US Farms Increasingly Rely on Contract Workers Amid Climate Challenges

A growing number of US farms are turning to contract labor, exposing these workers to severe climate conditions without adequate protections.

US agricultural census data reveals a rising trend in farms employing contract workers, many of whom face harsh working conditions and are vulnerable to climate extremes.
Contract workers, often migrants, are crucial for tasks like hand-weeding crops but lack strong protections against labor abuses and climate-related health risks.
Advocates express concern over the lack of federal heat exposure regulations for farm workers, leaving many at risk during extreme weather conditions.
Efforts to reform the H-2A visa program and protect migrant workers face opposition, even as the demand for such labor increases in sectors requiring manual work.
Farmers face dilemmas between hiring more skilled contract laborers year-round or mechanizing operations, amidst a declining interest from domestic workers in agricultural jobs.