Immigration
A federal audit wiped out Drumgoon Dairy’s staff, exposing agriculture’s labor crisis. This South Dakota farm’s labor struggle highlights the urgent need for immigration reform to sustain the U.S. food supply.
The debate over immigration and ag labor reform has been a political hot potato for decades now and has led to inaction by Congress, but leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committees say they are making it a priority for 2026.
Federal government will cut the bureaucracy to support the dairy industry, focused on tougher measures to stop major animal disease problems and improve labor availability.
Labor costs continue to rise for California farmers, but skilled labor isn’t something growers are able to find with the current H-2A program. Labor experts, economists and farmers agree the current immigration system is “broken,” but a solution could be on the horizon.
At least nine dairies in Texas were targets of I-9 audits over the weekend. Producers argue it’s a “broken” immigration system, and the recent audits prove the E-Verify program has flaws. Despite criticism, the dairy industry is pushing to be included in the H-2A guest worker program.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the administration plans to announce some updates soon to make the guestworker program more efficient and easier to use.
The on-again, off-again reports regarding ICE raids is sowing confusion for those who rely on immigrant labor and causing labor shortages because employees aren’t showing up for work.
After a week of ICE seemingly targeting dairy farms, California produce farms and a meat packing plant in Nebraska, President Donald Trump is reportedly ordering the Department of Homeland Security to exclude farms from immigration raids.
The Nebraska was the “largest worksite enforcement operation” in the state during the Trump presidency, the Homeland Security Department said. U.S. Congressman Don Bacon told local media 75-80 people were detained.
Although vague, Trump’s comments during his Cabinet meeting are the most detailed the administration has provided on the fate of farmworkers without legal status — who make up half the farm sector’s workforce — under his plan for mass deportations.
The shrinking pool of workers in rural areas is a real concern as populations decline and economic opportunities increase in countries that have historically been sources of agricultural labor for the U.S.
Since being confirmed on Feb. 13, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington D.C., USDA office for a few hours. Most of her time has been spent visiting farmers, ranchers and ag businesses in Kentucky, Kansas and at Top Producer Summit.
President Trump’s focus on mass deportation is creating a sense of nervousness that hasn’t been felt since the Obama Administration. Yet, the bigger concern is a H-2A system that’s become too costly for many farmers to use.
As labor shortages in the ag industry persist, it’s a good idea to brush up on your knowledge of the H-2A and H-2B programs.
As Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president, he’s not expected to impose China-specific tariffs on his first day in office, signaling a strategic shift toward engagement with Beijing rather than reigniting a trade war.
Nearly half of all farmworkers are undocumented, and industries such as dairy and meatpacking plants are especially vulnerable to labor shortages.
Ag industry groups recognize the crucial role that immigrant workers play in the U.S. food system. They emphasize that these workers often take on physically demanding jobs that many American-born workers are unwilling to do.
The decision was made by U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, who found the rule unconstitutional because it conflicted with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by granting collective bargaining rights to farmworkers.
U.S. farmers, especially in specialty crop and livestock operations, continue to struggle to find enough workers. As of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 15 percent fewer farms reported using hired labor compared to 2017.
President Biden delivered a defiant argument for a second term in his SOTU speech Thursday. From the economy to his thoughts on infrastructure, the border and climate, there were several key takeaways for agriculture.
Ron DeSantis, candidate for 2024 Republican presidential nomination and current Florida governor, joined Chip Flory on AgriTalk to share his motivation to be president and plans for agriculture if elected.
The debate over immigration continues to be an issue in Washington. However, the Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows economists are still skeptical it’s enough for Congress to act on immigration reform.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Jesse Larios, a California cattle farmer, shares about his deep roots in agriculture and the contributions his Latino and Latina brothers and sisters have made in the industry.
Mexican President López Obrador hosted President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau this week to discuss everything from methane reduction to the U.S./Mexico border wall.
President Biden traveled on Sunday to the U.S./Mexico border amid a surge in illegal border crossings. The administration announced a new program for up to 30,000 migrants a month to enter the U.S. legally.
President Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador are meeting Tuesday as both face a surge in migration. They are expected to announce multiyear, joint projects to modernize border infrastructure.
The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation weighs in on immigration reform and year-round work permits, Waters of the U.S. concerns and support for the new Climate-Smart Commodities Program.