LUBBOCK, Texas (RFD News) — Reliable labor remains a daily challenge for cattle and dairy farms, and Texas A&M research suggests the H-2A guestworker program may not fit livestock needs well enough.
Assistant Professor Grace Melo says certified H-2A workers more than doubled between 2015 and 2024, reaching more than 350,000. More than 80 percent work in crop production, while animal agriculture accounted for just 4.7 percent of H-2A employment in 2024.
A Texas survey of beef and dairy producers found 81 percent of beef cattle producers and 71 percent of dairy farmers struggled with hiring, turnover, training, and retention.
The biggest barriers include seasonal work limits, the 35-hour weekly guarantee, wage requirements, housing and transportation costs, and limited flexibility in job duties. Those restrictions can be difficult for livestock farms that need year-round animal care.
Melo says many producers would benefit from a more flexible program with year-round eligibility, faster applications, and broader job-duty rules.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Livestock producers need a labor policy that matches year-round animal care, variable hours, and tight operating margins.
