U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) announced on Mar. 27 the introduction of the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act, a bill designed to stabilize agricultural labor costs by codifying a recent initiative from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The proposed legislation seeks to give farmers more certainty when planning for future growing seasons by providing clarity on labor expenses, an issue that has become increasingly important as producers face unpredictable wage rates.
“As labor costs continue to climb, our nation’s farmers and ranchers deserve to know the price tag associated with keeping their operations going. Agriculture is North Carolina’s leading industry and a cornerstone of our economy, but without a stable, reliable workforce, our producers cannot plan, threatening both their livelihoods and our nation’s food supply. The DOL has helped provide farmers with the transparency they deserve, but now we must ensure agricultural labor costs remain affordable by passing the FARM Stability Act,” said Senator Budd.
Several senators joined Budd in introducing the bill. Senator John Boozman said: “Farmers are extremely resourceful and resilient, but their success depends on circumstances beyond their control. Ensuring they can secure a dependable agriculture workforce will lift a major burden on them and help provide needed certainty.” Senator Tim Scott noted that establishing “a clear, fair, and consistent wage rate for agricultural workers” would deliver stability for farmers while protecting wages in the H-2A program.
The FARM Stability Act is supported by numerous organizations such as Agricultural Workforce Coalition and North Carolina Farm Bureau. The Agriculture Workforce Coalition said: “Wage reform is one critical aspect of needed changes to the H-2A program to ensure farmers, growers, and ranchers can continue to feed this nation…we look forward to working with Congress to achieve lasting program reforms as quickly as possible.” Kimberly Foley of Tobacco Associates highlighted that unpredictability in labor costs inhibits farms’ ability to plan ahead or invest in future generations.
According to Budd’s official website, he grew up on a family farm in Davie County emphasizing values of faith and hard work; he later earned degrees from Appalachian State University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Wake Forest University. He previously represented North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District for three terms before being elected senator.Budd also serves as an assistant scoutmaster and board member for North Carolinians for Home Education while homeschooling his children with his wife Amy Kate.
Background information provided states that rising farm labor costs have been driven largely by issues related to calculating Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) used in the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker program. In October last year, DOL issued an Interim Final Rule creating annual AEWR adjustments along with separate wage scales for entry-level versus experienced workers—steps aimed at providing greater clarity within agriculture.
Supporters argue that codifying these rules through legislation would further protect employers from uncertainty caused by year-to-year regulatory changes while ensuring fair compensation across different worker experience levels.
