Labor is at the top of the ag industry’s legislative goals for the new year. The Washington Farm Bureau says labor is the number one input cost for their farmers and ranchers with the state’s costs currently 400 percent higher than the national average.
“This is critical. It is impacting farmers and ranchers across the state, and it’s something that needs to be addressed, and to do that, we will continue to work on some type of overtime mitigation, some kind of solution to that critical issue for farmers. And then, you will also see a new attempt for farmworker unionization, and we have to delve a little deeper into what the impacts on agriculture would be,” said Bre Elsey, Director of Government Affairs at the Washington Farm Bureau.
Fruit and vegetable farmers are especially hit. The specialty crop growers spend nearly 38 percent of their expenses on labor.
AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub joins us to dive into H-2A visa program changes and what can be done to ease the pressure on producers.
October 09, 2025 12:11 PM
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In a final rule published in the Federal Register, the Department states that it will no longer base wage rates on the Farm Labor Survey.
October 02, 2025 11:20 AM
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Farmers should anticipate continued upward pressure on farm labor costs and monitor policy changes that may further impact hiring decisions.
September 24, 2025 01:01 PM
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What is it like working cattle with an outbreak of New World Screwworm so close to home? Wayne Cockrell, with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, joined us on Wednesday to discuss.
September 24, 2025 12:29 PM
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U.S. produce growers face a structural disadvantage—cheaper imports driving down prices while rising labor costs squeeze margins. Without new policies or technology, profitability remains uncertain.
September 23, 2025 04:09 PM
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According to the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives (NCFC), President and CEO Chuck Conner says, there is only one other option besides addressing ag labor shortages.
September 18, 2025 01:10 PM
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