It’s been announced that Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte will introduce a bill this week that would replace the H-2A guest worker program. The bill, titled the Agricultural Guestworker Act or H-2C, was discussed during the Farm Bill listening session held in California last month. Here is House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway. 09-25-17 Conaway on Bill to Replace Guest Worker Program …
Proposed Guest Worker Plan to Replace H-2A Worker Program
Virginia Republican Representative Bob Goodlatte will introduce a bill the week of September 25th that would replace the H-2A guest worker program. The bill is titled the Agricultural Guestworker Act and would replace the program that many in agriculture use to find labor. A Packer Dot Com article says Goodlatte, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, told the United Fresh …
RCMA Hurricane Relief Fund: Help our farmworkers
South Florida’s farmworker families are suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The storm’s disruption of early-season farm work has left many jobless, homeless and running out of cash. Please join the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association in raising funds to help the Redlands Christian Migrant Association provide immediate basic living essentials and temporary housing needs for these families. Our …
Agri View: Farm Labor
Everett Griner talks about farm labor. A problem plaguing agriculture nationwide in today’s Agri View. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026
MPI Report: U.S. Agricultural Workforce Being Reshaped
Shifting Migration & Labor Strategies, with Drop in Unauthorized Share & Rise in Use of H-2A Program Shifting migration patterns and labor strategies are reshaping the overwhelmingly foreign-born U.S. agricultural workforce, with a drop in the share of unauthorized workers and increased employer use of mechanization and the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program, a new Migration Policy Institute report shows. …
Farm Labor Shortage May Drive Produce Prices Higher
Adding guacamole to your favorite foods may soon become more expensive. Food and Wine Dot Com says a package of almonds may become pricier as well. As California farmers welcomed the end of a serious drought this spring, a serious labor shortage is becoming another issue to deal with. California is where the bulk of the nation’s produce is grown …
Farm Labor Contractors Help Make H-2A Affordable
By Jaci Schreckengost With the fear of a domestic labor shortage of agricultural workers in the United States, many growers are turning to H-2A for a guaranteed labor supply. H-2A is a guest-worker program that brings employees from other countries to agricultural worksites in the United States. The downside of this program, however, is the cost. Fritz Roka, associate professor …
Labor Contract Extension Important Development for Red Meat Exports
Last Friday, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced its members have approved a three-year labor contract extension covering longshoremen at 29 U.S. West Coast ports. According to a story from Joe Schuele with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), this is an important development for red meat exports. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board …
Immigration Bill Won’t Affect Temporary Workers
The sponsor of an immigration bill suspected to reduce the agriculture labor force in the U.S. says his legislation will not impact temporary workers, which are often used in agriculture production. Georgia Republican Senator David Perdue wrote colleagues last week after concerns were raised about how the bill would impact farm workers. Referring to comments by Senate Republican Lindsay Graham, …
Trump Endorsed Immigration Bill Could Harm Farm Labor
A bill endorsed by President Donald Trump that would change the U.S. immigration system may harm farm labor. The bill by Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia would reduce the number of legal immigrants coming into the United States and emphasize highly educated immigrants over what is regarded as the low-skilled laborers, which could be …