Calls for congressional action on ag labor reform intensify
Key Takeaways
- •The bipartisan Securing Ag Workforce Act is being promoted as a way to help farms with limited labor.
- •Dairy farms are among the agricultural operations still dealing with workforce shortages.
- •Labor availability affects both routine chores and the overall consistency of farm operations.
- •Calls are increasing for Congress to take up agricultural labor reform.
- •Farm employers say current labor systems do not fit the needs of year-round agricultural work.
By Nicole Heslip
In this Managing for Profit segment, policy advisor Sherry Bunting of the American Dairy Coalition discusses the need for the bipartisan Securing Ag Workforce Act to support farms with limited labor.
The proposal is aimed at addressing labor challenges facing agricultural operations, including dairy farms that continue to struggle with workforce shortages. For producers, the issue is not limited to finding workers for day-to-day chores; labor availability also affects the consistency of farm operations that depend on steady, skilled staffing.
Bunting’s comments come as calls grow for Congress to take up ag labor reform and provide a more reliable labor framework for farmers. The broader policy push underscores why labor remains a recurring issue in agriculture, where employers often say existing systems do not match the demands of year-round farm work.
Source
Brownfield Ag News, September 1, 2026
