By Clint Thompson
H-2A reform has long been in need of a major haul; 40 years, in fact. That’s how long it’s been since the agricultural labor program has experienced change. Now is as good of a time as any for it to happen, says Bob Redding, who works for the Redding Firm and serves as a lobbyist for agricultural groups in Washington D.C.
Redding attended the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in July and provided an update on H-2A, in particular, the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026. It was introduced by U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15). The legislation would improve accessibility and cost of agricultural labor through the program.
“We’ve had some ag labor lobbyists over the years that have said, ‘Next year.’ Well, this is the year,” Redding said. “We’ve got a great bill that agriculture, production agriculture is solid behind. It’s time to do it, and it is supported by both Republicans and Democrats in the House. This is an opportunity to check the box, get this behind us, and have a real business pathway for these growers out here that are dependent on H2A, and which has been, up and down as far as reform.
“We have presidents come in and do regulatory reform. The next administration comes in, and they flip it back. President Trump’s given us an opportunity here to get it right, and we need to get it right.”
Program Specifics
The H-2A program allows U.S. employers or U.S. agents who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs.
The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 expands access to the program for year-round operations, controls costs to restore certainty to balance sheets, and streamlines the interactions of the government agencies administering the program.