Briefing Papers Number 12, December 2011 | Page 13

Guest worker program reform: The H-2A program—or some version of it—is the future of agricultural labor in the United States. Under almost any scenario, including under the AgJobs proposal, use of the H-2A program will increase. A regularization of unauthorized farm workers should be accompanied by a guest worker program that farmers use and whose protections are enforced. If it remains easier to employ unauthorized farm workers rather than legal guest workers, farmers are unlikely to switch to a guest worker system. Endnotes Integrate immigrant farm workers into farm operations and management: Unauthorized immigrant farm workers are an untapped source of human capital renewal on U.S. farms. In addition to serving as the United States’ farm labor force; unauthorized immigrants could help address farmer succession as part of a legalization program. Does It Mean for Agriculture and Rural America?,” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Vol. 32, No. 2. Include Latin American immigrant-sending communities in U.S. agricultural guest worker programs: A ɕ٥͕