H2-A

USDA data shows nearly 70% of crop workers from 2020-22 were foreign-born, and the number of seasonal H-2A visa workers has increased over seven-fold since '05.

Labor is a difficult topic in the farming community.  And perhaps the tree fruit industry serves as the best example of that.    Kate Tynan Senior Vice President at the Northwest Horticultural Council said as producers continue to struggle to find a domestic workforce, more and more are turning to the H-2A program.  She added many pe...

On Wednesday, central Washington’s Dan Newhouse was one of several lawmakers that spoke during a press conference put on the by American Business Immigration Coalition.  The event stressed the importance of “common-sense” reforms to the H-2A program as well as the importance of a strong agriculture workforce.  Newhouse said without imm...

A new report is showing the importance of migrant farmworkers here in the Northwest.  Oregon recorded the biggest increase of H2-A workers in the region from 2017 through 2022.  Idaho and Washington saw increases over the same time period as well.  But by far Washin...

In the world of agriculture there are plenty of hurdles that slow down the process of getting food to the farm to the table. In recent years, labor has come to the top of that list.

In a last-minute effort to get H-2A reform finished before Congress adjourns, lawmakers have introduced a new bill.  Colorado senator Michael Bennet, and central Washington representative Dan Newhouse, introduced the Affordable and Secure Food Act Thursday.  Th...

Labor demands continue to tax the bottom lines of farmers and ranchers, with rising wage rates and record usage of the H-2A visa program.  The American Farm Bureau Federation said meaningful reforms to the federal government's guest worker program must be a priority for Congress by the end of the year.  AFBF an...

Last week, WAFLA announced it is working with Stanford University to research the economic and social outcomes for farmworkers who migrate from Mexico.  In this pilot project, Stanford researchers will speak with and compare the experiences of farmworkers who remain in Mexico and those who participate in the H-2A program via WAFLA.  Scott D...

According to ERS, American farmers who want to hire temporary foreign workers through the H-2A visa program usually work with a third party.  The new data announced this week indicated the third parties, such as agents, associations or a lawyer, are used to make the applications.  Employe...

Earlier this month, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a civil rights lawsuit against Sunnyside-based Ostrom Mushroom Farm, claiming discrimination against female workers.  Ferguson claimed that Ostrom fired 79% of their female pickers, replacing them with H2-A male pickers.  The AG’...