Blog Posts
June 2022
Frank Thompson’s Passing
Frank Thompson passed away on June 20, 2022, just shy of his 93rd birthday, in Lubbock surrounded by his beloved family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Jessie […]
OSHA National Emphasis Program for Heat
On April 8 2022, OSHA launched a National Emphasis Program for Heat Related Illness and Injury. This NEP requires each OSHA region to increase the number of heat inspections by 100 percent over the past […]
May 2022
Johnny Anderson
Message from Kody Bessent – CEO of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
It is with great sadness that I pass along news that Johnny Anderson who served Plains Cotton Growers for over 31 years as the Director […]
April 2022
LAST CHANCE – NCGA Cost Survey
WE PLAN TO COMPILE AND RELEASE THE COST DATA INFORMATION IN MAY. PLEASE COMPLETE THIS COST SURVEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
The USDA and NCGA developed an electronic version of the Gin Cost Survey. We would […]
TCGA Member Has Big Win in Module Truck Case at Supreme Court
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Texas handed PPF Gin & Warehouse, LLC a big win by denying Delta County Appraisal District’s petition for Review. In this case, the Court of Appeals had essentially […]
ARS Ginning Labs Hosting Remaining Ginner Schools
Posting below is from Harrison Ashley with NCGA:
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has announced that with COVID numbers continuing to fall, the ARS ginning laboratories in Las Cruces, NM, and Stoneville, MS, can host the […]
NCGA Cost Survey
PLEASE COMPLETE THE NCGA COST SURVEYS. THIS INFORMATION WILL REPLACE THE TCGA COST SURVEYS DONE IN PAST YEARS.
The USDA and NCGA developed an electronic version of the Gin Cost Survey. We plan to replace the […]
March 2022
Ginners’ Labor Guide Updated
Since 1997, the TCGA, in conjunction with the National Cotton Ginners’ Association and other Regional Associations, have maintained a publication called “A Ginner’s Practical Guide to Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and […]
Site Specific OSHA 300 Inspections
As we mentioned in an earlier posting this month, the Department of Labor visited at least one cotton gin under a site-specific targeting program inspection. The OSHA inspector was given a listing of facilities and […]
Roy V. Baker, Jr. – 10/09/1938 – 03/16/2022
It is with deep regret that we inform you all that Roy Baker has passed away. Here is his obituary:
The family of Roy Baker will celebrate his life […]
OSHA Hits Gins under Site Specific Targeting Program
At least one cotton gin in Texas has been inspected by OSHA this month under a Site-Specific Targeting inspection plan. For these types of inspections, the OSHA inspector is given a list of companies to […]
NCGA Online Gin Cost Survey
PLEASE COMPLETE THE NCGA COST SURVEYS. THIS INFORMATION WILL REPLACE THE TCGA COST SURVEYS DONE IN PAST YEARS.
The USDA and NCGA developed an electronic version of the Gin Cost Survey. We plan to replace the […]
Time to Electronically Submit your OSHA 300A info
As we approach the end of February, we would like to remind our members that the deadline to electronically submit injury and illness data on OSHA’s ITA website is coming up soon! The OSHA Record […]
February 2022
Registration for Gin School now Open!
Be sure to register early if you are wanting to attend gin school this year! Due to federal Covid restrictions placed on USDA employees, each of the schools will be limited to 50 students per […]
NCGA Online Gin Cost Survey
REMINDER – Please take some time and fill out the new NCGA gin cost survey
The USDA and NCGA developed an electronic version of the Gin Cost Survey. We plan to replace the normal TCGA Cost […]
NCGA Electronic Gin Cost Survey
REMINDER – Please see email below from Harrison at NCGA. The USDA and NCGA developed an electronic version of the Gin Cost Survey. We plan to replace the normal TCGA Cost Survey with this version […]
January 2022
Time to post the 2021 OSHA 300A Injury and Illness reporting forms
As we approach the end of January, we would like to remind our members that the OSHA 300A Form posting deadline is approaching. The OSHA Record Keeping Rule requires employers keep records of all work-related injuries […]
Updated CDC Covid-19 Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control recently updated their Covid-19 Guidelines. These new updates decreased the time quarantine/isolation time required after being exposed or contracting Covid-19. As usual, the government managed to make the guidelines more […]
December 2021
Sixth Circuit Dissolves the Stay on the Covid ETS
We received notice from the Coalition for Workplace Safety late yesterday that the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has dissolved the stay on the Covid ETS (ETS). This means the ETS […]
AEWR for H2A Workers increases on Dec 29
Employers using foreign workers under the H2A program are required to pay a wage at least equal to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). This wage rate is currently $13.03/hr in the state of Texas. […]
Wage and Hour Inspectors in West Texas
Two gins on the Gulf Coast were visited by Department of Labor Wage and Hour inspectors during this season. In addition, two gins have been inspected in West Texas this week. There is a good […]
H-2A Overtime and Wages
We have been getting a lot of questions about H-2A workers recently. In addition, we are in the process of wrapping up two Wage and Hour Inspections from earlier in this ginning season. It still […]