Ag Labor Review: The changing face of American agriculture

The American agricultural landscape has evolved dramatically over the past several decades.

Where small family farms like my grandfather’s were the norm, there are fewer 30-cow dairies these days. Across agriculture, larger, more technologically advanced operations now drive much of the nation’s food production. Discussion of this shift isn’t a lament for the past or a critique of progress — it’s a recognition of how the industry has adapted to feed a growing population and meet global demand.

How we harvest crops and livestock is changing, too — but not necessarily at the pace people expect. The way most people imagine their food should be produced is often unrealistic or even impossible, given the realities farmers face.

Automation and robotics are increasingly present across commodities, but we are decades away from these technologies replacing human workers, especially in specialty crops like fruits, vegetables and nuts which require unique handling. Diversified farming operations, which grow a variety of crops, would need dozens of specialized solutions — often costing millions of dollars and pricing even moderate-sized farms out of business.

Explaining these challenges and finding meaningful solutions with the help of consumers and those outside agriculture has always been difficult. That challenge is compounded by the reality that congressional districts with a significant agricultural footprint — particularly those that rely on a significant supply of labor — are shrinking. As a result, more members of Congress bring consumer concerns, rather than farmer concerns, to debates on Capitol Hill.

Agriculture has wrestled with this reality for years and has been forced to broaden the conversation when trying to advance legislation that benefits the industry. When it comes to agricultural labor solutions, the legislative math has never been simple. The core constituencies seeking help — farmers and workers — simply do not represent enough votes to move the needle politically. Consider that less than 2% of the population is engaged in agriculture, and upwards of 50% of farm workers are improperly documented or undocumented and therefore unable to vote. Together, these facts have hampered past reform efforts.

So why do those of us who work on agricultural labor issues feel encouraged? Because conversations about solving our agricultural labor crisis — even among politicians increasingly removed from the farm — have shifted dramatically.

Years of efforts by organizations such as the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) and others to educate policymakers about the antiquated, inefficient and ineffective options available to American farmers are beginning to pay off. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle are working together to consider legislative solutions that would give farmers reasonable access to a legal foreign workforce.

Just as important, the tone of these discussions has shifted. Today, agricultural labor is framed as an issue of economic security, food security and national security — not the political flashpoint that stalled progress in years past. This change in perspective is welcome. Much of the credit belongs to the Trump administration, whose commonsense defense of the agricultural labor supply chain has eased much of the political angst that has stymied progress.

Now we need that lightbulb moment to reach leaders in both houses and both parties so they can advance commonsense reforms that deliver affordable, reliable workforce solutions to farmers when and where they need them. And it is up to those of us who have fought for reform for four decades to help illuminate the answers once again.

John Hollay became president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE)) on Jan. 1, 2026. Hollay previously worked for national trade associations serving the fresh produce and dairy industries. Prior to working full time as an agricultural policy advocate, he worked as a senior legislative aide for his home state congressman from Connecticut.