News

Expect H-2A woes to continue

The head of the National Council of Agricultural Employers says it will take a presidential mandate in 2017 to make the H-2A guest visa program work.

Executive Vice President Frank Gasperini  tells Brownfield demand for ag workers through the H-2A program has doubled in recent years and the additional stress put on the application process brought the labor flow to a halt this season.  “They almost crashed to a halt, as a result there were blueberry growers and some short season growers in some parts of the country who lost their crops because the workers simply didn’t arrive in time and there were no alternatives.”

He warns the backlogs are not expected to get better next year because it will take at least a year for any major changes to be implemented.  “For 2017, we are hoping the Trump administration will at the very least direct all of his federal agencies to do their jobs and make the program work.”

Gasperini says if Congress does make immigration reform favorable to agriculture it needs to be done before 2018’s Congressional elections or it could be an even longer wait for farmers.

Brownfield interviewed Gasperini during the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

AUDIO: Interview with Frank Gasperini