While a federal district court recently upheld the Trump administration’s revised wage rule for H-2A agricultural workers, farmers and ag groups are concerned that the current rates could be reversed or drastically amended by a future administration. Michelle Grainger, Co-Lead for the Ag Wage Rate Coalition, says she wants to see the current formula codified by Congress.
“I would love to think that all of our elected officials, regardless of what side the aisle or party they represent, truly feel how important it is for us to be able to feed and clothe ourselves in this country for our national security. Sadly, for all of us at this moment in time, there is a lot of energy around having different opinions and having different perspectives, and that seems to be more of a priority than the priority of national security.”
Grainger knows it is a big ask considering the current political climate.
“I’m not sure to be exact as to how we will get this done, but I’m hopeful. You can’t enter into something being a pessimist. You must be an optimist, and I think our growers are eternal optimists, and therefore, because of them and what they do for each of us who like to have clothes on our back and food in our stomachs, we must continue to push forward. We must continue to advocate and be voices that can be heard.”