Ag Labor Review: Finish the job on H-2A

Over the last few months, the Trump administration — particularly through the Department of Labor’s recent H-2A rulemaking — has elevated the importance of the H-2A visa program for our nation’s farmers and food supply. This heightened awareness is critically needed as American agriculture desperately seeks affordable, dependable and accessible tools to meet workforce needs.

As these efforts to modernize and improve the employer experience with the H-2A program move forward, it is essential that program users work together to highlight both the reforms’ achievements and the areas that still need improvement.

Naturally, any new or reformed government program brings challenges. At the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), we have been guiding our members through these changes and working closely with various agencies. One message is clear: The administration wants program users to succeed, understanding that a broken H-2A system means higher costs, fewer options and more imports.

It can be challenging — especially when your business is on the line — to trust that bureaucracy is working in your favor. In this case, however, it truly intends to. And when you experience the harrowing nature of navigating the system, you still run into the same issues you would expect in a program involving so many agencies. But through collaboration across agency lines and with groups like NCAE, the administration is working to make these reforms a reality.

This kind of regulatory relief is unprecedented, and highlighting its positives will be just as important to its long-term success as pointing out its shortcomings. As an industry, we must recognize that reaping the benefits of these reforms is not just an economic priority — it is also a political priority for anyone who cares about the availability and affordability of American-grown food.

That message will be pivotal for the next step in the process: getting Congress to act. Lawmakers must cement the reforms put forth by the administration, make additional improvements and ensure that our industry is no longer subject to the “ping-pong” style of regulatory policy that has contributed to fewer farms and greater reliance on foreign-grown food.

While Congress has slept on improving the H-2A program for four decades, the program has shifted from an afterthought to, in many cases, the only reliable source of labor for farmers. As a result, the H-2A program’s rapid expansion has moved it to center stage in national security, trade and economic conversations.

So, what can be done to ensure regulatory actions have their intended impact and keep American farmers competitive?

First, the industry must continue working with a willing and resolute partner in the Trump administration to build upon the regulatory improvements that are already in place. Next to the actual H-2A user, no one has more at stake in the program’s success than the administration that advanced it.

Second, we must continue working with Congress to ensure that the H-2A program — or any program meant to meet producers’ needs — is not treated as an afterthought, as it has been since President Reagan signed the law into effect. It deserves the same care and attention as other critical infrastructure and national security programs. Encouragingly, these efforts are beginning to take shape under the leadership of House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson and others. His bipartisan efforts will be key to getting reform on the legislative calendar before the end of the year.

And finally — and this has always been the tricky part — Congress must act. We must turn growing awareness and support for improving the H-2A program into meaningful statutory change. Supporting H-2A regulatory relief actions alone is not enough to keep American farmers in business, and it is not enough for members of Congress to keep their jobs come November. As always, NCAE and American agriculture stand ready to help achieve these commonsense, yet somehow elusive, reforms.

John Hollay became president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) on Jan. 1, 2026. Hollay previously worked for national trade associations serving the fresh produce and dairy industries. Prior to working full time as an agricultural policy advocate, he worked as a senior legislative aide for his home state congressman from Connecticut.