Farmers are using a unique visa program for on-farm help

Labor challenges have been a big hurdle for U.S. producers, and it has led some to explore a unique type of visa program.

“TN visas are part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and so they’re designated to nationals of Canada and Mexico who have professional degrees in a set number of professions, including foresters, veterinarians, and a certain number of agricultural professions. From a farmer side, they’re generally used mostly in pork production and dairy production, anyone who has specialized services, and generally doesn’t have access to H-2A because they’re not seasonal,” said Samantha Ayoub.

The Farm Bureau says the program works differently for each country workers come from. They have seen a big increase in applications in recent years, but they end up denying around 20 percent of all applications.

Related Stories
Volunteer firefighters describe devastating scenes as crews continue battling multiple fires across the region.
Triangle H received the 2022 Feedyard Commitment to Excellence Award from Certified Angus Beef, gaining national recognition for its cattle care and quality.
The work could apply to ready-to-eat meals and delicate foods such as freeze-dried berries.
Conservation programs may work better when they recognize yield risk and cash-flow pressure during adoption.
Cotton growers can use the survey to compare nutrient, herbicide, and pest-management practices against national production benchmarks.
Drought and Planting Shape Weekly State Agriculture Recap

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Utah Senator John Curtis joins us for “Champions of Rural America” to discuss new legislation to improve forest management and wildfire prevention and its broader implications for rural communities and infrastructure.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson joins us to discuss rural electric co-ops’ push for expanded USDA loan programs, rising energy demand from data center expansion, wildfire mitigation and other policy priorities impacting rural power infrastructure.
With the Farm Bill now in the Senate’s hands, industry groups say the stakes are high—and timely action could be critical for producers navigating a difficult economic environment.
Tennessee corn and soy farmer Josh Ogle joins us to discuss rapid planting progress in the state, improving moisture conditions, and early crop development challenges in the MidSouth region.