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Federal fix needed for H-2A guest worker program to avoid price hikes

An assistant professor at Ohio State University says a federal fix for farm labor is needed to prevent consumer price hikes and higher input costs for farmers.

Margaret Jodlowski says nationwide wage adjustments could lower one of producers’ largest operating expenses.

“New signals from the policy space have indicated that the government is going to be looking at potentially revising the wage rate formula,” she says. “It promises to be a little bit of relief on the wage bill during a time when margins are very, very tight.”

She tells Brownfield worker retention continues to be a challenge.

“This shows the desperation in the labor market in terms of looking for people that you know will show up and they will work for the designated amount of time that their visa is allocated for,” she says. “It’s just a question of not knowing year over year if you’re going to have workers that have those skills.”

Jodlowski says the ag industry is working with lawmakers to ensure a farm labor solution remains a top priority. 

AUDIO: Margaret Jodlowski, Ohio State University