Agriculture FertilizerAgriculture Fertilizer
  • Home
  • News
  • Management
  • Business
  • Insights
  • Crops & Livestock
  • Machinery
  • Technology
  • Weather
  • Trending
  • More
    • Web Stories
    • Press Release

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest agriculture news and updates directly to your inbox.

What's On

3 Big Things Today, Oct. 1, 2025

October 4, 2025

Weak Prices Squeeze Farmers, While Tariff Aid Gains Momentum

October 4, 2025

FFA Lessons Carry Small-Town Student From County Fair to Global Ag Research

October 4, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Agriculture FertilizerAgriculture Fertilizer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • News
  • Management
  • Business
  • Insights
  • Crops & Livestock
  • Machinery
  • Technology
  • Weather
  • Trending
  • More
    • Web Stories
    • Press Release
Agriculture FertilizerAgriculture Fertilizer
Home » New H-2A wage rule offers $2B in farm relief

New H-2A wage rule offers $2B in farm relief

October 2, 20253 Mins Read News
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Email

The U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled a sweeping change to how wages are determined for foreign agricultural guestworkers under the H-2A program, a move officials say could save farmers and ranchers more than $2 billion annually in labor costs. The interim final rule, published October 2, replaces the long-criticized Farm Labor Survey with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. By shifting to this methodology, the Department aims to better align H-2A wages with comparable occupations in the broader labor market.

For farmers, particularly in high-cost states like Michigan, the change offers long-awaited relief. Congressman John Moolenaar noted that Michigan’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate has climbed more than 61 percent since 2014, reaching $18.15 an hour, not including the cost of housing, transportation, and other mandatory expenses. 

A central feature of the new rule is the recognition of housing and other non-monetary benefits as part of total compensation. This adjustment, coupled with a tiered wage structure that takes skill level into account, is expected to slow the rapid wage increases that have placed U.S. farmers at a competitive disadvantage globally. In states such as Washington, Oregon, and California, where H-2A wages have effectively set the floor for the broader farm workforce, employers anticipate immediate cost reductions.

USDA, Flickr

Reactions across the agricultural sector have been largely positive. Michael Marsh, president of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, applauded the rule as a long-overdue correction to an outdated system.

The International Fresh Produce Association echoed that sentiment, calling it a historic step toward fairness and predictability in farm labor policy.

The American Farm Bureau Federation also expressed support, noting that labor costs can make up nearly half of farm production expenses and that many family farms rely on the H-2A program to survive.

“Farm Bureau thanks the Trump administration, Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Secretary Brooke Rollins for advocating for solutions to a broken system,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “For many farmers, prices for the products they raise are low while production expenses are at record highs, so a fair wage rate is essential. In most states, the new rates will help farmers afford to get crops from the fields to the tables of America’s families.

“This new rule holds promise for many farm families who would be out of business if not for the H-2A program. We look forward to working with the administration to ensure more transparency, predictability and clarity as it implements the rule, and we remain committed to working with Congress for more lasting reforms that provide mutual benefit for workers and farmers while ensuring both can continue to stock America’s pantries.”

While the Department of Labor framed the rule as essential to protecting the nation’s food supply, advocates continue to stress that more needs to be done. Farm groups and policymakers are urging Congress to pursue comprehensive reform that not only stabilizes wage rates but also provides foreign farmworkers with clearer legal pathways. For now, the new rule signals a major shift in U.S. agricultural labor policy, one that could reshape how farms balance cost, labor supply, and competitiveness in a challenging global marketplace.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

3 Big Things Today, Oct. 1, 2025

October 4, 2025 News

Weak Prices Squeeze Farmers, While Tariff Aid Gains Momentum

October 4, 2025 News

FFA Lessons Carry Small-Town Student From County Fair to Global Ag Research

October 4, 2025 News

Field Didn’t Yield Like Expected? Start With These Checks

October 4, 2025 News

Heat Persists, Mixed Drought Improvements Across U.S.

October 4, 2025 News

Where Is the Best Corn in the Country Right Now?

October 4, 2025 News

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Don't Miss
News

Weak Prices Squeeze Farmers, While Tariff Aid Gains Momentum

By staffOctober 4, 20250

Harvest is underway, but there’s still uncertainty about where some of those crops will go.…

FFA Lessons Carry Small-Town Student From County Fair to Global Ag Research

October 4, 2025

Field Didn’t Yield Like Expected? Start With These Checks

October 4, 2025

Heat Persists, Mixed Drought Improvements Across U.S.

October 4, 2025

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest agriculture news and updates directly to your inbox.

Our Picks

Where Is the Best Corn in the Country Right Now?

October 4, 2025

Trump Considering at least $10 Billion for Farmer Aid; Announcement Next Week

October 3, 2025

AFT announces winners of the 17th Annual America’s Farmers Market

October 3, 2025

Turkey farmers brace for disease, market shifts before holidays

October 3, 2025
Agriculture Fertilizer
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
© 2025 All rights reserved. Agriculture Fertilizer.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.