California Farm Bureau Warns Immigration Gaps Could Cripple State Agriculture

Immigrant Labor: California’s Field Foundation

California farms employ over 800,000 hired workers—a third of all U.S. farm labor—even though nearly half are undocumented, according to the University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics and USDA ERS. 

In the 2020–22 period, 42% of crop farmworkers nationwide were unauthorized, with the remaining workforce composed of U.S.- born (32%), naturalized citizens (7%), and other authorized immigrants (19%). 

This underscores how deeply California’s $51 billion FVH (fruit, vegetable, horticulture) sector relies on immigrant labor.

Chronic Shortages Despite Efforts

Despite rising wages, enhanced benefits, increased mechanization, and use of H‑2A visas, the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF) and UC Davis report that over 56% of growers experienced employee shortages, with 70% describing worsening conditions since 2017. Though farms ramp up wages and have begun deploying harvest technologies, these strategies alone cannot meet the persistent labor deficit.

Enforcement Fears Disrupting Harvests

Recent immigration enforcement actions have led to profound disruptions. In early 2025, Border Patrol raids in Ventura County caused reports of nearly half of farmworkers refusing to work, while some Kern County schools saw 20%+ attendance declines as families stayed home in fear . While these reports vary in scale, the California Farm Bureau stated such enforcement “pulls the foundation out from under a house,” destabilizing rural communities and food supply chains.

Economic Stakes Are Monumental

California’s agricultural productivity is paramount—its crops account for over 13% of U.S. farm sales, including $22 billion in fruits and nuts. If undocumented workers were removed, the Bay Area Council Economic Institute cautions that California could lose as much as $275 billion in economic output, with food processing, transportation, and consumer markets facing cascading losses.

H‑2A: Growing but Limited

H‑2A guest worker certifications have expanded more than sevenfold over 18 years, per USDA ERS. Yet the reality in California remains modest, with H‑2A participants covering less than 5% of farm labor, and approximately 6% of growers reporting use of the program—hampered by cost, complexity, and inflexibility. Meanwhile, farmer production costs rise: in 2022, agricultural wages in California averaged $18.65/hour, compared to $17.51 in 2021.

Farm Bureau’s Reform Agenda

Representing more than 26,000 farm families, CFBF continues to advocate for bipartisan reform. It supports modernizing the H‑2A program to allow more flexible, year-round farm work and portability; establishing a legal pathway for experienced undocumented workers through the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA); and opposing indiscriminate immigration enforcement that disrupts field operations.

Looking Ahead: Reform or Risk

California’s agriculture faces a pivotal crossroads. As automation grows, manual labor remains crucial for delicate produce. Absent comprehensive immigration reform that balances stability, fairness, and enforcement, harvest losses may threaten not just farmers, but the very food security of the nation.