Labor
Todd Miller, CEO of Head Honchos, shares about his business offering to ease agricultural labor shortages.
U.S. produce growers face a structural disadvantage—cheaper imports driving down prices while rising labor costs squeeze margins. Without new policies or technology, profitability remains uncertain.
According to the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives (NCFC), President and CEO Chuck Conner says, there is only one other option besides addressing ag labor shortages.
For rural communities, this shift could mean new housing options for farmworkers and young families priced out of metro markets.
Bottom line: Despite all the efforts advocates make, workers are still making less money.
Labor is an ongoing crisis in the ag sector. One industry group outlines three vital reforms to the H-2A visa program that farmers need to secure an affordable, stable workforce.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with his insights on the incident and a deeper dive into the issues at hand.
“People got to start small and build themselves up.”
Labor reform is needed so the dairy industry can continue feeding the world, according to one expert
“We just need a livable Visa program.”
“We see the opportunity of streamlining the program.”
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer says the labor program will now be fully under her department, and consolidation will make the program more affordable and efficient for farmers and ranchers.
“Where I think it’s headed is to a solution... the agricultural industry needs and has needed for a long time.”
