ag labor | Red River Farm Network

Labor Seen as Dairy Industry’s Biggest Issue

Published October 14, 2025

According to National Milk Producers Federation Chairman Randy Mooney, labor is the #1 challenge for the dairy industry. "We’ve got the H-2A visas that don’t really fit dairy because they’re seasonal workers,” said Mooney. “We’ve got now the Trump Administration…

A Broken System

Published August 20, 2025

Agricultural labor is a top priority for the American Farm Bureau Federation. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott Vanderwal, who also serves as AFBF vice president, cites the dairy industry's inability to source H2-A workers. "I've had dairymen tell me…

‘100% Legal Workforce’ is the Goal

Published July 3, 2025

In an appearance on CNBC, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed the farm labor situation. Rollins said President Trump’s goal is a “100 percent legal workforce.” Rollins also said the H-2A visa program needs reform. In her words, H-2A is an…

Protecting the Ag Labor Pool

Published April 11, 2025

In Thursday’s cabinet meeting, President Trump addressed the farm labor shortage. Trump suggested a plan to give undocumented workers an opportunity to work legally on the farm. "We're going to be working on that so a farmer will come in with…

Immigration and Ag Labor Are Part of the Same Conversation

Published January 28, 2025

The American Farm Bureau Federation has made ag labor one of its top priorities. AFBF Vice President Scott VanderWal, who is also president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, said ag labor and immigration are part of the same discussion.…

Don’t Jump to Conclusions About Trump 2.0

Published January 6, 2025

With the incoming Trump administration, concerns have been seen over tariffs and employee shortages. National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles says it’s still too early to jump to conclusions. "If the threat of tariffs drives countries that we partner with…

Ag Labor Report Issued

Published May 23, 2024

A new USDA report on farm labor indicates 618,000 workers were hired during the week of April 7. That’s down five percent from the same week last year. Nationwide, farmers paid hired workers an average wage of $18.98 per hour,…

Dealing With the Labor Shortage

Published January 26, 2024

Agriculture is not immune to the workforce challenges nationwide. Labor was part of the discussion during the American Farm Bureau Federation voting delegate session. While seasonal workers are hard to find, year-round immigrant labor is also needed. “Whether that’s on…

Farmer Worker Bill Introduced

Published June 24, 2022

California Senator Alex Padilla introduced a bill to extend overtime pay to farmworkers. If passed, the Fairness for Farmworkers Act of 2022 would extend overtime pay to all U.S. farmworkers who were excluded from the Fair Labor Standards Act of…

Farm Bureau: New Vaccine Requirements May Limit Available Workforce

Published January 24, 2022

The Department of Homeland Security will start enforcing vaccine requirements for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. through ports of entry, including essential workers. In response, the American Farm Bureau Federation expressed concern, noting that the department failed to give…

Articles tagged under: ag labor

Labor Seen as Dairy Industry’s Biggest Issue

A Broken System

‘100% Legal Workforce’ is the Goal

Protecting the Ag Labor Pool

Immigration and Ag Labor Are Part of the Same Conversation

Don’t Jump to Conclusions About Trump 2.0

Ag Labor Report Issued

Dealing With the Labor Shortage

Farmer Worker Bill Introduced

Farm Bureau: New Vaccine Requirements May Limit Available Workforce

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