Labor
Putting off letting go of the wrong employee often makes problems harder to fix later.
National Agricultural Law Center summarizes key issues from 2025.
The debate over immigration and ag labor reform has been a political hot potato for decades now and has led to inaction by Congress, but leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committees say they are making it a priority for 2026.
Conflict on the farm is a normal part of working with people, and if it’s addressed early and handled respectfully, it can help teams work better together.
Wellnitz says proper communication saves a business time and money in the long run.
In recent years, discussions around the slowing growth rate of the U.S. labor force have intensified, igniting concerns over potential economic impacts.
At least nine dairies in Texas were targets of I-9 audits over the weekend. Producers argue it’s a “broken” immigration system, and the recent audits prove the E-Verify program has flaws. Despite criticism, the dairy industry is pushing to be included in the H-2A guest worker program.
A shrinking labor pool is already having an impact, and ag experts say it’s only going to get tougher.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the administration plans to announce some updates soon to make the guestworker program more efficient and easier to use.
The on-again, off-again reports regarding ICE raids is sowing confusion for those who rely on immigrant labor and causing labor shortages because employees aren’t showing up for work.
After a week of ICE seemingly targeting dairy farms, California produce farms and a meat packing plant in Nebraska, President Donald Trump is reportedly ordering the Department of Homeland Security to exclude farms from immigration raids.
If the next generation isn’t coming back, it’s not the end. But it is time for a new plan.
“We must ensure that we make a way for young and beginning farmers to fill our boots,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Top of the list: Reforming the FSA loan program, regulatory action to disincentivize federal funding for solar panels on productive farmland and expanding permitting of unused or underused federal land for long-term leases.
Investing in employee development is just as important as investing in equipment. By building a skilled and engaged workforce, farmers can boost efficiency, retention, and long-term success.
Since being confirmed on Feb. 13, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington D.C., USDA office for a few hours. Most of her time has been spent visiting farmers, ranchers and ag businesses in Kentucky, Kansas and at Top Producer Summit.
Complacency happens to our operations when we decide we are simply too busy working in the business to work on the business.
A more productive cowherd fuels the growth of beef production which in turn reduces the need to increase cow numbers to generate that same growth.
Employee performance evaluations are essential for fostering growth, aligning goals, and addressing areas for improvement. What questions will you ask your employees in 2025?
Nearly half of all farmworkers are undocumented, and industries such as dairy and meatpacking plants are especially vulnerable to labor shortages.
“What are you hearing out there? Are employers still hiring?” These are common questions posed to AgCareers.com.
Ranch Academy offers a complete guide of trainings for ranch employees that can be customizable to each operation.
Union head vows to stay on strike ‘as long as necessary’ as the first strike since 1977 halts the flow of goods, ranging from bananas to beef, pork and poultry to industrial materials, leading to potential shortages and price hikes.
The group of terminal operators and ocean container lines said their new offer would increase wages by nearly 50%, triple employer contributions to union retirement plans, strengthen health care options, and retain the current language around automation and semi-automation.
Biden administration officials are meeting with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to urge good faith negotiations in the ongoing labor dispute with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).