Labor Series 2017
Ag Labor Review: How Trump’s cabinet picks could reshape ag workforce policy
While some of the new president's cabinet nominees sparked controversy during Senate confirmation hearings, Donald Trump's picks tied to farm labor faced little resistance. Now, the incoming leaders at the Labor, Agriculture, Homeland Security and... more »
H-2A struggles to keep up with grower demand
H-2A, the country’s agricultural guest-worker program, continues to grow. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the number of H-2A workers jumped from 77,246 to 165,741 between 2011 and 2016. Since 2001, there’s been... more »
Growers share pros and cons of H-2A program
Short on labor and thinking about hiring H-2A workers? The federal guest-worker program, which more farm employers are using these days, has its pros and cons. A couple of Michigan growers shared their experiences with... more »
Fruit Growers News survey: grower labor supply
Fruit Growers News asked readers four questions in January, seeking information on their labor supply. A sampling of the results is below. Did you have enough labor in 2016? No: 53 percent Yes: 47 percent... more »
Surprises, gifts one way to retain farmworkers
Harvesting vegetables and fruit is a difficult profession, requiring commitment and a unique set of skills. When farm employers find the right workers, they need to let them know their work is appreciated, said Steve... more »
Labor-retention strategies to help with labor costs
Philip Martin, a professor emeritus of agricultural and resource economics with the University of California, Davis, gives farm employers four broad strategies to deal with increasing labor costs: satisfy, stretch, substitute and supplement. Satisfy workers... more »
States find ways to deal with labor shortages
It’s hard to know the exact number of seasonal specialty crop workers in the United States, but Frank Gasperini thinks 1.5 million is a good estimate. Seasonal worker shortages have been an issue in the... more »
Latest News
Fruit growers could see stronger disaster aid, automation grants under proposed farm bill
Current Issue
Master Farmer Awards at Great Lakes EXPO
2025 Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty award winners
Lakeview Hill Farm: Growing fruit — and farmers — in Michigan
Microscopic organisms fuel big idea
Fresh Views – Blueberry fruit quality: separating fact from perception
Farm Market + Agritourism: finding and keeping your CSA members
Ag Labor Review: finish the job on H-2A reform
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