NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — University of Georgia agricultural economist Cesar L. Escalante says rising Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) are driving affordability concerns in the H-2A guest farmworker program.
AEWRs are set annually using the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey and are meant to ensure foreign workers earn fair pay without depressing domestic wages. The 2025 national AEWR is $17.74 per hour, nearly 18 percent higher than 2022 levels and above the long-term average growth rate of 3.5 percent.
Beyond hourly wages, H-2A employers must cover housing, transportation, meals, and insurance, which Escalante notes adds about a 5 percent premium to labor costs. Critics argue the AEWR system often produces abrupt wage spikes and does not fully reflect local labor conditions. Even so, Escalante’s analysis suggests H-2A labor remains cost-competitive compared with domestic hiring, especially when fringe benefit offsets are included.
Separately, although distinct from the H-2A program, the Trump administration is proposing a $100,000 fee per H-1B visa. Escalante warns that rising costs and new visa fees highlight how changes in immigration policy could reshape the labor supply for American farms.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is helping connect veterans with resources to pursue careers in farming and agriculture.
November 14, 2025 03:45 PM
·
David Hardin with the Indiana Soybean Alliance discusses USMEF’s push to open new global export markets for both meat and soy-based feed.
November 13, 2025 01:10 PM
·
Some sustainability shifts are not particularly challenging and can be implemented with resources already available to farmers and ranchers on their operations.
November 13, 2025 01:00 PM
·
FD-TV’s own Tammi Arender caught up with Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.
November 13, 2025 12:05 PM
·
With the U.S.–Vietnam agreement nearing signature, U.S. cotton, corn, and soybean exporters could lock in new demand lanes just as global supply shifts.
November 13, 2025 11:33 AM
·
Rural businesses report softer sales, tougher hiring, and restrained investment — a backdrop that can pinch farm support capacity even if posted prices cool.
November 12, 2025 12:22 PM
·
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) says recent wins in markets like Malaysia and Cambodia help farmers focus on production rather than trade barriers.
November 11, 2025 03:50 PM
·
A smaller U.S. turkey flock and resurgent avian flu have tightened supplies, driving prices higher even as other key holiday foods show mixed trends.
November 10, 2025 03:05 PM
·
Mike Newland with the Propane Education & Research Council shares how producers can prepare for winter weather and the benefits of propane.
November 07, 2025 12:03 PM
·
