Farmers call for long-term labor reform as Thanksgiving food production faces worker shortages – Brownfield Ag News

Report on U.S. Agricultural Labor Shortages and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Threat to Sustainable Food Systems

A recent report concerning food production in the United States highlights a critical labor shortage crisis within the agricultural sector. This issue poses a significant threat to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to food security, economic stability, and decent work. The stability of the food supply chain is contingent upon a reliable workforce, and current challenges require long-term reform to ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Economic Viability, Food Security, and Responsible Production (SDG 2, SDG 8, SDG 12)

The agricultural labor shortage directly impacts the nation’s ability to meet targets for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by jeopardizing food security. As noted by third-generation farmer Linda Pryor, a lack of workers to harvest crops leads directly to food waste, undermining efforts to build sustainable food systems. This challenge is compounded by economic pressures that threaten SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

• Farmers face rising operational costs, especially for labor, that are not matched by the prices they receive for their products.
• This economic instability threatens the viability of farming operations, which are crucial components of rural economies.
• The potential for large-scale crop waste due to insufficient labor runs counter to the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

The Call for Labor Reform and Decent Work (SDG 8, SDG 10)

Stakeholders are calling for comprehensive, long-term labor reform that provides stability for both farmers and farmworkers, a key component of SDG 8. The current reliance on political cycles for labor policy creates uncertainty and hinders progress. A stable policy framework is necessary to ensure productive employment and decent work for all in the agricultural sector.

The heavy dependence on the H-2A guest worker program underscores challenges related to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The system’s complexities and the presence of undocumented workers highlight vulnerabilities within the workforce that must be addressed to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all laborers, regardless of origin.

Key Findings from the Thanksgiving Impact Report

The “Grow it Here” organization’s Thanksgiving impact report quantifies the labor crisis, providing data that underscores the urgency of addressing these challenges in line with the SDGs.

1. High Labor Costs: Labor now constitutes approximately 60 percent of all operational costs in apple production, impacting the economic sustainability (SDG 8) of farms and potentially affecting food affordability (SDG 2).
2. Dependence on H-2A Program: Sixty percent of potato growers report using H-2A labor, indicating a systemic reliance on guest worker programs to maintain food production levels (SDG 2, SDG 8).
3. Vulnerable Workforce: An estimated 50 percent of frontline staff in meat and poultry processing are undocumented, pointing to a significant population of workers in precarious employment situations, a direct concern for SDG 8 (Decent Work).

Regulatory Context and Worker Protections (SDG 8)

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has acknowledged the labor crisis, issuing an interim rule on the H-2A program aimed at creating a more stable and legal workforce. The agency’s rationale—that persistent shortages harm U.S. competitiveness, food production, and consumer prices—aligns with the broader economic and food security objectives of the SDGs.

However, this rule faces legal challenges from groups like the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). The UFW lawsuit argues that the rule’s methodology for determining wages could undercut the pay of domestic agricultural workers. This legal action highlights the critical tension within SDG 8, emphasizing the need to balance economic growth with the protection of labor rights and the provision of decent work and fair wages for all workers.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on agricultural labor shortages and the need for reform connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting the intricate links between labor, food security, economic stability, and inequality within the agricultural sector.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on the production of food (“Thanksgiving dinner grown in America”). It warns that labor shortages threaten food production, which could lead to food waste (“all of those crops would go to waste”) and impact food availability and prices for consumers.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This is the central theme of the article. It discusses the need for a “stable agricultural workforce,” fair wages, and “long-term labor reform.” The challenges faced by farmers due to rising labor costs (“labor now accounts for about 60 percent of all operational costs in apple production”) and the reliance on guest worker programs (H-2A) are key issues related to economic sustainability and decent work.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article touches upon inequalities related to the status and rights of different groups of workers. The mention of undocumented workers (“half of the frontline staff in meat and poultry processing are undocumented”) and the legal dispute over the H-2A program’s wage determination highlight disparities in pay and legal protection among agricultural laborers.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article implies a connection to this goal by discussing the risk of food loss at the production stage. The farmer’s statement that crops would “go to waste” without a reliable workforce points directly to inefficiencies in the food supply chain, a key concern of SDG 12.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 2.4 (under SDG 2): “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production…” The article’s call for a “stable agricultural workforce” and “long-term reform” is essential for maintaining sustainable and resilient food production systems in the U.S. The disruption caused by labor shortages directly threatens this target.
• Target 8.5 (under SDG 8): “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.” The debate over farmworker wages, the lawsuit filed by the United Farm Workers of America, and the need for stability for both farmers and farmworkers are directly related to achieving decent work and fair pay in the agricultural sector.
• Target 8.8 (under SDG 8): “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers…” The article’s focus on the H-2A guest worker program and the presence of undocumented workers highlights the vulnerability of these groups and the importance of policies that protect their labor rights and provide a secure working environment.
• Target 10.7 (under SDG 10): “Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.” The entire discussion around the H-2A guest worker program, the need for reform, and the legal challenges to its rules is a direct reflection of the challenges in implementing well-managed migration policies for agricultural labor.
• Target 12.3 (under SDG 12): “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.” The farmer’s warning that crops “would go to waste” without sufficient labor to harvest them directly points to the risk of food losses along the production chain, which this target aims to reduce.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the status and progress related to the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 8.5 & 8.8: The article mentions the “change in methodology used to determine farmworker wages.” The actual wage levels and the methodology for setting them serve as a direct indicator of progress towards equal pay and decent work.
• Indicator for Target 8.8 & 10.7: The number of H-2A positions certified by the Department of Labor (“DOL certified 384,900 H-2A positions in FY 2024”) is a specific indicator of the scale of and reliance on guest worker programs.
• Indicator for Target 8.8 & 10.7: The proportion of undocumented workers in the sector (“as much as half of the frontline staff in meat and poultry processing are undocumented”) is a critical indicator of the informality and vulnerability within the agricultural workforce.
• Indicator for Target 8.5: The percentage of operational costs attributed to labor (“labor now accounts for about 60 percent of all operational costs in apple production”) is an economic indicator reflecting the financial pressures on farm viability and the economic context of farm labor.
• Indicator for Target 12.3: While not quantified, the risk of crops going “to waste” due to labor shortages is a qualitative indicator of potential food loss at the production level. Measuring actual harvest completion rates versus potential yield could provide a quantitative measure.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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