Ag labor is another challenge for farmers and ranchers this year, but it is not a new issue.
One ag lawmaker from the Pacific Northwest is calling for “common-sense” reforms to the H-2A program and believes President Trump will deliver.
“The agricultural industry supported President Trump very strongly. He understands the issues of food security and that having a national, American food supply system is of utmost importance. Many of the things that he promised during his campaign line up exactly with the things that we are trying to accomplish as it relates to the workforce in the United States,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse.
For the second year in a row, H-2A visas grew by less than 2 percent across the country during 2024. Sixteen states saw a drop in H-2A workers, including Florida, California, and Michigan. The American Farm Bureau says costs and regulatory burdens are to blame.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates that the move will save farmers and ranchers $2.5 billion each year. The group warns that new methods for calculating the adverse-effect wage rate would result in lower pay for foreign workers.
November 24, 2025 11:32 AM
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Farmers who rely on H-2A workers will see a few key changes to speed up the process and make it fairer. On the ground, producers say labor issues create shortfalls in otherwise productive harvests.
October 27, 2025 01:36 PM
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Todd Miller, CEO of Head Honchos, shares about his business offering to ease agricultural labor shortages.
October 17, 2025 04:02 PM
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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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