FLA-GA-CA Lead H-2A Worker Surge and Beef-Pork Exports on Record Pace
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**With American farmers increasingly relying on foreign ag labor, the Labor Department approved over 317,000 seasonal guestworkers for the fiscal year ending September 30, up 15% from last year.
It was the highest number of jobs ever approved for H-2A guestworker visas.
According to www.agriculture.com, Florida, Georgia, and California were the leading states, together one-third of the U.S. total.
www.agriculture.com/news/business/us-let-in-record-317000-agricultural-guestworkers
**A majority of equipment dealers do not support striking John Deere workers.
According to a recent Farm Equipment Magazine poll, roughly 54% of dealers said they don’t support the strike, while 37% said they did, and 8.5% weren't sure.
Deere workers have rejected two tentative contracts, but a Deere spokesperson says there will not be a third offer.
Dealers that do support the strike accused Deere of prioritizing its shareholders.
**Both U.S. beef and pork exports are on a record pace through September.
According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, beef export volume posted one of the best months on record in September, up 20% from a year ago.
Export VALUE jumped 59%, the second-highest month on record.
For the first three quarters of 2021, beef exports were up 18% from last year.
Pork exports were down 1% from a year ago, but value was up 8%.
For the year, exports were 1% above last year's record pace, while value climbed 9%.
