Today, Congressman John Moolenaar of Michigan engaged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in a budget hearing, where he secured a commitment from Rollins to work on a long-term solution regarding the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). The current formulation of AEWR requires Michigan farmers to pay high wages for H-2A migrant farm workers, posing challenges to their financial sustainability.
Moolenaar emphasized the importance of H-2A employees for Michigan farmers who rely on them for growing and harvesting essential food supplies. He stated, “Michigan farmers utilize H-2A employees to grow and harvest the food we rely on every day. Unfortunately federal regulations require family farmers who take advantage of the program to take on unsustainable labor costs, making it difficult to make ends meet. I am grateful Secretary Rollins recognizes this and committed today to working with Congress and the Department of Labor to find a long-term solution to the AEWR calculation which will allow Michigan farmers to thrive.”
Earlier this year, Moolenaar introduced bipartisan legislation known as the Supporting Farm Operations Act. This act aims to revert AEWR back to 2023 levels and maintain that rate until the end of 2026. Currently, Michigan farmers participating in this program are required to pay $18.15 per hour for H-2A employees along with housing and transportation expenses.
The interaction between Moolenaar and Secretary Rollins can be accessed online.
