“It’s tough to operate without migrant labor.”

Bruce Cline, a grain and tobacco farmer in Crofton, Ky., regarding industries’ growing dependence on seasonal workers under the H-2A visa program. A higher proportion of U.S. farms are now relying on contract workers who face demanding jobs and conditions. There have been steps at the federal level to protect migrant workers under the H-2A visa system, but those regulations have strong opponents and there remain no federal rules about heat exposure. (Associated Press — March 19, 2024)