:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Sheinbaum-1024x683-599c083c0acd41d78689953f61009cb5.jpg "Mexico Readying Retaliatory Tariffs, Potentially Targeting U.S. Ag")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Anna-Moneymaker-GettyImages-2194254243-354709449c5d400cae788e004ddd9885.jpg "Agriculture Industry Reacts to Lee Zeldin’s Confirmation as EPA Administrator")
Our agricultural industry has found itself in the crosshairs of a national debate, and the outcome will drive the livelihoods of all United States citizens for years to come. The U.S. agricultural industry has been heavily dependent on immigrant labor; any shifts in this workforce would ripple through the economy in ways that affect both workers and employers.
In spite of this, the new U.S. administration took a firm stance on mass deportations, and these policies have significant implications for the agricultural industry, particularly its workers. What will happen to these people, their families, the U.S. agriculturalists they work for, the consumers, and the economy?
From the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to aggressive enforcement actions along the U.S.-Mexico border, the Trump Administration’s focus has been on expelling undocumented people from our country in the early stages of Trump’s second term in office. While the administration argued that these actions are necessary for national security and the rule of law, the agricultural industry has voiced concerns about the potential impact of such policies on its workforce.
The demand for low-wage, labor-intensive jobs in agriculture has historically been met by immigrants willing to work in often difficult conditions for relatively low pay. However, the heightened deportation efforts under Trump have created uncertainty in an already vulnerable workforce, leading to fears of labor shortages and disruptions to the agricultural supply chain. The consumer would be met at the end with soaring prices at the checkout counter as a result of lost cheap labor, if not significant delays in the food chain.
“Undocumented immigrants make up a huge proportion of household services, manufacturing work, and kitchen staff in restaurants. Americans simply do not do those jobs, or there are not enough to go around. But if you lose those key ‘bottleneck’ workers, the native workforce also can’t do their jobs,” said Zeke Hernandez, an economics professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book The Truth About Immigration. “It would be an economic disaster for America and Americans.”
We also cannot dismiss the emotional toll on these workers. It’s significant.
There is not only a fear of how the supply chain will be impacted and how it will have an extreme burden on the consumer, but there is also fear of family separation for millions of undocumented workers. Their children may pay a particularly high price of losing their family members along with they themselves, born in the U.S., potentially having to go back to their parents’ home country if BirthRight citizenship isn’t upheld.
As the United States faces mounting uncertainty regarding the future of its agricultural workforce, all eyes are now on Brooke Rollins, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Rollins, a conservative lawyer and former domestic policy adviser in the Trump administration, is well-versed in the intricacies of government processes and has deep ties within the Trump administration. She was previously the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank she founded in 2021. If confirmed, Rollins will head the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a vast agency with a budget exceeding $437 billion, tasked with overseeing everything from farm programs and food safety to nutrition and rural development.
During her confirmation hearing, Rollins acknowledged the challenges posed by Trump’s immigration policies, particularly the potential impact of mass deportations on the agricultural workforce.
Nearly half of the agricultural workers in the U.S. are foreign-born, with many being undocumented. With farm labor so reliant on immigrant workers, Rollins was asked directly about the potential disruptions caused by such policies.
Her response was clear: “The president’s vision of a secure border and a mass deportation at a scale that matters is something I support,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to aligning with Trump’s broader agenda. However, she also reassured senators that she would work with Congress to address labor shortages in agriculture, particularly through reforms to the H-2A visa program, which allows migrant workers to enter the U.S. for seasonal agricultural work.
Rollins further remarked that she would “work with lawmakers to modernize a temporary visa program for farmworkers” but she stopped short of promising that the USDA would shield agricultural workers from deportation efforts.
Given the significant number of agricultural workers who lack legal status, this stance has raised concerns among industry leaders who fear a mass exodus of laborers from the fields. Rollins was clear about the challenges, acknowledging that “we just don’t know” the exact scope of the undocumented workforce in agriculture.
With her confirmation on the horizon, the key question remains: “What concrete steps will Rollins take to protect the agricultural industry from the disruptions caused by these policies?”
Rollins is likely to advocate for immediate support to farmers facing labor shortages, possibly by expanding the H-2A program and working with the Labor Department to secure more work visas for immigrant farmworkers. However, while these measures could offer temporary relief, a broader immigration reform package would be necessary to provide long-term stability to the agricultural workforce.
Yet, the path forward is not without obstacles.
Rollins’ alignment with Trump’s tough stance on immigration may create further tension between her efforts to protect the agricultural sector and the broader enforcement of immigration laws. The political landscape is highly polarized, and with Congress deeply divided, achieving comprehensive immigration reform will be an uphill battle. For now, Rollins may have to navigate these tensions carefully, balancing the administration’s immigration agenda with the urgent need to support an agricultural industry at risk of collapse.
As Rollins seems likely to take the reins at the USDA, the agricultural industry will be looking to her for clarity and solutions. While she has indicated a willingness to support food producers during times of crisis, it remains to be seen whether her actions will be sufficient to shield farmers and workers from the full brunt of the administration’s immigration policies. Only time will tell whether Rollins’s leadership will strike the right balance between enforcing immigration laws and protecting an industry crucial to the nation’s economy.
The impact of Trump’s mass deportation policies on the agricultural industry is multifaceted, with both economic and human consequences. While some argue that these policies are necessary for enforcing immigration laws, others contend that the agricultural sector’s reliance on immigrant labor presents a unique challenge that cannot be ignored. Moving forward, it is clear that both the needs of the agricultural industry, its farmers, and consumers while also acknowledging the rights of workers must be taken into account in order to strike a balance that ensures a stable and fair workforce for the future.
Bre Holbert is a past National FFA President and studied agriculture science and education at California State-Chico. “Two ears to listen is better than one mouth to speak. Two ears allow us to affirm more people, rather than letting our mouth loose to damage people’s story by speaking on behalf of others.”
