A celery field in the Salinas Valley is harvested. Credit: Ag Alert file photo
June 22, 2025 - On Saturday, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on the Department of Labor suspending a rule dubbed the Farmworker Protection Act, which failed to live up to its name and was initially struck down by a district court.
Related: U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Guidance to Provide Clarity for Farmers on H-2A Worker Regulations - Suspends Enforcement of Biden Administration’s 2024 Farmworker Rule
“Farm Bureau thanks Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and the Trump administration for recognizing the obstacles created by this complex rule, which pit workers against their employers. Farmers value the men and women who choose to work on their farms, so they don’t take lightly the responsibility to care for them. Our laws rightly penalize bad actors, but this rule assumed all employers are guilty until proven innocent.
“We pressed the administration to recognize the impact overreaching regulations have on farm viability and see this as a step in the right direction. We urge Congress to now follow the lead of the courts, which agreed with AFBF, and the administration by rescinding the rule altogether. Farmers need workable programs that ensure they can continue to provide jobs and put food on the table for America’s families.”
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation
