Immigrant workers are integral to the U.S. agriculture industry, comprising over 25% of its workforce. In 2019, approximately 48.9% of all agricultural workers were foreign-born, with 27.3% lacking legal work authorization. This reliance is even more pronounced in crop production, where nearly 57% of workers are immigrants (New American Economy Research Fund).

States with significant agricultural outputs often have higher concentrations of immigrant farmworkers. For example, in California, immigrants constitute more than 80% of the agricultural workforce. Similarly, states like Washington, Florida, and Oregon report that immigrants make up over 60% of their farm laborers (New American Economy Research Fund).

Despite their vital contributions, the agricultural sector faces persistent labor shortages. Factors such as the aging immigrant workforce and a decline in younger individuals entering farm work have intensified these challenges. From 2008 to 2019, the average age of immigrant farmworkers increased by nearly seven years, reaching approximately 42 years old (Food Industry).

To address these labor gaps, the H-2A visa program allows U.S. agricultural employers to hire seasonal foreign workers. However, this program has been criticized for its complexity and cost, limiting its effectiveness. In 2020, while the number of H-2A workers increased, it still did not meet the total labor needs of U.S. farms (New American Economy Research Fund).

Ensuring a stable and legal workforce is essential for the sustainability of U.S. agriculture. Comprehensive immigration reform, including the modernization of guest worker programs and pathways to legal status for existing workers, is crucial to meet the sector’s labor demands and support the nation’s food production.

https://research.newamericaneconomy.org/report/immigration-and-agriculture/

https://www.fwd.us/news/immigrant-farmworkers-and-americas-food-production-5-things-to-know