"At Fortune's Most Powerful Women (MPW) conference Tuesday morning, Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford warned that American farmers face a critical labor shortage that could lead to a "black swan event" if the U.S. doesn't institute more pathways for legal immigration. "While there might be some discussion on undocumented, etc., this is critical for the health of the economy," she said."
"Ford, who chairs the Business Roundtable's immigration committee, told the MPW audience that farmers "absolutely need labor" and said "we need more legal immigration" as an economic driver for businesses and the broader U.S. economy. For some context, America's agricultural sector is currently grappling with mounting pressures from trade disputes, farm bankruptcies, and an increasingly restrictive immigration environment. "These are folks who oftentimes try to get American labor [but] are struggling to do so," Ford said."
American farmers face a critical labor shortage that places food production and farm viability at risk and could trigger severe, unpredictable disruptions. Farmers rely heavily on immigrant labor, while trade disputes, farm bankruptcies, and restrictive immigration policies add mounting pressure. Only 32% of crop farmworkers were born in the U.S. as of 2022; roughly 42% were born outside the U.S. and lack work authorization, about 19% are authorized immigrants, and roughly 7% are naturalized citizens. Expanded legal immigration pathways are presented as necessary to sustain agricultural operations and broader economic health.
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