Photo Credit: Talbott Farms

The Farm Labor Bill That's Bringing Agriculture Together

July 19, 2026

The Securing America’s Workforce Act, the first major revision of the H-2A ag worker program since 1986, has been introduced and is widely supported by growers, potentially making positive changes to make the program more workable for employers and employees.

Colorado peach grower and Western Growers board director Bruce Talbott said the impasse between trade groups representing produce growers has been seemingly overcome. Western Growers, which represents 60% of produce growers in the U.S., has been primarily focused on a readjustment in status for the existing ag workforce, and Farm Bureau, representing many eastern growers, have been focused on an improved program. They didn’t come to an agreement until they did under the Saving Agriculture’s Workforce Act. 

“What really is happening, is they’re codifying a lot of things Trump has already done,” Talbott said. “We’ve already adjusted to it. Nobody gets everything they want, no bill is perfect, but I guess there’s 400 different ag organizations that now have signed on. In other words, there’s a consensus among employers in ag.”

The bill seeks to allow year-round workers, making it accessible beyond harvest alone, provide greater certainty around wages, and reduce administrative burdens.

“Control of the adverse affect wage rate and its escalation is now in the system, and I don’t know how it gets codified, but that’s part of the bill so that we don’t have this runaway rachet of wages that get out of the reach of agriculture very quickly,” he said.

The largest change, Talbott said, is a change to the definition of seasonal work by the contract, opening the door for work with year-round mushroom producers, processing, dairies, and greenhouse operations beyond field work or range work alone.

The bill also streamlines the software, putting the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, Homeland Security, and State all on one system. The Saving Agriculture’s Workforce Act was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson. In a statement, Thompson said it is a commonsense step toward protecting domestic food production, supporting family farms and ensuring American families continue to have access to a safe, healthy and affordable food supply.

Source: Western Ag Network

Photo Credit: Talbott Farms