for agricultural sciences include specific projects focused on AI adoption, workforce training, and the development of precision farming tools. To coordinate these efforts, the bill creates a new position called the Artificial Intelligence Agriculture Advisor, who will work with other agencies to promote AI use and establish national standards for the sector. Ultimately, the law aims to support small and family-run farms by providing technical assistance and ensuring access to modern digital technologies.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Artificial Intelligence Tags Agriculture

in committee · United States · House May 19, 2026

HRES 1301: Supporting the designation of May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to raise awareness around mental health in the agricultural industry and workforce and to continue to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

This resolution designates May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to highlight mental health issues within the farming and agricultural workforce. It aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness by acknowledging the unique stressors faced by producers and workers, such as unpredictable weather, labor shortages, and market fluctuations. The bill also draws attention to available support resources, specifically the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, and encourages the public to observe the day as a way to promote well-being in the industry.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Agriculture

passed · United States · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SRES 727: A resolution supporting the designation of May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to raise awareness around mental health in the agricultural industry and workforce and to continue to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

This Senate resolution designates May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to highlight mental health issues within the farming industry. The bill aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness among the approximately 3.37 million agricultural producers and 1.6 million farmworkers in the United States. It acknowledges specific challenges faced by these workers, such as suicide rates that are significantly higher than the general population, and encourages the use of existing resources like the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture to promote well-being rather than enacting new laws or funding changes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Agriculture

in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2026

HR 8145: Expanding Access to Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act

This bill expands the scope of federal programs supporting rural areas to include cybersecurity support, digital literacy, workforce development, and job training alongside existing telemedicine and distance learning services. It amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to update the section heading and modify multiple subsections to explicitly incorporate these new categories of assistance. The changes apply to programs that provide technical support and educational resources to rural communities, with an effective date set for six months after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Telehealth Workforce Development Broadband Access Cybersecurity Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2026

HR 8042: Empowering Women in Agriculture Act

The Empowering Women in Agriculture Act amends existing federal agricultural laws to expand support for women in farming. It updates definitions to include gender-based prejudice alongside racial and ethnic prejudice, and formally recognizes women's nonprofit organizations as eligible recipients of outreach assistance. The bill also requires that at least 10 percent of funding for socially disadvantaged farmer programs be directed toward women who are socially disadvantaged, extending the funding period through 2031. These changes directly affect women farmers, ranchers, and the nonprofit organizations that serve them by increasing access to training and financial resources.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Agriculture

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4249: FARM Stability Act

The FARM Stability Act proposes changes to wage requirements for H-2A temporary agricultural workers in the United States. It would require the Secretary of Labor to establish a two-tiered wage system based on skill levels, with higher pay for workers who have formal training or significant experience compared to entry-level workers. The bill also mandates that wages account for housing costs by calculating an hourly adjustment factor based on average fair market rent for four-bedroom units, limited to 30 percent of the base wage rate. These provisions would directly affect employers hiring H-2A workers and the workers themselves by modifying how minimum wages are determined and adjusted annually.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Renters Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags Agriculture

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