Can the H-2A program save U.S. farmers?

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.

Related Stories
Rural population growth supports long-term stability of the ag workforce.
Texas rancher says illegal border crossings have slowed significantly, with fewer encounters reported over the past year.
Labor supply may shift, but uncertainty remains for producers.
Hiring may ease slightly, but labor shortages remain persistent.
Reduced driver supply may increase freight costs this season.
New wage rules improve accuracy but may still raise labor costs.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.
Ben Kurtzman with American Farmland Trust discusses the growing pressure on farmland and ranchland and the steps being taken to help conserve farms and ranches across the country ,as unrest in the Middle East adds more obstacles for producers.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson warns that rising electricity demand from AI and data centers could strain the grid and affect rural electric cooperatives if U.S. power infrastructure cannot keep up.
Tidal Grow’s AlignN delivers encapsulated nitrogen to leaves, boosting in-season response, yield gains, and farm profits.
Katie Keener with the National Women in Agriculture Association joins us to celebrate women in agriculture and spotlight programs and initiatives aimed at empowering female producers across the country.