Every year, crops worth billions are left unharvested—not because of weather or pests—but because there aren’t enough workers to pick them. The problem? A severe shortage of farm labor, especially seasonal workers.
According to Duane Simpson, the new President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, “It will take President Trump going to Congress and telling them to fix it. This isn’t something that the members of Congress are going to lead on. There are some great champions in Congress that are leading here but the reality is that the overall membership of the Congress is going to wait to make sure that they don’t get hung out to dry by social media and those types of places. They want to make sure that the President is committed and driving this agenda.”
Experts warn the labor crisis could lead to higher food prices and increased reliance on imported produce.
Lawmakers on both sides have proposed reforms, but so far, no permanent solution is in sight.
In the fields of America, time—and labor—is running out.
Simpson spoke on the labor crisis and other hot topics at the Keystone Co-Op Classic Tuesday morning. Keystone will be holding a similar event in Valparaiso, Indiana on August 19, 2025. Register for that event here.
