Five State Coalition Demands Transparency on USDA’s Farm Wage Rate Determination

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) and the NC Sweetpotato Commission (NCSC) have assembled a five state, thirty organization coalition* comprised of two national organizations, representing a diverse collection of crops including eight advocacy groups, with the unified mission of filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The purpose of the request is to obtain detailed information about how the USDA calculates the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which determines minimum wages under the H-2A agricultural guest-worker program.

Backing this request is forthcoming research by Dr. Blake Brown, Hugh C Kiger Professor Emeritus, NC State University, which indicates that the AEWR calculations have deleterious consequences for farmers, consumers and American workers. This research will be available in mid-June.

Additionally, data reflects that due to higher prices, American consumers are eating less fruits and vegetables, leading to increased healthcare costs because of a poorly balanced diet. Furthermore, the USDA provided data in 2023 that our nation is now a net importer of food. While this contributes to several problems for our country, most alarmingly leaves the US even more vulnerable and exposed when it comes to our national security.

“The sharp increase in AEWR rates is putting North Carolina sweet potato farms – and the entire state’s agricultural economy – at risk,” said Michelle Grainger, executive director of NCSC. “Sweet potatoes are a labor-intensive crop and due to skin sensitivity, sweet potatoes must be hand harvested. As labor costs surge beyond inflation, many growers are facing reduced access to essential workers, threatening a substantial reduction in acres produced, timely harvests and ultimately leading to significant revenue losses. If left unaddressed, this wage pressure could push more farms out of business, weaken our rural communities and undermine the sustainability of North Carolina’s vital produce sector while also further distancing consumers from the producers and their healthy crops that aid in an affordable and nutritionally balanced diet.”

The coalition warns that the USDA’s current AEWR methodology contributes to a self-compounding wage inflation cycle, undermining the economic viability of US agriculture. This poses growing risks to national food security, increases American dependence on imported food and threatens the stability of rural communities across the country.

“The current trajectory of AEWR increases is simply unsustainable for specialty crop growers in Georgia and across the Southeast,” said Chris Butts, executive vice president of GFVGA. “Without immediate legislative reform and greater transparency in how these wage rates are set, we risk losing farms, jobs and our ability to feed the nation. We must act now to ensure a fair, data-driven wage process that protects both our farmworkers and the future of US agriculture.”

Each participating organization is engaging its stakeholders, press contacts and state congressional delegations to advocate for an accountable, fair and economically sustainable wage-setting process that promotes the sustainability and future of American agriculture.

The coalition is encouraging organizations and stakeholders who are facing similar undue burdens from rapidly rising AEWR rates to consider sharing their experiences and concerns with local and state representatives. A unified understanding of the impact across agricultural sectors will help inform a more balanced and transparent wage-setting process, one that supports both the fair treatment of farmworkers and the continued viability of US farms. Addressing this issue collaboratively is essential to sustaining rural economies, safeguarding national food security and ensuring the long-term health of American agriculture.

*The 30 organizations who have formed the coalition are as follows:

1. Alabama Farmers Federation
2. Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
3. Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association
4. Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association
5. Georgia Agribusiness Council
6. Georgia Berry Exchange
7. Georgia Farm Bureau
8. Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
9. Georgia Green Industry Association
10. Georgia Peach Council
11. Georgia Pecan Growers Association
12. Georgia Watermelon Association
13. International Fresh Produce Association
14. National Council of Agricultural Employers
15. North Carolina Apple Growers Association
16. North Carolina Chamber
17. North Carolina Christmas Tree Association
18. North Carolina Farm Bureau
19. North Carolina Growers Association
20. North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association
21. North Carolina Strawberry Association
22. North Carolina Sweet potato Commission
23. North Carolina Tomato Growers Association
24. North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association
25. North Carolina Watermelon Association
26. Michigan Asparagus Association
27. South Carolina Farm Bureau
28. South Carolina Peach Council
29. South Carolina Small Fruit Growers Association
30. Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina

 *Dr. Brown’s work is funded by the NC Chamber & numerous grower organizations.