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Feedback on ag workforce, H-2A program sought

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee has created an online survey to hear from farmers about workforce issues.

A committee working group was formed early this year to analyze the H-2A guest worker visa program and it’s now asking producers to provide input on issues.

Michigan Farm Bureau’s John Kran tells Brownfield unpredictable wage increases within the program have been challenging for farmers.

“For a lot of specialty crop growers, 40 percent of what they pay every year in inputs is labor, and if you don’t know what your labor costs are going to be next year or even five years down the road, how do you make that investment in a new facility or a new planting?” he shares.

His organization is encouraging users of the program and others facing ag labor issues to participate.

“The more information they have about the workforce challenges that we face, we hope that they can be better advocates within the halls of Congress and help push their colleagues to try to find solutions,” he says.

Information collected will help determine recommendations to address flaws within the program as part of the working group’s final report.