Expanding market access is top of mind, but concerns still linger around farm labor. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act was reintroduced earlier this month, and Washington State Congressman Dan Newhouse says the bill boils down to common sense.
“It’s not rocket science what we’re trying to do. Basically, we want people to be able to come into our country legally, work on farms, in this case, in this legislation, where we need them. And when the work is done, and they want to go back home, they can do that legally as well, without fear of not being able to come back.”
Newhouse says other countries have successfully addressed their ag labor challenges, urging his colleagues to get to work.
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The dairy industry is urging Congress to advance legislation to make the H-2A program more workable for year-round dairy operations.
Industry leaders and lawmakers are looking at legal pathways to address the need for farm workers.
Labor officials are also pushing agricultural education as the industry works to attract younger workers.
Kansas, North Dakota, and Nebraska are states where H-2A wage rates are increasing by roughly 20 percent in some cases.
