Proposed Changes to H-2A Program Would Be Devastating

Proposed Changes to H-2A Program Would Be Devastating

The Department of Labor has extended the deadline to comment on their proposed rules to the H-2A program until June 1st. If these changes went into place it would be very detrimental to the West’s sheep operations who utilize sheep herders through the H-2A program.
Cindy Siddoway whose family’s operates a sixth-generation sheep operation in Southern Idaho, shares how the proposed wage increases could affect sheep producers.
Siddoway: “The wage increase alone would be devastating. They want a 60 percent increase for next year. So the wage increase is a big hit. Really a bit hit because not only do our men receive their wage, but we pay for all their food, all their travel, all their clothes and their supplies related to work; so at the end of the month they have all their wages — unless they’ve bought personal things. So it is a good way for them to save their money, because we do cover all of their expenses. So when you calculate the increase in the wage upon everything else that we buy — it is phenomenal — it just really increases a lot.”
There have been generations of same family sheep herders on the Siddoway Sheep Company as she continues
Siddoway: “We have men that have worked for us for 23 years on H2-A contracts. We have one family that is on their third generation: we have had the grandfather, the son and now we have the grandson.”
Previous ReportReverse Trade Mission Brings International U.S. Beef Customers to Idaho
Next ReportWashington's Wolf Advisory Group Update