WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — Changes are coming to the way H-2A workers are paid, and the U.S. Dept of Labor says it could save farmers and ranchers more than $2 billion each year on ag labor costs.
In a final rule published in the Federal Register, the Department states that it will no longer base wage rates on the Farm Labor Survey. That is a report the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously said would be phased out.
Instead, they will rely on the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They claim this will save farmers and ranchers around $2.5 billion each year. The National Council of Ag Employers praised the move, saying it would bring farm wages back to reality.
Visas for the H-2A program have proliferated in recent years. In 2012, only 90,000 were issued. Last year, that number approached 400,000. The International Fresh Produce Association is also on board, stating it is pleased that the Department of Labor has taken into account issues it has been warning about for years.
That rule has been entered into the Federal Register and is taking effect today.
Shrinking slaughter capacity may delay heifer retention, complicating herd rebuilding plans.
February 03, 2026 02:26 PM
·
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney says farmers there are already sounding the alarm about what this could mean for the future of ag research.
February 03, 2026 01:03 PM
·
Global pork production is expected to rise in the first half of 2026, despite trade volatility stemming from shifting import policies and swine disease pressures.
February 03, 2026 12:50 PM
·
Clearer 45Z rules favor U.S. oilseeds, but final RFS volumes remain critical to locking in demand.
February 03, 2026 12:39 PM
·
Even small declines in the calf crop translate into sustained supply pressure, supporting cattle prices over multiple years.
February 03, 2026 12:22 PM
·
Clear right-to-repair guidance reduces downtime, repair costs, and operational risk.
February 03, 2026 10:33 AM
·
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
February 02, 2026 12:13 PM
·
Winter Weather And Markets Reshape Agriculture Nationwide This Week
February 02, 2026 12:04 PM
·
The biggest development of 2025 in agricultural law and taxation was the signing into law on July 4 of the Trump Administration’s landmark legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA)
February 02, 2026 11:40 AM
·
