Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector is reporting sharp labor shortages as federal immigration enforcement tightened through the summer of 2025, reversing earlier guidance that farm groups say had brought some stability. From June to August, federal agencies renewed worksite actions targeting farms and ranches, and by August 12 local reports described crops left unpicked and animal care stretched thin as workers avoided travel or left jobs. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) warned the trend threatens food supply and farm viability, pressing Congress to update the H‑2A program on a bipartisan basis.
The strain arrives amid long‑running dependence on immigrant labor. Roughly 68% of the U.S. agricultural workforce is foreign‑born, and Pennsylvania farms rely on a mix of H‑2A seasonal workers, permanent residents, and undocumented workers. Employers say recruitment has grown harder as fear of raids spreads across crews, affecting both authorized and unauthorized staff. Some dairy and mushroom operations, which run year‑round, report that the seasonal design of H‑2A does not match their daily labor needs, deepening the gap.
PFB President Chris Hoffman said members need steady, legal ways to hire and keep their crews. He cautioned that “any disruption to their ability to work threatens the availability and affordability of food for every American family.” VisaVerge.com reports that growers across the state describe the current H‑2A process as slow and costly even after federal changes meant to protect workers.
Policy shifts and industry warnings
The most immediate change is enforcement. From June through August, the federal government rescinded earlier guidance and signaled a tougher posture on agricultural worksites. Employers report higher anxiety on farms, rising turnover, and canceled shifts as workers choose safer alternatives. Some producers delayed planting or shortened harvests to reduce risk if labor falls through at critical times.
At the same time, in December 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a final rule strengthening H‑2A worker protections. The rule requires employers to share clearer information on wages, hours, housing, and transportation, and to commit to fair labor practices. Worker advocates welcomed these steps and have expanded outreach, clinics, and trainings so H‑2A workers receive written contracts and know their rights.
However, for many employers the program remains cumbersome and expensive, with timelines that don’t match urgent needs during peak harvest. Pennsylvania officials are watching, but no major state initiatives have been announced since the federal enforcement shift. Farmworker groups have stepped into the gap, helping crews understand new rules and find legal help in rural areas, where services are scarce.
Key takeaway: stronger worker protections were implemented in December 2024, but tougher enforcement in mid‑2025 has renewed fear and disrupted hiring—leaving employers and workers caught between compliance requirements and labor shortages.
Economic stakes and farm‑level impact
Agriculture supports more than 593,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and contributes about $132.5 billion each year to the state economy. While farm output has climbed thanks to technology and efficiency, job growth has lagged. In crop production specifically, employment fell by 21% from 2012–2022, a decline that technology has not fully offset during labor peaks.
Policy experts warn the current mix—tighter enforcement, limited visa flexibility, and persistent labor shortages—risks worsening that decline and pushing smaller farms over the edge.
On the ground, impacts are tangible and immediate:
- A vegetable grower who relied on a stable crew now faces half‑staffed harvest days as workers stay home when rumors of raids spread.
- A dairy that needs daily milking can’t rely on a seasonal visa.
- Families of mixed status choose to move or change jobs to reduce risk, even if it means lower pay.
These choices ripple through schools, farm towns, and the state’s food supply chain.
Proposed fixes from producers and advocates include:
- Expanding H‑2A to cover year‑round jobs like dairy and mushrooms
- Simplifying filings and setting faster timelines
- Preserving the worker protections added in December 2024
They argue predictable hiring paired with strong oversight can protect both crews and businesses.
What employers and workers should know now
- Enforcement climate (June–August 2025): Heightened worksite actions are raising anxiety and turnover across farms and ranches. Employers are preparing for possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and reviewing compliance plans.
- H‑2A worker protections (effective from December 2024): Employers must provide clear, written terms on pay, hours, housing, and transport. Workers should receive contracts before work starts. Outreach groups are active across rural counties to explain rights and complaint options.
H‑2A process basics (2025)
- Employer files a detailed job offer that includes wages, hours, housing, and transportation assurances, and agrees to follow H‑2A rules.
- Employer first recruits U.S. workers; if positions remain open, the employer seeks H‑2A labor through federal filings.
- Workers receive written contracts with terms and protections before employment begins.
- Federal and state inspections can occur; violations can bring penalties or loss of future H‑2A eligibility.
- Advocacy groups offer training, legal information, and practical help, especially in remote areas.
To understand program basics and worker protections, see the official USCIS page on H‑2A Temporary Agricultural Workers: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2a-temporary-agricultural-workers.
Common H‑2A filings employers should expect
- Form I-129 (USCIS petition for H‑2A workers): https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
- ETA-9142A (DOL temporary labor certification): https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/ETA-9142A.pdf
- ETA-790A (State Workforce Agency job order): https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/ETA-790A.pdf
Advocates recommend extra attention to housing, transport, and wage documentation under the December 2024 rule. Clear records help during audits and reassure workers at a time when fear can drive departures.
Looking ahead: risks and adaptations
PFB and allied groups continue to press Congress for a bipartisan H‑2A overhaul. As of mid‑August 2025, no broad federal bill has passed.
If enforcement stays tight while visa reforms stall, analysts expect:
- Deeper labor shortages
- Higher food prices
- Larger crop losses across Pennsylvania and beyond
That scenario would test processors, retailers, and consumers, not just farm owners.
For now, farms are adapting where they can:
- Slicing plantings to match smaller teams
- Cross‑training crews to cover gaps
- Raising wages to attract local workers
But many tasks—like hand‑picking specialty crops—still depend on experienced crews that are largely foreign‑born. Without legal paths that meet year‑round demand, farm leaders say the sector’s gains in efficiency won’t prevent more lost harvests.
Worker groups stress the human side. Families worry about school pickups and grocery runs if police stops could lead to status checks. Some long‑time farmhands consider leaving the fields for factory or construction jobs that feel safer under the current climate. That churn adds training costs for employers and drains skills from teams that keep barns and fields running.
Closing thought: Pennsylvania’s debate centers on balance—strong, fair rules that protect workers, steady hiring tools matched to farm calendars, and an enforcement approach that keeps food moving from field to table. Whether Congress can deliver that balance will shape the next harvest—and the ones after it.
This Article in a Nutshell
Heightened mid‑2025 enforcement and December 2024 H‑2A protections collided in Pennsylvania, leaving farms shortstaffed, harvests delayed, and leaders urging bipartisan H‑2A reform to match year‑round labor needs while preserving worker safeguards.
