Month: May 2026

NCAE to Co-Host H-2A Visa Program Briefing for Congressional Staff

| Articles, Events, News, Press Release, Uncategorized

NCAE to Co-Host H-2A Visa Program Briefing for Congressional Staff

“Fields, Farms, and the Hill: 

A Congressional Briefing on the State of Ag Labor”

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is pleased to announce a special installment of its educational webinar series which will arm congressional staffers with the critical information they need to know about the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa Program and current casework challenges that farmers and workers are experiencing.

On Tuesday June 2, 2026, from 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. Eastern, NCAE will host “Fields, Farms, and the Hill: A Congressional Briefing on the State of Ag Labor.” The webinar will be co-hosted by Representative Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Representative Donald G. Davis (NC-01).  The interactive webinar will be led by Tom Bortnyk, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of másLabor and moderated by John Hollay, NCAE’s President and CEO. Tom will walk staffers through all aspects of the program, challenges offices are facing regarding constituent casework, the Department of Labor’s Interim Final Rule, and how staffers can best be prepared to handle legislative inquiries from agricultural employers.

“The H-2A program is a lifeline for America’s farmers and ranchers, providing the essential legal workforce necessary to sustain our agricultural operations and secure our national food supply,” said Hollay. “Because agricultural labor policy is heavily regulated and increasingly complex, it is imperative that congressional staffers understand the day-to-day intricacies of this program. Staffers are often the first point of contact for constituent casework and play a crucial role in shaping policy. Their active engagement and deep understanding of the H-2A program are vital to fostering a system that truly works for agricultural employers and the communities they support.”

As the agricultural sector continues to face unprecedented workforce challenges and shifting regulatory landscapes, this briefing aims to bridge the gap between the realities on the farm and the policy discussions happening on Capitol Hill.

The webinar will begin at 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT on Thursday, June 2, 2026. This briefing is open to all congressional staff. Recordings of the webinar presentation will be available to agricultural policy advisors, and key stakeholders interested in the future of agricultural labor upon the conclusion of the webinar. Additional information, including registration details, is available on the NCAE website at ncaeonline.org.

About NCAE

Founded in 1964, NCAE is the only national association focusing exclusively on agricultural labor issues from the agricultural employer’s viewpoint.

Download Article

NCAE Responds to Order Denying Preliminary Injunction

| Articles, News, Press Release, Uncategorized

NCAE Responds to Order Denying Preliminary Injunction

Arlington, VA – Thursday, May 14, 2026

The U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of California has released an order denying the United Farm Workers’ request for Preliminary Injunction in the litigation against the Department of Labor (DOL) on the DOL Interim Final Rule. In the order, the Judge found that the UFW failed to demonstrate irreparable harm, and thus denied their request for preliminary injunction to halt the enforcement of the rule. The Interim Final Rule stands in effect as a result.

“We applaud the Court’s decision to deny the UFW’s request for preliminary injunction on the Department’s AEWR Interim Final Rule,” said John Hollay, NCAE’s President and CEO. “For too long, employers have been forced to pay wages that were detached from economic reality and put American agriculture at strategic disadvantage on the international market. That is why NCAE, with the support of the California Farm Bureau Federation, filed an Amicus Brief in support of the Trump Administration. The DOL IFR levels the playing field for America’s farmers, ranchers and growers. We are deeply appreciative that the Court in California denied this motion which would have wreaked havoc on H-2A employers during a busy growing season.”

About the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE)

NCAE is the only national association focusing exclusively on agricultural labor issues from the employer’s perspective. NCAE is the voice of agricultural employers on employment, safety, and labor law issues and is dedicated to providing American farmers and ranchers with the best available information, tools, and advocacy for managing their workforce.

Download Article