protect-farmworkers-and-food-chain-workers-in-farm-bill-db4527ed47101129.pdf

A coalition of organizations recommends that the next U.S. farm bill establish a dedicated Farmworker and Food Chain Worker Office, replenish pandemic relief funds, and expand disaster assistance for workers. The proposal calls for stricter meatpacking line speed regulations, increased research into pesticide alternatives, and the implementation of labor standards in USDA procurement. Additionally, it advocates for pathways to farm ownership for farmworkers, a weather warning system for workers, the protection of SNAP benefits, and enhanced protections for forestry workers on public lands.

• The current USDA Farmworker Coordinator role is insufficient to support over 2 million farmworkers because it is under-resourced and the position holder often balances multiple responsibilities without a background in the farmworker community. The authors propose elevating this to a fully staffed Farmworker and Food Chain Worker Office with liaisons across key USDA agencies.
• Existing USDA disaster assistance programs primarily benefit producers and fail to address the needs of farmworkers, who may lose housing, food, and healthcare during disasters. The document calls for a standing disaster emergency fund to provide farmworkers with equitable access to relief, including lost wages and protective equipment.
• Increased line speeds in meat and poultry processing are linked to higher food safety risks and severe worker injury, illness, and death. The authors urge the adoption of the Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act (PAMWA), which would prohibit line speed waivers unless it is determined there is no adverse impact on worker safety.
• There is a significant disparity in farm ownership; while 83% of farmworkers are Latinx/Hispanic, only 3% of farm owners belong to that group. The document recommends investing in equitable land transition and expanding USDA loan and conservation programs to help farmworkers become farm owners.
• Food chain workers face high rates of food insecurity, with some site-specific studies showing rates between 47% and 82%. Despite being twice as likely to need SNAP as the average U.S. worker, many are unable to access it due to language barriers, immigration status, or lack of technical support.
• The document advocates for the inclusion of the Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act in the farm bill to prevent the USDA from contracting with companies that commit egregious labor law violations, noting that the Fair Labor Standards Act currently excludes agriculture from certain child labor protections.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2023). protect-farmworkers-and-food-chain-workers-in-farm-bill-db4527ed47101129.pdf. https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/food-environment/Protect-Farmworkers-and-Food-Chain-Workers-in-Farm+Bill.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. protect-farmworkers-and-food-chain-workers-in-farm-bill-db4527ed47101129.pdf. 2023. https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/food-environment/Protect-Farmworkers-and-Food-Chain-Workers-in-Farm+Bill.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=protect-farmworkers-and-food-chain-workers-in-farm-bill-db4527ed47101129.pdf |date=9 June 2023 |url=https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/food-environment/Protect-Farmworkers-and-Food-Chain-Workers-in-Farm+Bill.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{unionofconcernedscientists2023protectfarmworkersandfoodchainworkersinfarmbilldb4527ed47101129pdf, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{protect-farmworkers-and-food-chain-workers-in-farm-bill-db4527ed47101129.pdf}}, publisher = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/food-environment/Protect-Farmworkers-and-Food-Chain-Workers-in-Farm+Bill.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }