H-2A Needs Serious Reform, Not Small Changes

For growers across the west, one of the top issues year in and year out is ag labor, not only the cost but also the availability of workers.

Current H-2A Not A Good Fit For Many Farmers

Sara Neagu-Reed, Director of Production and Environmental Policy at International Fresh Produce Association, said the current problem has two distinct prongs.  First, a lack of an existing domestic workforce, noting there are very few individuals showing up at farms asking for work.  And the pool of those willing to do this difficult and challenging work is dwindling.

“Second piece is, a lot of our growers, they're not excited, it's not their number one choice to join H-2A, but they're sort of forced out of the first problem, the fact that they don't have this workforce pull anymore," she noted.  "So, they are a part of this program, which is very dated, it's very costly, very burdensome.  It requires recruitment, finding housing, transportation, which all of our growers want to do, but there's just so many hurdles and it needs some serious reform, not incremental tiny changes that have happened administration after administration.”

This Is Not A State-v-State Issue, But An International Issue

Neagu-Reed said growers would like to see paperwork streamlined and the adjustments made to AEWR put forward last year become permanent.  She adds an increasing number of growers, as well as other sectors of agriculture, need H-2A to become a year-round program.  She said many outside of the farming industry don't appreciate these changes need to take place so American agriculture can be competitive on the global stage.

“Other countries have lower rates," Neagu-Reed said.  "They have lower regulatory burdens, some hurdles they have to go through. I mean, we in the states produce the most highest quality because we have those standards, the food safety standards, the, you know, when it comes to how we treat our workers, all of it across the board. There is no other country that competes in the way that we do with these high costs.”

What Reforms Are Needed?

Neagu-Reed added across the board, labor costs have increased 50% in recent years, but for some sectors, such as tree fruit, that increase is even more.

What reforms would Neagu-Reed like to see to the H-2A program, or to Ag labor in general?  Find out by listening to our entire interview:

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