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Growers warn Congress: lack of long-term labor reform threatens U.S. food supply

Farmers from across the country are stressing the need for congressional intervention to secure ag labor policy.

North Carolina apple grower Linda Pryor tells Brownfield she’s very appreciative of the Department of Labor reforming how H-2A guest worker wages are determined, but the rule lacks longevity.

“Labor is something that could have more certainty than it does and could take some of those variables out,” she shares. “Having a cap on how much the wage can increase year over year, animal agriculture—there’s not an option for them right now, which is extremely concerning when we want to keep a domestic food supply.”

Sixth-generation farmer Lisa Tate says anything to help reduce costs is beneficial, but the changes will have a minimal impact on her California farm.

“I don’t necessarily think that this is the solution or this is going to solve to the extent that we need in order for us to be competitive with other foreign countries and their ability to produce food much cheaper than we can,” she says.

Diversified row crop farmer Brandon Batten from North Carolina says wages could drastically change again when the rule is reevaluated in July.

“We just need options to be able to continue to feed and clothe this nation within our own borders,” he says. “Without legislation or meaningful reform, the stability is not going to be there because every administration change is going to have its own take on the rules, and they’re going to continue to change.”

Farmers shared their concerns with reporters during a recent call hosted by the farmer-led advocacy group Grow It Here.

Research by Michigan State University estimates that for every 10 percent increase in real farmworker wages, domestic production declined 5.5 percent, and prices and the quantity of imports rose by about three percent over the past 30 years.