70: Let's Talk Ag Labor – Development, Retention, H-2A

In this episode of the CattleUSA Daily Podcast, Lauren Moylan discusses the pressing labor challenges facing the agricultural industry, emphasizing the importance of both attracting and retaining skilled workers. She outlines various strategies for building a sustainable labor pipeline, including partnerships with local schools and focusing on employee retention through respect and recognition. The conversation also highlights the need for technological investments and legal labor options, particularly the H2A visa program, while advocating for policy changes to address labor shortages. Moylan encourages listeners to take action and engage in advocacy for labor reform in agriculture.

Links

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Takeaways

You cannot grow a cattle business without people.

Hiring is hard, but retention is even harder.

The workforce is aging and disappearing.

Build your own labor by partnering with local schools.

Good help stays when they're respected.

Small things matter with retention.

Shift from warm bodies to skilled workers.

Invest in labor-saving tools where it makes sense.

We need a true path to citizenship for H2A employees.

No one is coming to fix the problem unless we start doing it ourselves.

Chapters

00:00 The Labor Crisis in Agriculture

04:36 Building a Labor Pipeline

06:54 Retention Strategies for Agricultural Workers

09:20 Rethinking Workforce Structure

10:17 Leveraging Technology and Legal Labor Options

11:14 Advocating for Policy Change in Labor

12:56 Taking Action for Agricultural Labor Reform

agriculture, labor shortage, workforce retention, agricultural jobs, H2A visa, labor reform, employee engagement, technology in agriculture, youth involvement, policy advocacy