b'The H-2A program currently supplies For the second no hard caps on participation. only10percentofthenecessaryagriculturalworkforce,inpart time in as many Additionally, we are working to sta-because it operates in a cumbersome sessions of bilize the current improperly docu-and unresponsive manner. In partic- Congress, the U.S. mentedworkforcethroughapro-ular,theAdverseEffectWageRate gramtoincentivizeworkersto(AEWR) that is required for the H-2A House passed the remain in American agriculture. program has skyrocketed recently by Farm Workforceover20percentincertainstates. Modernization One of the greatest challenges facingThisunworkablestructuredrives U.S. agriculture is the labor shortageemployersawayfromtheprogram Act, designed to that impacts growers and jeopardizesandharmsinvestmentinrural reform the broken their future. The Houses bipartisanAmerica that would otherwise occur.foreign agriculture passageoftheFarmWorkforceIn order to allow the labor force to ModernizationActsendsastrongexpandandcontractbasedupon labor program messagethatthetimetoaddressagriculturesproductionneeds,we and allow agricul- agricultural labor reform is now, andare advocating for the creation of a tural workers to we will continue to urge the Senatenewguestworkerprogramthat to do whats right for food producersincludes a predictable market-based earn legal status. and the workers upon which manywage rate, responsive visa terms, and rely. MAY/JUNE 2021 POTATO GROWER 11'