Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

House bill addresses farm labor concerns

Bill to freeze wages, fix labor rules for agriculture sector

By Farms.com

A pivotal session of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee is on the horizon, where a key funding bill concerning labor policies will be discussed.

This bill is of great significance to the agricultural sector, proposing vital changes including the freezing of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate and adjustments to existing labor regulations that affect farmers and ranchers.

This legislative effort is aimed at providing a layer of stability for those in farm country who have been navigating the complexities of labor shortages and fluctuating labor costs for decades.

The bill’s proposals are geared towards offering short-term relief to farmers and long-term certainty to farm workers, thus fostering a more stable and predictable operating environment.

By proposing to stabilize the Adverse Effect Wage Rate and streamline labor regulations, the bill addresses some of the critical issues that have intensified in the past couple of years due to a flurry of rulemaking activities. 

These changes are designed to make labor practices more uniform and less subject to sudden shifts, which can disrupt agricultural operations.

With broad support from various agricultural stakeholders and a proactive approach by the Appropriations Committee, the markup of this bill is highly anticipated.

It represents a strategic move to bolster the agricultural community by ensuring that labor policies are both fair and sustainable, thus supporting the vital needs of both farmers and ranchers across the nation.


Trending Video

Case CE’s Big Motor Grader Bet: Meet the 325-HP GR935

Video: Case CE’s Big Motor Grader Bet: Meet the 325-HP GR935


Case Construction Equipment has joined forces with South African heavy equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment to bring its largest motor grader ever to market, the 325-horsepower, 51,209-pound GR935.

The three-model GR Series lineup will be rounded out by the GR925 and GR930. While full specifications have not been released, Case indicated that the models would range from 240 to 325 horsepower. Deliveries of the new graders are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

To get a closer look at the GR935 motor grader and a complete overview of the GR Series lineup, check out Equipment World’s video above with Case CE Product Manager George MacIntyre from ConExpo earlier this year.

Case CE GR935 Motor Grader Overview

The GR935 is powered by a 325-horsepower Cummins engine paired with a continuous variable transmission (CVT) enabling consistent power delivery and smooth operation for heavy road construction, snow removal, maintenance, site preparation and government applications, Case says.

Electro-hydraulic controls or traditional mechanical control are available. The 6X6 all-wheel-drive GR935 features a hydrostatic system with a dedicated pump and motor on each front wheel, allowing the machine to more easily maintain a constant rate of speed. The top forward travel speed is 28 mph.

An optional blade impact system prevents damage to the moldboard if it hits an obstacle, such as a curb or manhole.

Case CE will have the exclusive distribution across the United States and Canada for the GR925, GR930 and GR935 models manufactured at Bell Equipment facilities. The GR Series graders join Case’s existing D Series lineup, which includes the 137-horsepower 836D and 173-horsepower 856D launched in 2025.