Farmers Launch Grow It Here Campaign to Address Labor Shortage

A coalition of U.S. farmers has launched Grow It Here, a new advocacy campaign focused on raising awareness about mounting agricultural labor shortages that threaten American family farms and contribute to higher food prices.

With spokespeople representing commodities from livestock to dairy to produce, Grow It Here aims to amplify farmer voices to advocate for agricultural labor reform and emphasize the importance of a strong, stable workforce to sustain the success of American farms.

“A strong and stable agricultural workforce is essential for keeping farms in business and food affordable for American families,” said Kristi Boswell, Grow It Here advisor and former senior USDA official under the first Trump administration. “Farmers are currently experiencing a labor crisis that jeopardizes the profitability and future of family farms throughout the country. Without a dependable workforce, we risk losing these farms and moving more of our food production overseas — forcing Americans to rely on imported produce. Modernizing our agricultural workforce policies is critical to supporting local farms, strengthening rural economies, and ensuring that American consumers can continue to enjoy safe, affordable, and locally grown food.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from 2020 to 2022, nearly 70 percent of crop farmworkers were foreign-born. Additionally, the number of seasonal H-2A agricultural visa workers has increased more than sevenfold from 2005 to 2022, highlighting the shortage of domestic farmworkers.

A recent Labor Department document noted that policies weakening the stability of this workforce threaten domestic food production and could lead to higher food prices for consumers.

“The biggest threat to my farm isn’t the weather or the markets—it’s a lack of workers,” said Brandon Batten, Grow It Here spokesperson and owner of Triple B Farms in Johnston County, NC. “We can’t plant, harvest, or pack crops without enough hands in the field. Every year it gets harder to find the labor we need, and that uncertainty puts the future of our operation and our community at risk.”

Grow It Here and its network of farmers will serve as a rapid-response resource, offering on-the-ground perspectives on the need for a robust agricultural workforce. The organization also plans to proactively shape the national conversation through listening sessions and discussions with farmers and policymakers at events across the country in the coming months.