The California Farm Bureau fears a downturn in the amount of citrus being harvested amid migrant farm worker deportation worries.
The bureau says nervousness among the ag workforce is spreading.
Monterey County says that the large absence of the 55,000 migrant workforce in the region could result in unharvested crops, leading to losses and higher food prices.
The Farm Bureau is teaming up with county leaders to support affected workers and their families.
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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.
Kansas, North Dakota, and Nebraska are states where H-2A wage rates are increasing by roughly 20 percent in some cases.
For agricultural producers, finding workers is only part of the challenge. The cost of hiring has also become a growing concern.
The National Federation of Independent Business says 27 percent of owners named labor quality or availability their biggest problem, up eight points from June.
Border crossings have fallen, but ranchers say suspected smugglers are still moving through rural areas.