(Scroll Down)
As part of my dissertation research, I collaborated with the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF) to develop an online survey of California farmers to gain insight into how they have been adapting to reduced farm worker availability. This voluntary survey was administered to CFBF members and affiliated grower groups in early 2019. More than 1000 farmers responded to the survey. Our survey results indicate that it is becoming increasingly difficult for farmers to find employees for crop production. Farmers reported increasing their use of the H-2A guestworker visa program, changing the timing and intensity of certain cultivation practices, and adopting labor-saving technologies when possible. After releasing a summary of our survey results, media outlets published a number of articles related to our findings. Links to some of the media coverage can be found below. We recently conducted a follow-up survey in spring 2022 and are in the process of preparing the results for publication.
ARE Update
California Farmers Change Production Practices as the Farm Labor Supply Declines
T.V.
California Farmers Continue to Have Problems Hiring Enough Workers (KSBW News 4/30/19)
California Reportedly Facing Farm Worker Shortage (ABC News 5/8/19)
Radio
California Farmers Once Again Facing Labor Shortages (Capital Public Radio 4/30/19)
Newspapers
National
California Farms Are Suffering from a Labor Shortage. Here's Why (Fox Business 5/1/19)
California Farmers Increasingly Turning to Mechanization Due to Labor Shortages, Says Survey (CNBC 5/1/19)
Half of California's Farmers Can't Find Enough Workers Amid Immigration Crackdown (Newsweek 5/1/19)
Local
Ag Labor: No Quick Fix for Tree Nut Farmers (Western Farm Press 5/15/19)
California Leads Fight to Fix National Farm Labor Shortage (Agripulse 5/8/19)
Survey: Worker Shortages Bringing Changes to California Farms (Sacramento Business Journal 5/8/19)
Survey Highlights Negative Trend in Worker Availability (Farm Progress 5/7/19)
California Farmers Face Ongoing Labor Shortage, Survey Shows (New Food Economy 5/6/19)
California Farms Face Continuing Labor Shortages (The Packer 5/6/19)
California Farms Face Continuing Employee Shortage (Morning Ag Clips 5/2/19)
California Farmers Have Raised Wages, but Still Unable to Find Enough Workers (UC Davis Press Release 5/2/19)
Farm Bureau Cites Worker Shortage (Sierra 2 the Sea 5/1/19)
Survey: California Farms Face Continuing Employee Shortages (The Sentinel 5/1/19)
CFBF: Farms Face Continuing Worker Shortages (Western Farm Press 4/30/19)
Labor Shortages Continue for California Farms (Ag Net West 4/30/19)
Survey: California Farms Face Continuing Employee Shortages (California Farm Bureau Federation News Release 4/30/19)
Why California Farmers Are Having Increasingly Harder Time Finding Workers (Bakersfield 4/30/19)
California Farmers Change Production Practices as the Farm Labor Supply Declines
T.V.
California Farmers Continue to Have Problems Hiring Enough Workers (KSBW News 4/30/19)
California Reportedly Facing Farm Worker Shortage (ABC News 5/8/19)
Radio
California Farmers Once Again Facing Labor Shortages (Capital Public Radio 4/30/19)
Newspapers
National
California Farms Are Suffering from a Labor Shortage. Here's Why (Fox Business 5/1/19)
California Farmers Increasingly Turning to Mechanization Due to Labor Shortages, Says Survey (CNBC 5/1/19)
Half of California's Farmers Can't Find Enough Workers Amid Immigration Crackdown (Newsweek 5/1/19)
Local
Ag Labor: No Quick Fix for Tree Nut Farmers (Western Farm Press 5/15/19)
California Leads Fight to Fix National Farm Labor Shortage (Agripulse 5/8/19)
Survey: Worker Shortages Bringing Changes to California Farms (Sacramento Business Journal 5/8/19)
Survey Highlights Negative Trend in Worker Availability (Farm Progress 5/7/19)
California Farmers Face Ongoing Labor Shortage, Survey Shows (New Food Economy 5/6/19)
California Farms Face Continuing Labor Shortages (The Packer 5/6/19)
California Farms Face Continuing Employee Shortage (Morning Ag Clips 5/2/19)
California Farmers Have Raised Wages, but Still Unable to Find Enough Workers (UC Davis Press Release 5/2/19)
Farm Bureau Cites Worker Shortage (Sierra 2 the Sea 5/1/19)
Survey: California Farms Face Continuing Employee Shortages (The Sentinel 5/1/19)
CFBF: Farms Face Continuing Worker Shortages (Western Farm Press 4/30/19)
Labor Shortages Continue for California Farms (Ag Net West 4/30/19)
Survey: California Farms Face Continuing Employee Shortages (California Farm Bureau Federation News Release 4/30/19)
Why California Farmers Are Having Increasingly Harder Time Finding Workers (Bakersfield 4/30/19)