Farmers and ranchers recently met with USDA and the Department of Labor to address the ongoing labor shortage in agriculture.
The conversation focused on challenges tied to the H-2A visa program, wages, and the impact of labor scarcity on farms.
A North Carolina farmer shared her experience, stressing the critical role immigrant workers play in keeping her farm running.
“How much I could not farm without them, because I would not have a workforce. Also, how my wages have gone up due to the way the adverse wage effect affected North Carolina about three years ago, and then that following year, and how dependable we are in the United States on this to grow vegetable and fruit crops,” said Faylene Whitaker.
Whitaker also urges farmers to contact elected officials and share how labor shortages impact their farms and the need for a legal workforce.
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms. Expanded DMC coverage improves risk protection for dairy operations facing tighter margins.
January 14, 2026 11:19 AM
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Secretary Rollins also met with specialty crop producers at a local strawberry farm to discuss workforce needs and the Trump Administration’s recent wins related to significantly cutting the cost of H-2A labor for California farmers.
January 13, 2026 03:25 PM
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December 30, 2025 12:45 PM
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.
November 24, 2025 11:32 AM
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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.
October 27, 2025 01:36 PM
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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.
October 09, 2025 12:11 PM
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