Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said easing restrictions for noncitizen farmworkers is a top priority, as labor shortages continue to strain farmers across the U.S.  Changes to the H-2A program and new legal pathways could offer relief soon.  The administration is working to finalize more lenient guidelines for noncitizen farmworkers by harvest season.

 

Rollins said it’s an issue she’s had many long conversations with the president about over the years.  "There is zero doubt", she noted, "that labor is a massive issue for probably the large majority of the agriculture industry, our farmers and our ranchers".  Her remarks came just days after President Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting that he may ease immigration restrictions for farm laborers.

 

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

 

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