Texas A&M Says H-2A Misses Livestock Labor Needs as Animal Agriculture Gets 4.7% of Workers
Updated
Updated · RFD-TV · Jun 26
Texas A&M Says H-2A Misses Livestock Labor Needs as Animal Agriculture Gets 4.7% of Workers
1 articles · Updated · RFD-TV · Jun 26
Summary
Animal agriculture accounted for just 4.7% of H-2A employment in 2024, even as Texas A&M says cattle and dairy farms need a labor system better suited to year-round work.
More than 350,000 H-2A workers were certified in 2024—more than double 2015 levels—but over 80% went to crop production, underscoring the program’s weak fit for livestock operations.
A Texas survey found 81% of beef cattle producers and 71% of dairy farmers struggled with hiring, turnover, training and retention.
Key obstacles include seasonal work limits, a 35-hour weekly guarantee, wage rules, housing and transportation costs, and narrow job-duty flexibility—constraints that clash with variable, year-round animal care.
Texas A&M researcher Grace Melo said producers would benefit from year-round eligibility, faster applications and broader job-duty rules, pointing to pressure for a more flexible guestworker policy.