Jan 5, 2026Ag Labor Review: Taking the reins
As the new year begins in our nation’s capital, some things never seem to change. With the election just 11 months away and unfinished business from last year still lingering, 2026 promises to be a busy and challenging time for those involved in labor-intensive production agriculture.
Yet, while Washington, D.C. is known for its constancy, change is inevitable. Longtime readers of this column have benefited from the insights of my predecessor, Michael Marsh, who retired at the end of 2025 as president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE). As I step into this role, I am honored to continue sharing monthly perspectives with you.
Taking the reins at NCAE, I find both the organization and the industry well-positioned for success, even in uncertain times. This resilience stems from the never-wavering efforts of the men and women who farm and those who support our farmers. It also comes from everyday Americans’ enduring affection for farmers, even as most people become further removed from the realities of working the fields, orchards or tending livestock.
I know a little bit about this affection from afar, since I didn’t grow up in the fields or orchards like so many of my colleagues. I grew up in a yacht club — in Connecticut, no less!
So, what brought me to this position? My father. Robin Hollay grew up on a small, diversified farm in Stafford, Connecticut. My uncle Rudy still lives there today on what remains of the multi-generational operation that ultimately fell victim to time and the pressures of maintaining a small family farm.
For nearly two decades in public policy — from the halls of Congress to associations advocating for dairy and produce — I’ve never forgotten that family farm or the lessons it taught me about fighting to protect an industry and a way of life that is seemingly always teetering on the brink.
This year, however, the winds of change seem to favor NCAE and its members. Why? Because
we have an administration that believes American agriculture is second to none — and with the right
policies, we cannot just survive but instead thrive.
Led by Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the administration has begun modernizing the H-2A visa program to better meet the needs of today’s American farmers. The release of an Interim Final Rule in October marked the most significant positive reform in the program’s long history.
The Department of Labor just concluded public comments in early December on that rule, and NCAE shared both its praise for the underlying effort and suggestions we believe will ensure the regulation achieves its intended effect: providing some $17.3 billion in relief over 10 years to American farmers, and ultimately, American consumers. NCAE is eager to see the result of any potential changes and potential improvements that DOL includes in the final rule.
But if history has taught us anything, regulatory relief can be fleeting. To secure the long-term
future of American agriculture, Congress must follow the Trump administration’s lead and act.
Fortunately, Congress does not have to start from scratch. A bipartisan group of members has already reached agreement on key reforms that NCAE and others have championed for decades. This work will soon be introduced as legislation by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson.
Thompson will need our support to share why these changes matter and why family farms from Connecticut to Colorado deserve to be saved.
So, as we approach the 40th anniversary of Congress’s last major overhaul of the H-2A program, I offer both a promise and a request: NCAE stands ready to work with both parties to advance meaningful reform, ensuring employers have access to an affordable, accessible, reliable and predictable program. Just don’t make us wait another year — or another 40. American agriculture won’t survive that long.
— 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.
