Farm labor is a big issue on ag lawmaker’s plates this year. It has been in the spotlight with President Trump’s deportation efforts.
Researchers at CoBank have been studying the issue for some time now, and they warn it could soon have a big impact on not just farms, but rural communities as a whole.
CoBank warns the already tight labor market could get even more strained, especially in areas like the upper Midwest. They found that those communities often lack the flow of immigrants needed to offset the aging ag workforce.
CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange warns that areas facing labor issues right now will not see relief anytime soon. They also warn that the problem will not cycle out.
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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.
Labor is an ongoing crisis in the ag sector. One industry group outlines three vital reforms to the H-2A visa program that farmers need to secure an affordable, stable workforce.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with his insights on the incident and a deeper dive into the issues at hand.
