Washington, D.C. (December 22, 2022) – “NCFC is profoundly disappointed that the Senate chose not to vote on an amendment that would have added the Affordable and Secure Food Act to the omnibus funding bill. This is a lost opportunity for Congress to have addressed the labor crisis in agriculture that threatens the economic survival of farms and ranches across the country. Producers will enter the new year facing a continued shortage of skilled workers combined with spiraling wage costs in the H-2A program. This failure to act will have long-term consequences that will impact agricultural policy for years to come.
“At the same time, we would like to recognize the tremendous leadership shown on this issue by members of Congress who understand the gravity of the situation and who have had the political courage to tackle this issue head-on, including Senator Michael Bennet, Congressman Dan Newhouse, and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. We look forward to working with them and others in the coming Congress to find a path forward on ag labor reform.”
About NCFC
Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America’s farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which are in turn composed of nearly 2,000 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also include 26 state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.
America’s farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing.
