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Ag employers learn labor law By SHARI DOWNHILL A consortium of government agencies came under one roof Thursday during a farm/forest reforestation labor and wage conference at J. Herbert Stone Nursery in Central Point. The conference offered Southern Oregon agricultural employers one-stop shopping for labor law compliance information. It was sponsored by a variety of state and federal labor agencies, the Internal Revenue Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry. In addition to having access to all the agencies in one location, employers were able to match faces with names, personalizing an often impersonal process. "There are four or five different government agencies you deal with just to do a minor payroll," said Sue Casavan of Eagle Point Reforestation. "It seems they�re all telling you something different. It�s nice to get them all in one room and ask what it all means ... . They all have different laws and rules." Government agencies have also become a lot easier to work with in the last few years, Casavan added. "Now, instead of being at odds with one another, they�re trying to bring reforestation and the agricultural (contractors) and the agencies together. Instead of the Attila-the-Hun approach, they�re really starting to try to work together to make it easier." That�s exactly what conference organizer Nedra Cunningham of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries said the event was intended to accomplish. "We work in close partnerships with several of the agencies," Cunningham said, "specifically, the tax compliance (program) we developed with the IRS." Farm and forest labor contractors must obtain a tax compliance certificate from the IRS that shows the company is in good standing before it can be awarded government contracts. With 250 licensed farm and forest labor contractors throughout the state and more entering the certification process, smoothing the way with a coordinated educational offering is best for everyone involved, Cunningham said. "It�s our mission to educate people who are engaged in farm/forest contracting," she added. "This is an opportunity to come for free, and to learn about being in the business from all of the involved agencies." The conference networking not only helped employers, said Patricia Morgan of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Agencies also benefit from educated employers, which results in smoother interactions. That message was repeated by other agency representatives. "I heard some really good questions here today," Morgan said. "(Employers) were very sophisticated. For us, this is a �This is who we are and what we can do for you. These are your resources.�" A similar conference will be held Tuesday in Salem at the Kings Inn on Market Street, off Interstate 5. The conference will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Reach reporter Shari Downhill at 776-4463, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.