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Labor shortages a major concern for the next growing season

Labor shortages are a concern for some farmers ahead of 2022.

Southern Ohio farmer Greg Corcoran says “we are struggling with having the help that we need to do our operation. In our area you can go work for a factory for upwards of $20 an hour and that’s just starting out so it’s hard to be competitive in the marketplace.”

Corcoran tells Brownfield he’s considering the H-2A program.

“That’s something we’ve decided may be a viable option for us because we can’t get the help we need to complete the jobs that we need to get the crops in,” he says.

He says ag education is key to the industry’s labor force.  

“I don’t know if there is a failure in agricultural education to interest kids to come back to the farm or if there’s interest even in working on the farm,” he says. “There’s a lot of agricultural jobs out there and they’re just sitting there open and it’s tough.”

Corcoran raises beef cattle, corn, soybeans, and popcorn in Pike, Ross, and Scioto counties.