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Minnesota legislator: farmers may need new approaches to fill ag labor gaps

A state lawmaker suggests there’s a sizable gap between the ag labor needs of farmers and the available workforce. 

Keith Allen represents House Seat 19A in the Minnesota Legislature and says farmers are competing with other employers in rural areas.

“With Family Paid Leave and some of these other things in place, it’s putting us in the position of having to look at some other routes to be able to kind of fill those positions. Whether it’s H1 Visas, whether it’s going to autonomous equipment and whatnot.”

He tells Brownfield automation could help fill some gaps.

“When I was crop farming I was considering an autonomous small-scale size tractor to be able to work alongside me while I’m doing particular functions within the field. Those are things that are starting to build in.”

Brownfield interviewed Allen at the Compeer Financial Rooted and Rising Rural Forum in Owatonna, Minnesota Wednesday.