By Jamie Martin
Farmers from across the country recently met with members of Congress to express their growing concerns about the lack of reliable farm labor.
With agriculture already facing numerous financial pressures, the labor shortage is adding to the burden, especially for farms that rely on manual labor for specialty crops.
Many of these producers explained that they are now completely dependent on immigrant workers, especially through the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program.
Despite efforts to hire locally, finding non-immigrant workers for physically demanding roles has proven nearly impossible. Labour-intensive crops like apples, cherries, and pears demand skilled hands, making this reliance unavoidable.
One of the major points raised was the increasing cost of hiring through the H-2A program. Farmers are required to pay the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which is rising faster than inflation.
This wage rate, though intended to protect domestic wages, is now consuming a significant portion of farm budgets—about 60% in some cases—leaving little room for profit.
Farmers emphasized that while their production costs have grown rapidly in recent years, commodity prices have not kept pace. This imbalance is making it increasingly difficult to sustain operations or invest in the future.
The concern is not just immediate profitability but also the long-term sustainability of growing food in the U.S.
They urged lawmakers to understand these challenges and take action to ensure that American agriculture can remain competitive. Open conversations like these are critical to solving labour issues and protecting the nation’s food supply.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-stockseller_ukr
Categories: National