A big win for farmers struggling with high labor costs.
A federal court has struck down the 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rate Rule, which ag groups have been asking for since it was rolled out.
The rule was issued under the Biden administration and requires H-2A workers to be paid using metrics from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, not the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey.
The judge tossed the rule after the case was brought forward by Louisiana sugarcane growers, saying that work that was previously considered routine was now costing them a lot more.
The National Council of Ag Employers says that the ruling was positive and would give growers some much-needed financial relief.
Related Stories
Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms. Expanded DMC coverage improves risk protection for dairy operations facing tighter margins.
Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
Farms and major food companies use AI to improve efficiency and forecast demand. Still, developers said that training AI for different uses is only possible with support from knowledgeable workers.
Transportation access, legal disputes, and fertilizer freight costs will directly influence input pricing and grain movement in 2026.