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Senator Bonham warns Oregon OSHA housing rules could push family farms out of business
Summary
Senator Bonham told the Senate that new Oregon OSHA agriculture labor housing rules could impose high compliance costs on family farms, risk displacing workers and reduce agricultural output unless relief or collaboration occurs.
Senator Bonham used remonstrance time to criticize Oregon OSHA's new agriculture labor housing rules, saying they create a financial burden that could harm family farms and reduce agricultural output.
Bonham said the rules, “while framed as a step forward to improve worker conditions, risk displacing the very workers they aim to help, enforcing family farms into financial ruin.” He emphasized Oregon's specialty crops and said farmers are 'price takers,' unable to pass added costs to consumers.
Bonham cited cost estimates and program limits: “Labor costs in Oregon are already 70% higher than those of the national average, And now, they're being asked to shoulder compliance cost that average about $1,000,000 per farm, with some in my district as high as $6,400,000.” He said 96% of Oregon farms are family owned and warned that only about one-third of employers providing temporary housing will qualify for the $5,000,000 grant program, which leaves “100 of farmers without support” (as stated in the transcript).
Bonham said the rules could force farms to cut workers or eliminate housing: “Without relief, these rules will drive many family farms out of business reducing Oregon's agricultural output.” His remarks were made during remonstrances; no legislative motion or vote followed.
