The Biden-Harris administration has announced a pilot program aimed at addressing workforce challenges faced by farmers and ranchers in the agricultural industry. The program, called the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program, aims to enhance the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain by providing support to agricultural companies and farmworkers.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program has up to $65 million in grants available and is being carried out in collaboration with other federal agencies. The program seeks to expand legal migration pathways for workers, including those from Northern Central America, through the Department of Labor's seasonal H-2A visa program. It also aims to address the need for a skilled workforce in agriculture and promote a safe and healthy working environment for farmworkers.
Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, emphasized the importance of addressing the workforce challenges in the agricultural sector. He stated, "Our country is facing growing agriculture workforce challenges that jeopardize our farmers' ability to be competitive, threatens the resiliency, abundance and safety of our food system, and has repercussions on our overall economy."
The pilot program was developed with input from immigration, labor, and agricultural stakeholders. It offers incentives to aid both employees and employers and aims to improve working conditions for farmworkers. The program also seeks to shape the H-2A program and address the problems with the agricultural workforce.
The Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program aligns with the Biden-Harris administration's priorities. It aims to address the present labor needs in agriculture by helping employers compete more effectively for workers. Additionally, it seeks to increase regular avenues for legal migration, particularly from Northern Central America, in line with the administration's commitment to support the growth of legal migration paths.
The program is part of President Biden's investing in America strategy and is supported by the American Rescue Plan. It fulfills a promise made as part of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.
Through this pilot program, the Biden-Harris administration aims to enhance economic and supply chain resilience in the agricultural industry by addressing workforce challenges and promoting safe and legal migration.
