Agriculture
Agriculture and farming is a cherished part of American identity and remains an important part of the American economy. In 2020, the agriculture, fishing, and forestry industries contributed more than $175 billion to U.S. GDP and supported more than 2.3 million workers. The health of America's farms and the agriculture industry, however, is tied directly to immigration. Farmers frequently worry about finding enough workers as few Americans seem willing to take on the most difficult and physical farm jobs—particularly those harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables. Yet the H-2A visa, the only agricultural visa currently available to American farms, is too expensive and cumbersome to work for many U.S. growers. We explore this issue—and the way it costs our economy—below.
California Farmers Short of Labor, and Patience
HURON, Calif. — When Chuck Herrin, who runs a large farm labor contracting company, looks out at the hundreds of workers he hires each year to tend to the countless rows of asparagus, grapes, tomatoes, peaches and plums, he often seethes in frustration. Read More
Growers: More Imported Produce Due to Lack of Labor
Carlos Castañeda’s father came to the U.S. as a farm laborer in 1964. Less than 30 years later, he was able to build a company now run by his son which provides labor and staffing to primarily small farms in the Santa Barbara Coast. But for the past three years… Read More
Farms need immigration reform to survive
The farmers who make up Florida’s $8 billion agricultural industry are leading a call to action on Congress to follow through on promises for a meaningful immigration reform bill. Last year we saw progress on this pivotal issue, and now it is time for Congress to act. The current system… Read More
Immigration reform must protect farmers
Florida growers know that critical to their survival in the farm industry are the workers who spend their days in the fields, nurseries, forests and groves, planting, nurturing and bringing in the products so they can go to market. These workers are often the missing piece in the current farming… Read More
Press Release: New Report Shows Labor Challenges Lead to Loss in GDP and Farm Income
NEW REPORT SHOWS LABOR CHALLENGES LEAD TO LOSS IN GDP AND FARM INCOME AS U.S. FARMERS LOSE MARKET SHARE OF IMPORTS Major U.S. farmers call for immigration reform to be passed this year Washington, DC — The Partnership for a New American Economy and… Read More
No Longer Home Grown
American families are eating more imported fresh produce today than ever before, in substantial part because U.S. fresh produce growers lack enough labor to expand their production and compete with foreign importers. That just one of the findings in the report, “No Longer Home Grown: How Labor Shortages are… Read More
Immigration reform will benefit farmers
Point of View Ag industry, consumers both lose now U.S. Rep. Tom Cole understands the importance of agriculture for the state and the nation. On the House floor, Cole, R-Moore, praised the passage of the 2014 farm bill. He touted America’s ability to outdo every country in the world when… Read More
Press Release: Ohio’s 8th Congressional District Agriculture Leaders Discuss Immigration Reform with Congressman John Boehner
PIQUA, OH – A group of farmers met with Speaker John Boehner, (OH-08) earlier today during the annual 8th Congressional District Farm Forum, hosted by Boehner, to discuss the issues they are facing. During the event, held at Edison Community College in Miami County, eight members of the agriculture… Read More
Farmers for immigration reform
We’ve all seen the “I Heart (fill in the blank here)” bumper stickers, promos and campaigns that are a dime a dozen. As a farmer, I’m particularly fond of “I Heart Food.” But, unfortunately, because of a labor shortage in our farm fields, there’s a growing crisis about the future… Read More
Former Gov’s Say Pass Immigration Bill
August 19, 2013 Jeanne Bonner, GPB News ATLANTA — Leaders of a bi-partisan coalition backing immigration reform say businesses need to press Congress on the issue. Speaking at a forum Monday in Atlanta, two former governors of Mississippi and Pennsylvania said that’s because many U.S. companies can’t wait any… Read More
Immigrants and American Farms
In 2019, more than half of all hired farmworkers in the United States were immigrants, or roughly 450,000 workers. In many states known for their fresh produce, immigrant farm laborers make up large shares of miscellaneous agriculture workers—the occupation that includes those hand picking crops in the field.
Share of Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers in Crop Production, Undocumented, 2019
Farm Labor Shortages
In recent years, the number of new immigrants arriving in the country to work in agriculture has fallen by 75 percent. Rising wages indicate this has led to a major labor shortage on U.S. farms—making it difficult for many growers to stay in business or expand their operations. The workers left are also aging rapidly, meaning shortages will likely worsen as they retire.
Decline in Key States
The Aging of Foreign-Born Farm Workers
The Cost of Our Farm Labor Shortage
Because agriculture is intertwined with so many other industries in our economy—such as transportation, packing, and irrigation—a shortage of farm workers hurts the U.S. economy more broadly. We estimate U.S. growers would have produced $3.1 billion more in fresh fruits and vegetables per year by 2014 had farm labor not been an issue. The table in this section shows the costs to the U.S. economy for failing to meet this target.
Rising Imports
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables Americans eat that is imported. Although many factors play into this phenomenon, we estimate labor shortages alone explain 27 percent of the market share decline experienced by U.S. growers from 1998-2000 to 2010-2012. Had growers maintained their hold on the domestic market, an estimated 89,300 additional U.S. jobs would have been created by 2012.
Jobs Americans Won’t Do
U.S. fresh produce growers have long said that few, if any, American workers are willing to take on the most arduous farm jobs. We studied this issue in North Carolina, examining how many American workers actually applied for heavily advertised farming positions in 2011, a period when the country was still recovering from the recession. The table in this section shows the results.
The H-2A Visa
The H-2A visa program, the only visa currently available to bring in temporary agriculture workers, is too cumbersome and unworkable for many farms. Farmers desperate for workers frequently go through the application process only to receive their laborers late, resulting in crop loss.
Sources:
1 “Why Domestic Agriculture Needs New, Workable Farm Labor Alternatives Now,” National Council of Agricultural Employers, 2011. Available online.
2Ibid.
3Ibid.
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