Jan 28, 2026

New on-demand webinar explores labor challenges and opportunities for growers

Labor challenges continue to create uncertainty for specialty crop operations, and rules are changing fast. 

A new on-demand labor roundtable webinar from Fruit Growers News sister publication Greenhouse Product News brings together leading experts to break down recent regulatory updates, policy trends and strategies growers can use to manage costs and plan ahead.

Michigan State University extension economist Zach Rutledge discusses major changes to the H-2A program for 2025, including new Department of Labor rules on Adverse Effect Wage Rates and housing cost deductions, and explains how these updates could affect grower operations.

Michael Marsh, president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, provides a national policy perspective, reviewing what growers should be prepared for in 2026, including labor reform developments, administrative priorities and ongoing challenges across the H-2A system.

Rounding out the discussion, Tomas Geurts of Source.ag examines how growers are adapting to labor pressures using automation, data and AI-driven solutions to do more with fewer workers while improving efficiency and resilience.

The roundtable delivers practical, timely insight for growers navigating labor costs, regulatory uncertainty and workforce availability.

Watch the webinar to hear directly from industry experts and gain insight to help guide labor planning for the seasons ahead.