MONTE ALTO, Texas (RFD News) — Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling visited South Texas to discuss the H-2A visa program as farms look to fill immediate labor needs.
“There’s an immediate need for labor for farm workers right here, and the worst thing that we can have is these generational Texas farms like we’re here now not be able to pick crop because they don’t have workers.”
The H-2A program allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs. With an aging American farming population, the visit also raised questions about encouraging younger people in the U.S. to enter agriculture.
Sonderling said another part of the effort is making sure local workforce communities encourage people to enter the industry and begin teaching agriculture again.
Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz agreed that steps need to be taken to bring agricultural work to the forefront with younger generations.
“Supporting the FFA program, that we need to bring that back into our school system, into our youth system, so they can become inspired.”
Sonderling also pointed to changing technology in farming and efforts by the Department of Labor to make sure community colleges and state workforce boards understand how technology will affect agricultural jobs.
