Ag labor continues to be a struggle for the U.S. farming community, not only from a pay perspective but also a lack of available workers. Bryan Searle, President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, says one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed is the lack of year-round guest workers.

Currently, the H-2A program does not work for dairy, livestock, or any other commodity that is not seasonal. Not only is the lack of workers frustrating, but Searle noted the lack of movement in D.C. is a difficult pill to swallow.

“We’ve worked on legislation and worked on one. So, as we try to work to secure borders, and I’m very much in favor of securing the border, get the criminals out and everything that was infiltrating our country, but we have to have people in certain jobs to do those jobs.  And while Americans used to do more of those jobs, today there’s less interest in doing those jobs.”

Those critical of the Ag industry say farmers and producers just don’t want to pay workers. Searle says that’s not the case.

“Getting them here, getting them home, it equates to $25 an hour, and when you don’t have commodity prices that you can control – I think they’re worth that – I just don’t know how to pay them if I can’t pay the bank back because of the low-price commodities. And so, it’s that circle of understanding:  We can’t produce food, all the food that we need to, by automation, nor can we afford it in many areas as well.”

Searle stressed the farming community, not only in Idaho but nationwide, needs to have some kind of program, whether new or an adjusted H-2A that allows for year-round workers.

He added the lack of movement by Congress doesn’t benefit the Ag industry, it doesn’t benefit workers, it creates a no-win situation.