75-Page Report Finds Oregon Farmworker Data Is Fragmented and Lagging
State analysts say agencies lack a unified framework for tracking labor conditions, complicating enforcement of protections for the state's agricultural workforce.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
The state of Oregon lacks a centralized system to track the working conditions of its agricultural laborers.
A 75-page report released last week by the Legislative Policy and Research Office details this gap in oversight. The document was produced in response to a 2025 state law that required analysts to review how the state administers labor standards in the agricultural industry. The report found that while agencies such as the Department of Consumer and Business Services, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture share some responsibilities, their collaboration is limited.
The analysts noted that state law does not mandate complaint sharing in certain areas. They stated that coordination currently happens mainly through statutory duties, complaint referrals, and interagency agreements, rather than a single directed framework. This lack of structure makes it difficult to enforce protections related to pesticide use, heat safety, and housing security for workers who are protected regardless of their nationality or immigration status.
Data collection presents a separate challenge. The report described existing data on the agricultural industry as fragmented, lagged, and incomplete. These data sources are built for different purposes, released on different schedules, and use different definitions for farms and employers. In 2022, more than 80% of Oregon farms were family operations with gross cash income under $150,000. The fragmented data hampers the state's ability to track employment trends and the efficacy of temporary visa programs.
Reyna Lopez, executive director of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, said farmworkers historically have not received the same fair labor standards as other workers. In a statement, she highlighted issues with piece rate wages, noting that workers are not paid for breaks. She also cited inadequate housing conditions, including a lack of indoor plumbing and cooking spaces, as persistent problems for the workforce.
Jenny Dresler, a spokesperson for the Oregon Farm Bureau, said the report affirms that farmworkers enjoy similar rights and protections compared to other sectors. In a statement, she argued that the lack of unique data is not specific to agriculture. She noted that workers in construction, manufacturing, retail, insurance, health care, and the restaurant industry also face a disjointed regulatory environment with multiple enforcement agencies.
The report arrives before another analysis on agricultural overtime is scheduled for delivery to lawmakers at the end of November. A 2022 state law is phasing in stricter overtime standards for farmworkers not covered by federal protections. Under current rules, overtime is guaranteed for work exceeding 48 hours a week. Beginning next year, the threshold for overtime will drop to 40 hours.
