LUBBOCK, TX – President Trump this week acknowledged the critical role of agricultural labor while suggesting potential relief measures amid stepped-up immigration enforcement. He proposed a system allowing farmers to vouch for long-time employees, offering what he called a “temporary pass” for those who pay taxes and have worked in agriculture for years. He also indicated that changes may be coming soon, though details remain unclear.
Meanwhile, Chalmers Carr, a leading grower and president of USA Farmers, took concerns to Capitol Hill. Carr cited wage volatility under the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which sets pay for H-2A workers. AEWR rates now range from $14.83 in the South to nearly $20 in California and the Pacific Northwest. Some regions face 10% wage hikes for 2025—well above national averages.
Grower groups warn these rising costs and policy uncertainties make labor planning nearly impossible, especially when labor is already the largest input cost for many producers.