Best Management Practices Programs for CA Nurseries: Review and Outlook (Salinas)

7:30 am - 1:00 pm

Moderator: Maria de la Fuente, County Director, UCCE Monterey County

Continuing Education Units: DPR and CCA units requested

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The Gang of Eight bipartisan Senators who labored for months to craft a comprehensive immigration reform bill that will get their colleagues' votes unveiled the long-awaited product this week, and while the Gang is feeling optimistic and ag employers joined with farm workers' unions to endorse the bill, the road to President Obama's desk will be a rough one. The reaction to the bill is much as expected - praise from reform supporters and those sectors which rely upon immigrant labor, and outrage and predictions of disaster by immigration hawks.   

While there is general optimism in the Senate given negotiations have put both Republicans and Democrats, general employers, ag employers and most unions in the "support" column, amendments to the Senate package that may be offered, along with conservative opposition in the House will not make enactment a simple task.  The bill is wide-ranging in its reforms, covering everything from $4.5 billion in border security enhancements to a replacement program for the much-criticized H2-A guest worker visa program under which most ag workers qualify.

'AgJobs' Provisions

At a press event this week, national agriculture employers joined with the United Farm Workers to endorse the Gang of Eight bill, but not until after tough negotiations over low-skilled worker wage rates, and the number of workers eligible for new visa status as "guest workers."  Key to ag support for the bill was a complete rewrite of the H-2A ag guest worker visa protections, with action that would not jeopardize the current low-skilled ag workforce while ensuring a constant labor force for the future. Under the bill, illegal immigrant farm workers could apply for a new "blue card," if they've worked in ag for 100 days during 2011-2012 and formally opt to remain in the U.S.  After five years, blue card workers would receive green cards if they've paid a $400 fine, paid all taxes owed and have not been convicted of a serious crime. Family status is eligible under the blue card application system. A new ag visa guest worker system would be created to grant a "portable" employment-specific visa (W-3) allowing workers to change jobs at will, with a similar contract-based visa (W-2) available to those currently under the H-2A system, which end once the new system is operational. These visas could run up to three years, with employers providing housing or a housing allowance.  Wage rate categories would be set by the new bill for crop workers, livestock workers, sorters and graders at packing houses and equipment operators. While most immigrant on-farm labor is covered under separate agriculture provisions, some ag workers, including meat plant employees, come under a rewrite of the immigration status known in the legislation as the "W visa" provisions.

General Provisions

Six months after the bill becomes law, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must submit a plan for spending $4.5 billion on a "Comprehensive Southern Border Security Strategy" aimed at "achieving and maintaining" immigration controls at high-risk sections of the U.S.-Mexican border. About $3 billion of the total would be spent on equipment and personnel, with $1.5 billion to fund the "Southern Border Fencing Strategy."  None of the revised visa or immigration status changes in the law would go into effect until DHS begins the two security efforts. The bill would create a new category for "individuals in unlawful status" - Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) - requiring workers in the U.S. to have arrived here prior to Dec. 31, 2011, and they may not have left the country since that time.  RPI status would last for six years, but is renewable, with fines due at initial application due again at renewal.

Undocumented workers must apply for RPI status, pay a $500 fine for all adults in the household, not have been convicted of a serious crime, including voting illegally, at which time they would be assessed any unpaid taxes, application processing costs, and start down the road to permanent residency or green card status after 10 years. They also have to show a proficiency in English and "civics," just as other immigrants do when applying for residency or citizenship.  Those eligible under the DREAM Act - children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S. who attend college or the military, would get green cards in five years, and would be eligible for citizenship as soon as the green card is issued.  Any immigrant granted RPI status is ruled ineligible for any federal means-tested public benefits, which normally include food stamps, housing, medical and other assistance.  There are also provisions to make it easier to recruit and retain so-called STEM immigrants, those with expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, a group which currently enters the country under the old H-1B temporary visa system.  All U.S. employers would be required to use the federal E-Verify system that alerts employers to applicants without legal status after a five-year phase-in period, with employers with more than 5,000 employees required to begin use of the system during a two-year phase-in period; 500 or more employees qualify for a three-year phase in, and all employers, including agricultural employers, will be phased in within four years.

A bill that would raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation will be heard in its first committee next week.  AB 10 (Alejo) will be heard in the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee on April 24.  The bill would increase the minimum wage to $8.25 on January 1, 2014 then further increase the minimum wage, on and after January 1, 2015, to not less than $8.75 per hour, and on and after January 1, 2016, to not less than $9.25 per hour.  The bill also would index the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index for Inflation, creating an annual trigger for wage increases.  The association is opposed. 

