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Central IL farmer pleased with H-2A experience

A central Illinois farmer says the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers program has been vital to their operation.

Jeff Brown, who grows corn, soybeans, and wheat, tells Brownfield…

“It’s a great thing.”  He says, “This year we have five South Africans that could come and we give them the opportunity here that they can make money safely and send it back home, and it helps us a lot because we’re able to do things that are hard to find labor for in the United States.  People that want to work and stay with you.”

Brown says changes made to the H-2A wage structure in 2023 have made it more costly, but he says it’s worth it.

“We have to pay more for labor in Illinois, so it does attract maybe the cream of the crop,” he says, “and they want to be in Illinois because of the wage rate that we’re set to pay. And then it allows us to have better workers.”

He says they’ve utilized the program for several years and have established strong relationships.

“Once you get a couple good ones, they hire some more good ones as friends or family and we get a pretty good network of guys to work with.”  He says, “So, we appreciate their commitment to come over here and treat them like family.”

Brown says they have a reliable workforce, and the workers from South Africa return home with earnings comparable to doctors and lawyers in their home country. 

AUDIO: Jeff Brown – Macon & Christian County IL Farmer