agricultural workers

About 3,700 farms closed in Washington within five years. Today, farmers are struggling to keep their farms open. They point to high labor costs, government regulations and market pressures, causing some to consolidate operations or sell off land and end production.

(Runtime 1:06)Two central Washington companies, Pace International and Stemilt Growers, face a combined $650,000 in fines after a worker died from a lack…

Celestino Mendoza loads colorful plastic asparagus lugs off the flatbed of a '95 Ford pickup at the end of a warm day.His woven straw hat shades his face,…

(Runtime 1:12)Thousands of farmworkers, advocates and farmers testified at the Washington Legislature on proposed Senate Bill 5476 that seeks to modify…

Only a year after a Washington law gave farmworkers the right to earn overtime, state lawmakers are discussing the issue again. If Washington lawmakers pass Senate Bill 5476 and House Bill 1523, agricultural employers could choose 12 weeks each year when farmworkers could work up to 50 hours without getting paid overtime wages.