Governor Brown Concerned about Progress of California Environmental Quality Act Reform

In a news article this week, Governor Brown stated that meaningful changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) were unlikely this year.  As he toured China, viewing the many large infrastructure projects, he discussed how difficult many of the same types of projects are to build in California.  When asked by reporters about his efforts to reform the law, the Governor expressed concern that the process was stalled.

In fact, some efforts to expand CEQA are moving forward.  SB 617 (Evans) would expand the definitions of "environment" and "significant effect on the environment" and would require the lead agency to include in the Environmental Impact Report, a detailed statement on any significant effects that may result from locating development near, or attracting people to, existing or reasonably foreseeable natural hazards or adverse environmental conditions. Some are concerned that this would spur another round of litigation to establish the parameters of these expanded terms and provide additional opportunities for opponents of a project to force delay. 

Rep. Frank Lucas (R, OK), chair of the House Agriculture Committee, said this week his panel will move to mark up its version of a comprehensive five-year Farm Bill on May 15, despite pressure from House leadership to go slowly enough to develop a politically palatable bill. Lucas said he met with Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, VA), who continues to worry about a conservative defection on the floor if any Farm Bill doesn't carry deep food stamp cuts. He told Cantor he'd hold listening sessions with non-ag committee members of the House to get their input, and would stay on schedule, a commitment he's made to his ranking member, Rep. Collin Peterson (D, MN). 

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D, MI), chair of the Senate ag panel, says she hopes to begin her committee's markup this month, but comments by other committee members about Senate's priorities and the status of behind-the-scenes Farm Bill discussions, indicate she may wind up on the same rough timetable as Lucas with a markup set for May. Stabenow is dealing with a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score on her 2012 bill that shaved the estimated $23-billion savings to about $14 billion based on new USDA spending data, but has said her committee's bill will reach the $23-billion savings mark. She also faces a new challenge from the new ranking ag panel member, Sen. Thad Cochran (R, MS), a former ag committee chair.  Cochran will likely try to force rewrite of the commodity title to reflect retention of some formula including, target prices, marketing loans and deficiency payments, similar to the option taken by the House Agriculture Committee in its 2012 bill.  Cochran, for his part, is reported to be eyeing some version of a target price program as "more affordable."

LOS ANGELES (April 15, 2013

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In the coming months, Teleflora will take its collaboration to the next level with the launch of a new online flower program for Tributes.com Premier funeral home partners.  The new program will enable funeral homes to leverage their existing local floral partners and the teleflora.com platform to drive online flower sales and increased revenue.  Customized teleflora.com-powered sympathy floral shops will be seamlessly integrated into the online obituaries and websites of participating funeral homes, where all floral purchases will be prepared and delivered exclusively through the Teleflora florist network.

"With Teleflora's unique selling proposition, which guarantees that 100 percent of their bouquets are arranged by an expert florist and delivered ready to display and enjoy, we are confident Teleflora is the best partner to address the needs and dynamics of the funeral home channel as it relates to sympathy arrangements and gifts," said Elaine Haney, chief executive officer and president of Tributes, Inc. "We look forward to collaborating with Teleflora to deliver solutions that help our funeral home partners expand their existing florist relationships in their local markets to help them grow their businesses."

About Teleflora

Teleflora is the world's leading flower delivery service connecting customers with the nation's best local florists for more than 75 years. All of Teleflora's flower arrangements are artistically arranged and hand-delivered in keepsake vases using only the freshest flowers available through its member florist network.  Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Teleflora has over 15,000 member florists throughout the U.S. and Canada, with an additional 20,000 affiliated florists outside North America. Through its extensive member florist network, Web sites including www.teleflora.com and www.findaflorist.com, and its toll-free line 1-800-TELEFLORA, the company offers consumers fast, convenient and high-quality flowers and keepsake products.

About Tributes.com�

Tributes.com is the online source for current local and national obituary news and a supportive community where friends and family can come together during times of loss and grieving to honor the memories of their loved ones with lasting personal tributes. Through one centralized national web destination, with 95 million and growing current and historical death records dating back to the 1930s, Tributes has made obituary and online memorial service information easily accessible. The site has experienced rapid growth since its launch in the fall of 2008, and is now relied on by thousands of funeral homes and close to 4M unique consumers each month to publish and locate obituary news.  For more information about Tributes.com, please visit our website at www.tributes.com or contact us at media@tributes.com.