American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall has voiced concerns about the renewed focus on immigration enforcement on farms and ranches. He highlighted the unique challenges faced by the agriculture sector, which relies heavily on labor-intensive work.
Duvall said, "President Trump recently emphasized agriculture faces unique circumstances that warrant a different approach to enforcement practices." He pointed out that farmers depend on workers who are willing to perform demanding tasks necessary for crop and animal care.
He criticized current agricultural workforce programs as inadequate, noting they fail to meet farmers' year-round needs and have become prohibitively expensive. According to Duvall, "domestic workers do not apply for farm jobs, despite aggressive hiring efforts," leading to potential shortages in food supply and increased grocery prices.
Duvall urged Congress to address what he termed a "farm labor crisis" by modernizing outdated systems. He believes this would enable farmers to secure enough workers for planting, harvesting, and livestock care. "America can have both a secure border and a labor program that provides a desperately needed and dependable farm workforce," he concluded.
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