Myths surround H-2A visa farmworker program

Two myths in agricultural labor continue to persist: H-2A visa labor is cheap and there are enough Americans to cover the needs of U.S. farms.

The H-2A visa program, which provides legal working status to agricultural workers from abroad on a temporary basis, is a federal program administered by individual states. It is designed to be a last resort.

The program requires farmers and ranchers to prove there are no local workers to fill available jobs in agriculture. First, Employers must advertise for a local workforce for a minimum of 60 days before the first day of reporting for work. If no su...