A recent court decision to vacate the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) methodology rule, along with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement to discontinue the Farm Labor Survey, is expected to impact wage-setting processes for Florida farmers. The Florida Farm Bureau Federation views these developments as beneficial for the state’s agricultural sector.
Jeb S. Smith, President of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, commented on these changes: “The recent court decision vacating the AEWR methodology rule, coupled with USDA’s announcement that it will discontinue the Farm Labor Survey, are tremendous wins for Florida agriculture,” said Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb S. Smith. “These actions bring greater stability and fairness to the wage-setting process and ensure that our farmers can remain competitive in providing safe, affordable food and fiber. Florida Farm Bureau has long advocated for commonsense labor policies, and these outcomes reflect the importance of listening to the needs of our farmers and ranchers. We are grateful for this progress and will continue working to secure a strong future for Florida’s farm families.”
The AEWR is a wage rate mechanism used in hiring temporary agricultural workers under H-2A visas. By discontinuing its use and halting related data collection through the Farm Labor Survey, some agricultural groups believe there will be more predictability in labor costs.
