Changes are coming for the H-2A worker program. The administration is consolidating the platform under the Department of Labor, with hopes of bringing relief to farmers by making it faster and cheaper to hire workers.
John Walt Boatright with the American Farm Bureau spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander about its importance for farmers, the significance of the program, and commodity pricing.
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Farmers should anticipate continued upward pressure on farm labor costs and monitor policy changes that may further impact hiring decisions.
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.
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.
Labor reform is needed so the dairy industry can continue feeding the world, according to one expert
“We just need a livable Visa program.”
