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.
