Planting season is just getting underway in parts of the United States, and that means farm labor will soon be in high demand.
Nationwide, more than 3,000 H-2A positions were certified in the 2024 fiscal year, which is about 6,000 more than the year before.
The Farm Monitor looks at the future of immigration policies, and how the H-2A program helps keep the ag workforce compliant.
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The dairy industry is urging Congress to advance legislation to make the H-2A program more workable for year-round dairy operations.
Industry leaders and lawmakers are looking at legal pathways to address the need for farm workers.
Kansas, North Dakota, and Nebraska are states where H-2A wage rates are increasing by roughly 20 percent in some cases.
For agricultural producers, finding workers is only part of the challenge. The cost of hiring has also become a growing concern.
The National Federation of Independent Business says 27 percent of owners named labor quality or availability their biggest problem, up eight points from June.
Border crossings have fallen, but ranchers say suspected smugglers are still moving through rural areas.
