Although efforts to reach an agreement on federal legislation to address the growing farm labor crisis have not yet succeeded, it is important to understand the recent history of negotiations as we go forward. We made considerable progress, but ultimately there was no “deal” on the table that could possibly have gotten 60 votes in the U.S. Senate and provided an effective and lasting solution for agricultural employers.
I am a staunch supporter of Idaho agriculture, and it is that support that drove my involvement in working with Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) for the majority of the last Congress to come up with a bill to effectively address the farm labor crisis. The need for labor is dire, and seasonal labor costs are set to increase significantly again this year.
The farm labor crisis is driven by two main factors: 1) the lack of an able, willing, qualified and available domestic workforce; and 2) the runaway growth of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), the federally required minimum wage rate for H-2A farm workers (and workers performing the same jobs as H-2A workers). The flawed methodology of this system has led to the AEWR in Idaho increasing by 40 percent since 2015, from $11.14/hour to $15.68/hour beginning January 1, 2023. Those two issues combined with inflationary pressures that have sent other farm input costs soaring has created a perfect storm for agriculture employers, especially year-round industries like dairy that currently do not have access to...
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