Rollins vs. the Fields: USDA Crackdown Threatens Farm Workforce Stability

As the USDA shifts its tone on migrant labor, growers across the country face mounting uncertainty—and shrinking workforces.

The New Message from Washington

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made headlines this week after reaffirming the administration’s “no amnesty” stance on undocumented farmworkers. In comments that quickly drew backlash from ag groups and labor advocates, Rollins emphasized a move toward domestic labor, automation, and the possible use of Medicaid recipients to fill gaps in the ag workforce.

“We have 34 million able-bodied Americans on Medicaid,” Rollins said during a July 8 press briefing. “They should be stepping into these jobs—because we’re done relying on people who are here illegally.”

The message is clear: this administration wants to change the labor makeup of American agriculture. But whether the reality on the ground can support that vision is another story.

Who’s Working the Fields?

According to the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), U.S. farms employed about 1.17 million hired workers in 2023. Nearly 40% of those workers lack legal work authorization—a figure that’s held relatively steady for the past two decades.

Many of these workers are not transient. In fact, USDA data shows that 83% of hired crop workers now reside permanently in the U.S., a shift away from the migratory model of past generations. These workers are often tied to their communities, raising families and participating in local economies, while quietly driving one of the most labor-intensive industries in the country.

Labor Shortages Already Hitting Hard

For growers, the immediate concern is stability. Several dairy operations in New Mexico have reportedly lost over half their labor force following recent enforcement actions, while fruit and vegetable growers in California’s Central Valley and Washington’s Yakima Valley are already expressing anxiety over the possibility of widespread deportations.

Even Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts recently warned that farm raids in the Northeast are triggering widespread uncertainty, especially in the dairy sector, where year-round labor is critical.

Domestic Labor? Easier Said Than Done

While the USDA suggests domestic programs or Medicaid recipients could take up the slack, farm groups say the logistics don’t hold up.

“This idea that unemployed Americans are going to rush into the fields in 110-degree heat during harvest is disconnected from reality,” said one agricultural labor expert. “We’ve seen time and time again that U.S.-born workers just don’t stick with these jobs.”

The H-2A visa program, a temporary guest-worker system, has surged more than seven-fold in the last two decades, underscoring just how reliant agriculture has become on foreign-born labor. Despite this growth, many farmers still describe the program as overly complicated, expensive, and slow to process.

High Costs, High Stakes

Labor costs represent over 40% of production expenses in high-value crops like fruits, vegetables, and nursery plants, according to ERS. Any disruption in labor can throw off harvest schedules, increase food waste, and ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers.

In California, where the harvest window is tight and automation remains limited, many growers say they’re being forced to choose between downsizing, shifting crops, or risking unharvested fruit left to rot on the vine.

Looking Forward: Reform or Retrenchment?

This isn’t the first time immigration has collided with agriculture, but the stakes in 2025 feel higher. Growers are still recovering from years of water shortages, market volatility, and regulatory pressures. Now, the labor rug may be getting pulled out from under them.

Several industry leaders are calling for a bipartisan solution: one that recognizes the role of undocumented workers in agriculture and offers a legal path forward without threatening farm viability.

“Agriculture is not a political talking point—it’s a necessity,” one California almond producer said. “Without a stable workforce, everything else falls apart.”

What’s at Stake for U.S. Agriculture

While the USDA pursues new directions for farm labor, the reality is that American agriculture cannot run without immigrant workers—many of whom have spent years, even decades, sustaining the nation’s food supply.

Growers aren’t asking for shortcuts. They’re asking for predictability, fairness, and a labor system that works—for everyone.