Labor Dept warns Immigration Policies Threaten Stability of the Domestic Food Supply

[wing2000]

The Labor Department warned in an obscure document filed with the Federal Register last week that “the near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens” is threatening “the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S. consumers.”

Also, contradicting comments made by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that the U.S. farm workforce will become “100 percent American” as an effect of mass deportations, the Labor Department noted that Americans are not willing to step into farm work and lack the skills to fill agricultural jobs that undocumented immigrants are abandoning.

“The Department concludes that qualified and eligible U.S. workers will not make themselves available in sufficient numbers,” the agency said.

Doc:
"...the Department concludes, based on all available evidence and studies, that immediate reform to the H-2A program's minimum wage policy, or the AEWRs, is necessary to avoid imminent widespread disruption across the U.S. agricultural sector. Without prompt action, agricultural employers will face severe labor shortages, resulting in disruption to food production, higher prices, and reduced access for U.S. consumers, particularly to fresh fruit and vegetables. Further, the Department concludes that qualified and eligible U.S. workers will not make themselves available in sufficient numbers, even at current wage levels, to fill the significant labor shortage in the agricultural sector. As discussed in detail below, the reforms contained in this IFR of the H-2A program's wage policy are urgently needed to restore the usability of the H-2A program and to provide a practical, lawful workforce alternative to illegal aliens. These changes ensure that agricultural employers offer fair wages to legally authorized workers—consistent with wages paid in comparable farm and non-farm jobs—while maintaining compliance with immigration law and supporting the stability of the nation's food supply.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/11/immigration-crackdown-food-prices/

Imagine that? Americans are unwilling to harvest their own food.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

The Labor Department warned in an obscure document filed with the Federal Register last week that “the near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens” is threatening “the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S. consumers.”

Also, contradicting comments made by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that the U.S. farm workforce will become “100 percent American” as an effect of mass deportations, the Labor Department noted that Americans are not willing to step into farm work and lack the skills to fill agricultural jobs that undocumented immigrants are abandoning.

“The Department concludes that qualified and eligible U.S. workers will not make themselves available in sufficient numbers,” the agency said.

Doc:
"...the Department concludes, based on all available evidence and studies, that immediate reform to the H-2A program's minimum wage policy, or the AEWRs, is necessary to avoid imminent widespread disruption across the U.S. agricultural sector. Without prompt action, agricultural employers will face severe labor shortages, resulting in disruption to food production, higher prices, and reduced access for U.S. consumers, particularly to fresh fruit and vegetables. Further, the Department concludes that qualified and eligible U.S. workers will not make themselves available in sufficient numbers, even at current wage levels, to fill the significant labor shortage in the agricultural sector. As discussed in detail below, the reforms contained in this IFR of the H-2A program's wage policy are urgently needed to restore the usability of the H-2A program and to provide a practical, lawful workforce alternative to illegal aliens. These changes ensure that agricultural employers offer fair wages to legally authorized workers—consistent with wages paid in comparable farm and non-farm jobs—while maintaining compliance with immigration law and supporting the stability of the nation's food supply.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/11/immigration-crackdown-food-prices/

Imagine that? Americans are unwilling to harvest their own food.

Agree!
The shortsighted actions of Krist Noem is unfathomable. Trump has publicly suggested he would offer some leniency, like temporary deportation passes or legal work status, to undocumented immigrants working long-term in agriculture and other essential industries to prevent harm to those sectors. However, Noem and her team of special forces have intensified overall immigration enforcement, which includes these individuals.

To those who believe this is a good course of action, let us reason, please!

 

[Tuur]

The article sounds like "But who will pick our cotton?" circa 1860.

The conceit is that all migrant labor is illegal. That's not the case. There's such a thing as work visas, and many non-US migrant workers have them. Casual observation is that there are plenty. How many? Enough to set out a 100+ acre field with watermelons in less than a day. Enough that same field had migrant labor harvesting it until the only melons left were culls. Enough that I've seen no noticeable impact in local stores and restaurants. Have seen zero impact in fields. Have heard zero complaints from farmers.

That doesn't fit the narrative, and I fully expect to be told that what I observe is wrong.

 

[Desk trauma]

Imagine that? Americans are unwilling to harvest their own food.

For the pay offered. Why does that part always get left off the sentence?

 

[wing2000]

The article sounds like "But who will pick our cotton?" circa 1860.

The conceit is that all migrant labor is illegal. That's not the case. There's such a thing as work visas, and many non-US migrant workers have them. Casual observation is that there are plenty. How many? Enough to set out a 100+ acre field with watermelons in less than a day. Enough that same field had migrant labor harvesting it until the only melons left were culls. Enough that I've seen no noticeable impact in local stores and restaurants. Have seen zero impact in fields. Have heard zero complaints from farmers.

That doesn't fit the narrative, and I fully expect to be told that what I observe is wrong.

It seems you didn't read the referenced document.
"that immediate reform to the H-2A program's minimum wage policy, or the AEWRs, is necessary to avoid imminent widespread disruption across the U.S. agricultural sector."

 

[Desk trauma]

It seems you didn't read the referenced document.
"that immediate reform to the H-2A program's minimum wage policy, or the AEWRs, is necessary to avoid imminent widespread disruption across the U.S. agricultural sector."

I’m sure the farmers will have fun, and get a large bail out.

 

[wing2000]

I’m sure the farmers will have fun, and get a large bail out.

...and consumers left with higher prices for produce.

 

[rjs330]

I suppose our only option is illegal labor?

I actually can think of several options beside that.

 

[Tuur]

It seems you didn't read the referenced document.
"that immediate reform to the H-2A program's minimum wage policy, or the AEWRs, is necessary to avoid imminent widespread disruption across the U.S. agricultural sector."

It seems that you didn't read where I reported what I observed. When is this "imminent widespread disruption across the US agricultural sector" going to happen? It hasn't happened so far I haven't seen indications that anyone is planning for imminent disruption. It wouldn't disrupt peanuts planting and harvesting, or field corn, or wheat, or rye, or oats; or hay. The closest you get to migrant labor here are teams of combines that used to be a thing in the Midwest and maybe still are. Migrant labor is used for onions; for blueberries; for watermelons; for cantaloupes; for pretty much any crop that has to be thinned or picked by hand. And that is where the watermelons i told you about come in. This afternoon road by fields of greens of various types and which don't do well in hot weather, so they had to be in the ground less than a month. So, if this is imminent, why was it planted in the first place? Why not wait a little while and go with rye or winter wheat, which doesn't require migrant labor.

For that matter, if this is imminent, why are migrants still here locally? Either they are all nationalized citizens (a distinct possibility) or they have their visas, for they haven't gone back home.

It's one thing to find a news article online about something; it's another to see every day what the reporter who wrote the article may never have seen in his or her life.

Don't believe me? Fine. Just know that what I see every day doesn't agree with the claim in the article.

 

[BCP1928]

I suppose our only option is illegal labor?

That's the way the Right has allways seen it. If you bring them in on H visas they're subject to US labor law and have to be paid almost as much as domestic workers. Can't have that, cuts into profits.

I actually can think of several options beside that.