Agriculture
Agriculture and farming is a cherished part of American identity and remains an important part of the American economy. In 2020, the agriculture, fishing, and forestry industries contributed more than $175 billion to U.S. GDP and supported more than 2.3 million workers. The health of America's farms and the agriculture industry, however, is tied directly to immigration. Farmers frequently worry about finding enough workers as few Americans seem willing to take on the most difficult and physical farm jobs—particularly those harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables. Yet the H-2A visa, the only agricultural visa currently available to American farms, is too expensive and cumbersome to work for many U.S. growers. We explore this issue—and the way it costs our economy—below.
Time for US House action on immigration
As a businessperson vitally concerned about jobs and the economy, I continue to be surprised by the lack of urgency in the U.S. House of Representatives to deal with a crucial economic issue — immigration reform. I hope the recent primary election defeat of House majority leader Eric… Read More
Texas Conservatives Say Congress Must Break Gridlock on Immigration Reform
Now that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has lost his primary to a Tea Party opponent, immigration legislation may be a tougher prospect. But in Texas, a number of Republicans say they’ll keep urging Washington to change immigration law. Included among those legislators is State… Read More
Why Eric Cantor’s Primary Defeat Has Few Implications In Texas
Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s opponent in the Virginia primary, David Brat, was relatively unknown but he challenged Cantor on his support for comprehensive immigration reform. Richard Murray, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said Cantor’s defeat means the chances… Read More
Rand Paul: ‘Amnesty’ a Muddled Term that Has ‘Trapped’ GOP
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday that the term “amnesty” –- a charge often levied in clashes between the Tea Party and pragmatic wings of the GOP — has “trapped” the Republican Party. “I think we’ve been somewhat trapped by rhetoric… Read More
Rand Paul on immigration: GOP trapped in word ‘amnesty’
(CNN) – Immigration may not have been “the paramount issue” in Eric Cantor’s crushing primary loss, Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday. The Kentucky Republican, on a conference call with reporters, added that he’s still in favor of immigration reform and partly blamed… Read More
Rand Paul on Immigration Reform: ‘Amnesty Is a Word That’s Trapped Us’
Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) said conservatives have been “trapped” by referring to legalizing undocumented immigrants as amnesty – the word David Brat used to propel his primary victory over House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.). “We’ve been somewhat trapped by… Read More
Paul: Immigration reform did not sink Cantor
FRANKFORT, KY. — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday that “the ball is moving forward” on immigration reform despite the surprise defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Virginia primary. Cantor lost to Dave Brat, a little-known economics professor whose campaign focused largely on… Read More
Immigration reform impacts downtown Greenville restaurants too
South Carolina’s food system relies on immigrant labor, without which all of us would suffer, that was the message at an immigration reform event Thursday morning at Soby’s Restaurant in Greenville. Part local foods pep rally, part call to action, the event was organized by both the Partnership for a… Read More
Arkansas farmers calling for immigration reform
LONOKE, Ark. (KTHV) – Immigration reform is one of our nation’s most hotly debated topics, but this week, some Arkansas farmers have become more vocal about the issue. They said without reform, they are losing $320 million and 22 farming days. Bob Barnhill at Barnhill Orchards has had some of… Read More
Greenville Farmers, Restaurateurs Stress Importance of Immigration Labor
GREENVILLE, S.C. – South Carolina farmers are discussing the importance of immigration labor. The Partnership for a New American Economy and the South Carolina Farm Bureau hosted “Field 2 Fork” in Greenville Thursday. During the event, farmers and restaurateurs demonstrated how agriculture products grown in the… Read More
Immigrants and American Farms
In 2019, more than half of all hired farmworkers in the United States were immigrants, or roughly 450,000 workers. In many states known for their fresh produce, immigrant farm laborers make up large shares of miscellaneous agriculture workers—the occupation that includes those hand picking crops in the field.
Share of Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers in Crop Production, Undocumented, 2019
Farm Labor Shortages
In recent years, the number of new immigrants arriving in the country to work in agriculture has fallen by 75 percent. Rising wages indicate this has led to a major labor shortage on U.S. farms—making it difficult for many growers to stay in business or expand their operations. The workers left are also aging rapidly, meaning shortages will likely worsen as they retire.
Decline in Key States
The Aging of Foreign-Born Farm Workers
The Cost of Our Farm Labor Shortage
Because agriculture is intertwined with so many other industries in our economy—such as transportation, packing, and irrigation—a shortage of farm workers hurts the U.S. economy more broadly. We estimate U.S. growers would have produced $3.1 billion more in fresh fruits and vegetables per year by 2014 had farm labor not been an issue. The table in this section shows the costs to the U.S. economy for failing to meet this target.
Rising Imports
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables Americans eat that is imported. Although many factors play into this phenomenon, we estimate labor shortages alone explain 27 percent of the market share decline experienced by U.S. growers from 1998-2000 to 2010-2012. Had growers maintained their hold on the domestic market, an estimated 89,300 additional U.S. jobs would have been created by 2012.
Jobs Americans Won’t Do
U.S. fresh produce growers have long said that few, if any, American workers are willing to take on the most arduous farm jobs. We studied this issue in North Carolina, examining how many American workers actually applied for heavily advertised farming positions in 2011, a period when the country was still recovering from the recession. The table in this section shows the results.
The H-2A Visa
The H-2A visa program, the only visa currently available to bring in temporary agriculture workers, is too cumbersome and unworkable for many farms. Farmers desperate for workers frequently go through the application process only to receive their laborers late, resulting in crop loss.
Sources:
1 “Why Domestic Agriculture Needs New, Workable Farm Labor Alternatives Now,” National Council of Agricultural Employers, 2011. Available online.
2Ibid.
3Ibid.
America's story is an immigrant story.
