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Visa approval slowdown impacting ag

The secretary of the Illinois Pork Producers Association says a drastic slowdown in visa approvals by the U.S. government is impacting agriculture.

Katie Brown, whose family raises hogs and row crops in Montgomery County, says a major change has happened in the past six months.

“Two years ago, that process would take anywhere between three to four months.”  She says, “Over that time frame, it has since taken around six to eight months.  So six months ago we had an approval rate of around 80%.  Today I would say that’s closer to less than 10% approval rate.”

She tells Brownfield agriculture needs an efficient international worker program.

“Labor in general has been an issue for Illinois pork producers.”  She says, “Our folks in the community have seen that program and seen how we’ve utilized it, and it’s been a really great success.”

Brown says the Illinois Pork Producers and other organizations are lobbying federal officials to return the program to previous levels, but progress has been slow.

Brown, and her husband, Ethan, were also recently named the 2024 Young Leader Achievement Award winners by Illinois Farm Bureau.

AUDIO: Katie & Ethan Brown – Illinois pork producers

File photo

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