January 2025 - 64

INDUSTRY NEWS
USDA INTRODUCES NEW PROGRAMS TO
SUPPORT SPECIALTY CROP GROWERS
The U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA)
has announced two
new programs aimed at
assisting specialty crop
producers impacted
by severe weather
and market challenges. The Marketing Assistance
for Specialty Crops initiative will allocate $2 billion to
help growers of fruits, vegetables and nuts expand
market access and maintain a strong domestic supply.
Additionally, the Commodity Storage Assistance Program
will offer $140 million to aid producers in accessing
necessary storage facilities.
" Specialty crop producers play a critical role in U.S.
agriculture and these programs are vital to helping them
recover from disasters like the recent hurricanes, " said
Tom Vilsack, agriculture secretary.
Both programs come as part of a broader USDA
response to disaster relief. The marketing assistance
program will help offset high marketing costs for crops
like floriculture, herbs and vegetables, while the storage
assistance will support producers who have lost access to
critical storage facilities due to weather-related damage.
The USDA continues to offer additional disaster relief
options to help farmers recover from 2024 storms.
To learn more, visit usda.gov.
MSU RESEARCHER STUDIES LABOR
SHORTAGES IN AGRICULTURE
Michigan State University agricultural economist Zach
Rutledge has received a $650,000 grant from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food
and Agriculture to examine labor challenges in the U.S.
agricultural sector and potential policy solutions.
Rutledge, an assistant professor in the Department
of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, focuses
on how the aging and shrinking U.S.-based agricultural
workforce impacts farming practices, including the
increased use of technology and reliance on the H-2A
visa program. This program allows employers to hire
temporary nonimmigrant workers for agricultural jobs.
A key part of the research will explore how H-2A's
minimum wage, known as the Adverse Effect Wage Rate
(AEWR), affects wages for domestic farmworkers. In
Michigan, the AEWR increased from $15.37 per hour in
2022 to $18.50 in 2024.
" Our overall aim for the grant is to provide context on
both sides of the labor market, " Rutledge said. " We're not
saying certain policies would be good or bad. We're just
providing evidence. "
The study will also consider healthcare coverage,
domestic workforce trends and the nation's reliance
on agricultural imports. Results will be shared through
academic journals and MSU Extension publications. The
project is funded through 2028. Read the full article at
canr.msu.edu/news/.
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January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025
