Yuma agriculture labor shortage leading to increased imports
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — The rise in agricultural imports is making it harder for U.S. farmers to compete.
For decades, the U.S. has exported more goods than it imported, but that trend is shifting fast and it is raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the country’s agriculture.
Yuma farmer and president of the Arizona Farm Bureau John Boelts said some of that shift is due to ongoing labor shortages.
“We’re dramatically short of workers, so more products are being grown in Mexico and other places for the U.S. market because there are people there available to work in larger numbers,” he said.
Right now, imports are surpassing exports according to USDA data.
From 2013 to 2023, U.S. agricultural exports increased by 2.1% annually, while imports grew by 5.8%, leading to a negative trade balance in three of the last 10 fiscal years.
Boelts believes there needs to be more policies that will help sustain America’s agriculture.
“I think the most important thing consumers need to know is that public policy matters. “We haven’t allowed legal immigration for folks to work in agriculture and it’s really hurting our country,” he said.
Farmers in Yuma are facing high costs to bring in labor through the H-2A visa program.
In 2023, over 300,000 H-2A visas were issued, and that number is expected to rise in the coming years. Unfortunately, Boelts said these increased labor costs are being passed on to consumers in the form of higher food prices.
In turn, it impacts what consumers buy. Instead of buying American produce they opt for affordable produce that’s imported.
“It’s imperative that the U.S. consumers understand their choice to buy U.S. matters,” said Boelts.
With potential tariffs looming between trading partners that can be another hit to farmers and consumers.
“Roughly about 10% of what we grow in Yuma gets exported to Canada,” said Boelts.
He’s optimistic things will work out between Canada and Mexico.
“Tariffs are not good for agriculture or for U.S. consumers, but having our borders be places of legal commerce is imperative. There’s organized crime activity. It would be wonderful if we could all agree that having our borders be places of legal commerce and eliminate or minimize the lawlessness,” Boelts said.
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