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, explained how the program works.
The Labor Department then uses USDA survey data to calculate the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. However, recent increases in the rate have been difficult for farmers and ranchers to sustain.
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.
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