Trump’s Deportation Plans Could Deepen U.S. Farm Labor Crisis, Industry Warns
Source: DairyNews.today
President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation of undocumented immigrants could exacerbate labor shortages in U.S. agriculture, a sector already under strain from workforce deficits and potential trade disruptions, according to Landus CEO Matt Carstens.
Carstens, who heads Iowa’s largest farm cooperative, emphasized the critical role of immigrant labor in agriculture, warning that deportations could severely impact farming operations nationwide. “It’s still a very human-intensive business that we’re in,” Carstens said during an interview with Bloomberg Television.
Labor Shortages Loom
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that nearly half of hired crop farmworkers lack legal immigration status. Regions like California, which heavily depend on seasonal labor for fruit, nut, and vegetable production, are particularly vulnerable.
The Midwest, dominated by grain and soybean farming, also relies on programs such as the H-2A visa system, which permits temporary agricultural workers to meet labor needs. A widespread deportation policy could disrupt this system and heighten labor shortages in a region already facing population declines and an aging farming workforce.
Trade Risks Add Pressure
The potential deportations come as U.S. farmers navigate global trade challenges. Carstens pointed to the lingering effects of the U.S.-China trade war during Trump’s previous term, which significantly reduced agricultural exports, particularly soybeans.
“When you lose volume like we have to China, that has a long-term ripple effect, and it’s hard to recover from,” Carstens said, noting that competition from countries like Brazil has intensified, threatening U.S. dominance in global crop exports.
Though Trump’s $28 billion farm aid program mitigated some trade war losses, American farmers continue to face heightened competition and trade uncertainties. “South America is improving yields, planting more acres, and becoming a formidable competitor,” Carstens added.
A Call for Caution
Farmers, who largely supported Trump in the recent election, are urging the new administration to carefully consider the impact of its policies on the agricultural sector.
“Rural communities backed Trump, remembering the aid he provided during the trade war,” Carstens noted. “But immigration and trade policies need to align with the realities of modern farming to safeguard U.S. agriculture’s future.”
The sector’s reliance on immigrant labor and export markets underscores the delicate balance policymakers must navigate to sustain the industry while addressing broader political goals.
Labor Shortages Loom
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that nearly half of hired crop farmworkers lack legal immigration status. Regions like California, which heavily depend on seasonal labor for fruit, nut, and vegetable production, are particularly vulnerable.
The Midwest, dominated by grain and soybean farming, also relies on programs such as the H-2A visa system, which permits temporary agricultural workers to meet labor needs. A widespread deportation policy could disrupt this system and heighten labor shortages in a region already facing population declines and an aging farming workforce.
Trade Risks Add Pressure
The potential deportations come as U.S. farmers navigate global trade challenges. Carstens pointed to the lingering effects of the U.S.-China trade war during Trump’s previous term, which significantly reduced agricultural exports, particularly soybeans.
“When you lose volume like we have to China, that has a long-term ripple effect, and it’s hard to recover from,” Carstens said, noting that competition from countries like Brazil has intensified, threatening U.S. dominance in global crop exports.
Though Trump’s $28 billion farm aid program mitigated some trade war losses, American farmers continue to face heightened competition and trade uncertainties. “South America is improving yields, planting more acres, and becoming a formidable competitor,” Carstens added.
A Call for Caution
Farmers, who largely supported Trump in the recent election, are urging the new administration to carefully consider the impact of its policies on the agricultural sector.
“Rural communities backed Trump, remembering the aid he provided during the trade war,” Carstens noted. “But immigration and trade policies need to align with the realities of modern farming to safeguard U.S. agriculture’s future.”
The sector’s reliance on immigrant labor and export markets underscores the delicate balance policymakers must navigate to sustain the industry while addressing broader political goals.
