U.S. agriculture continues to face an uphill battle to find enough labor for their farms. Farmers and ranchers rely on skilled workers, both seasonally and year-round, to produce the safe, sustainable food on which all Americans depend. With fewer Americans growing up on the farm, it’s increasingly difficult to find American workers interested in farm work. Applications for H-2A guest worker visas continue to rise, an indisputable indication of the shortage of workers here in the United States.

"Reform to our guest worker program is long overdue, and we continue to have workforce shortages that put the long-term stability of our food supply at risk," said ValJay Rigby, President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. "We need to find a solution that provides farmers and their employees with the long-term stability they need, and keeps our local food supply on stable ground."

Farm Bureau believes that long-term workforce stability will come through a more streamlined and more flexible H-2A visa program. Workers should be allowed to continue with an employer for as long as the employer has a need – up to three years. This allows farmers who have year-round labor needs to use the program and avoid disrupting their essential business operations. This program should recognize real-life workforce challenges and provides the flexibility and stability that most domestic workers enjoy.

Chris Riley, a fruit farmer in Utah County and the Vice President of the Utah County Farm Bureau was recently a guest on KSL Radio's Inside Sources program and outlined the benefits of the USDA's H-2A visa program, but also shared some of the frustrations that come from using it.

"One of my real frustrations with the program though, is that it's a very complicated and complex process," Riley said. "Despite using this program for about 15 years, and using the same people for those 15 years, it's still like you're starting over for the first time every year."

Farm Bureau has supported proposals that provide access to a legal and stable workforce for agriculture’s needs now and in the future. First, agriculture needs significant reform to the H-2A visa program that provides flexibility for employers and workers by allowing employment options to address both seasonal and year-round needs and a reasonable and mutually agreeable wage rate.  

"The H-2A program can work well for us in the fruit industry, but I know it's very restrictive for those areas of agriculture that need help with labor year-round," Riley said. "These workers are part of my family. My kids know and work with them. Without this program, we wouldn't still be in business."

Recently, there have been challenges with reports of immigration enforcement focusing on farms and ranches. The American Farm Bureau has spoken out on the need for reform, but also to realize the situation agriculture is in after decades of failing to reform labor rules.

“President Trump recently emphasized agriculture faces unique circumstances that warrant a different approach to enforcement practices. Agriculture is inherently labor-intensive – farmers cannot care for crops and animals without the contributions of the men and women willing to do the hard work. These are dedicated employees who work alongside farm families every day," said Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Current agriculture workforce programs are broken. They do not meet the year-round needs of farmers, and they’ve become so expensive they are out of reach for many farmers. Unfortunately, domestic workers do not apply for farm jobs, despite aggressive hiring efforts. Without farm workers, vegetables will be left in the fields, fruit will remain unpicked, and cows will go unmilked. The end result is a reduced food supply and higher grocery prices for all of America’s families.

“Congress must prioritize fixing the farm labor crisis that the President identified. Outdated systems must be modernized so farmers can find enough workers to help plant and harvest crops and care for livestock. America can have both a secure border and a labor program that provides a desperately needed and dependable farm workforce.”


Promises of Reform

U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer recently spoke at the Western Governors Association meetings in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and said that plans were being released to create a new federal office improve the H-2A visa process for farmers and ranchers in response to a question from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.

In a Deseret News article, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer was quoted, saying, “We’re going to see that change come across fairly rapidly because that’s the problem, and they want a solution, and they wanted it yesterday, and now we’re finally going to mean it,” Chavez-DeRemer said. ”And then we’ll work with Congress on the longer term issues of immigration reform."

Utah Farm Bureau policy staff shared with reporters the concerns we have regarding labor reform and the need to improve the process for farmers and ranchers.

"Many of our farmers and ranchers have spent decades working with the same workforce, and it's rediculous to treat them as brand-new applicants every year," said Terry Camp, Utah Farm Bureau Vice President of Public Policy. "Some of our farmers have had issues just this year in getting employees to the fields in time to work and pick produce. This policy area has a direct impact on our food supply and needs to get sorted out."

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins earlier announced at the conference that the Trump Administration would improve access to immigrant work visas used by American farmers and ranchers, including making the process to apply for H-2A visas easier.

“The president has remained very focused on the goal of a 100% legal workforce in our country, but, at the same time, ensure we have a safe and secure food supply,” Rollins said in response to a question from the Deseret News.

Labor is among the biggest limiting factors in American agriculture. The Utah Farm Bureau will continue to advocate for its farmers and ranchers and push for common-sense, practical reform to labor issues impacting agriculture. We will keep members informed with updates on the recently announced emergency office to fast-track permits for migrant work visas.