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.
Crop producers face tightening credit and lower incomes, while strong cattle markets continue to stabilize finances in livestock-heavy regions.
November 21, 2025 11:58 AM
·
Early Cattle-on-Feed estimates point to slightly tighter cattle supplies, reinforcing the need to monitor prices and timing for winter marketing.
November 21, 2025 10:45 AM
·
Row crop losses in 2025 are outpacing last year. With no disaster aid yet approved, many operations face a tough financial bridge to 2026 even as Farm Bill improvements remain a year away.
November 20, 2025 05:00 PM
·
Experts say farmers and ethanol producers would benefit from a risk-based ILUC system that protects forests without relying on speculative modeling.
November 20, 2025 04:24 PM
·
November 20, 2025 01:55 PM
The White House is now preparing to restore an Endangered Species Act (ESA) rule from the first Trump Administration.
November 20, 2025 11:46 AM
·
Dalton Henry, with U.S. Wheat Associates, joined RFD-TV to provide insight on what the pending trade frameworks may mean for American wheat growers.
November 19, 2025 04:11 PM
·
Mary-Thomas Hart, with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, discusses the latest WOTUS developments and their implications for agriculture.
November 19, 2025 03:05 PM
·
A massive rail merger could significantly impact North American agriculture and trade flows.
November 19, 2025 12:46 PM
·
