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 U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates that the move will save farmers and ranchers $2.5 billion each year. The group warns that new methods for calculating the adverse-effect wage rate would result in lower pay for foreign workers.
Farmers who rely on H-2A workers will see a few key changes to speed up the process and make it fairer. On the ground, producers say labor issues create shortfalls in otherwise productive harvests.
Todd Miller, CEO of Head Honchos, shares about his business offering to ease agricultural labor shortages.
AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub joins us to dive into H-2A visa program changes and what can be done to ease the pressure on producers.
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.
Farmers should anticipate continued upward pressure on farm labor costs and monitor policy changes that may further impact hiring decisions.