Farm labor continues to be an issue, as trends like a generational shift translated into different job expectations and more global competition. Consider these five issues affecting your ability to find qualified workers:
 
1. Labor shortages are hitting ag hard
Concerns about labor shortages in the U.S. continue to grow in 2021. The June Ag Barometer from Purdue University found nearly two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they either had “some” or “a lot of difficulty” hiring adequate labor, compared to 30% in 2020. Farm Journal reported on the shortage, showing restaurants and food retail, lumber and rural non-farm employment are also affected.
 
 
2. But farm labor was a struggle before COVID-19
Two years ago, Farm Journal’s 2019 Ag Labor Study found both employers and employees were struggling. From the employer perspective, trends like a generational shift translated into different job expectations and more global competition, and the skills required were evolving due to automation and technology updates. From the employee perspective, no paid time off or health insurance was the norm. Even so, the study also found that dairy producers in particular were paying more than they ever had before.
 
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