Michigan Farm Bureau asks members to join in support of Affordable and Secure Food Act

Michigan Farm Bureau is asking members to join in urging Congress to pass the Affordable and Secure Food Act to help sustain the nation’s food, fiber and fuel production.

The bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), is considered a last-ditch effort to address escalating Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) and chronic challenges to securing an adequate ag labor workforce.

“If Congress can't get this done, it would not only be a massive missed opportunity but a dereliction of our duty to the American people, to the rural economy in this country, and to agriculture. We have to get this done,” Bennet said. 

Calling the status quo terrible for farmworkers, farmers and U.S consumers, Bennet noted that inflation for groceries has increased 12% thus far in 2022 — faster than any time in the last 40 years. 

“You can draw a straight line from these higher prices and the crisis of farm labor and we're here because nobody up here and the people that we represent back home can accept the status quo,” he added. 

Michigan farmers using the H-2A program in 2023 will be required to pay $17.34 per hour, a 12.8% increase from the 2022 rate of $15.37, marking the ninth consecutive year for an increase and placing Michigan in the fourth-highest wage category in the nation.

“The AEWR has been an ongoing challenge for Michigan growers that’s only getting worse,” said MFB President Carl Bednarski. “This bill would freeze the 2022 AEWR for 2023 and cap annual increases to 3% maximum, providing Michigan farmers with some long-term certainty in labor costs.”

With a limited window of time for Congressional action before the holiday recess, MFB encourages messages be sent immediately.

A prewritten or personalized message can be sent by visiting https://bit.ly/MIAEWR or texting ‘MIFARMS’ to 52886.

According to the bill’s sponsors, the legislation would save U.S. producers $23 billion on labor costs over the next 12 years, create a mandatory E-Verify system for farmworkers and establish a pathway for undocumented workers to apply for a green card after working 10 years or more in agriculture, 

The Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors voted to support the Affordable and Secure Food Act, saying the package offers Michigan producers relief in securing an adequate and affordable workforce.

“While not perfect, the Affordable and Secure Food Act addresses some of the main concerns we continue to hear from Michigan farmers, namely the excessive annual AEWR increases, access to a stable and legal workforce, and an improved visa program that works for both seasonal and year-around agriculture,” Bednarski added.

“It has been over 30 years since Congress has addressed agricultural labor and Michigan farmers cannot afford to wait any longer for a practical, reliable and secure solution.”