Labor challenges are among some of the most difficult issues facing farmers and ranchers, especially for those who utilize the H-2A program.  John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, points out that more and more farmers and ranchers are relying on the program to meet their labor needs.  Which impacts the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey, which the Labor Department then uses to calculate the Adverse Effect Wage Rate.

 

“It's outpaced inflation eight of the past ten years. It's highly unpredictable from year to year," Boatright said.  "We've seen increases as high as 23% from one year to the next, which is just simply unsustainable given the challenges that we see and the predictability that farmers and ranchers need to be able to make ends meet.”

 

Federal Rulemaking To Blame, AFBF Notes

 

Boatright said that while 2026 rates haven’t been calculated yet, all signs point to another increase in the rate, when labor costs are already high.

 

“Of farms and ranches who particularly utilize H-2A, it is right that 40% of their input costs are associated with labor," Boatright added.  "I think we can anticipate that a lot of these costs are going to increase as a direct result of that, and that's directly attributable to federal rulemaking that has made it more onerous for small family farms, particularly, to stay afloat.”

 

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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