While the ag industry is following the back-and-forth of tariff discussions, another Trump decision is weighing heavily on the sector as his deportation efforts are underway.
Colorado farmers say they are not worried about the state’s $47 billion ag industry.
Researchers at Colorado State University believe that 25-30% of the state’s ag workers are undocumented, but the H-2A program is also fairly popular in Colorado. In 2023, just under 4,000 H-2A visas were requested.
President Trump expanded the temporary work visa program in his first administration, and some analysts believe he will do the same in his new administration.
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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.
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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.
“USDA can no longer keep wasting its time and personnel to deploy Commissioner Miller’s infamous traps, which USDA has deployed, tested, and has proven ineffective.”
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.