Farm Workforce Modernization Act in 2026
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Finding enough labor to get the work done on the farm and navigating the regulations for the workforce have become increasingly troublesome in recent years.
Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy for the National Farmers Union, says reform is more important now than ever …
STRANZ … “With all of the added emphasis on the agricultural workforce in the last year and the extra stresses that have been put on the sector because of a lot of the administrations actions, it’s even more important to make progress on workforce reform.”
For example, Stranz says more adjustments to the H-2A program, or probably better yet …
STRANZ … “Doing some more broad reaching and far-reaching reforms through the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, now’s the time to make bipartisan progress. And with the bills that have been out there, or the bill that’s been out there for quite a long time now, now might be the opportunity that we’ve been waiting for.”
Especially, Stranz says given the recent improvements to
border security …
STRANZ … “It may well be that with the seeming improvements to border security concerns, paired with the greater emphasis we’ve all had on the need for a secure and reliable farm workforce, that adds up to a better shot for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to move forward. And I think that reaches across both parties and it could be an opportunity to make some real headway in 2026.”
That is Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy at the National Farmers Union.
