Louisiana Farm Bureau and Agricultural Groups Urge Timely Release of Additional H-2B Visas

Louisiana Farm Bureau News

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation joined Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain and other state agricultural organizations in urging federal officials to release the maximum allowable number of supplemental H-2B visas for fiscal year 2027 to help seasonal businesses address labor shortages.

In an Oct. 12 letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, the groups emphasized the need for reliable, timely labor to process perishable commodities and keep seasonal operations running.

The letter noted that the H-2B visa cap for the first half of fiscal year 2027 was reached Sept. 4 for petitions requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2027. Louisiana employers continue to meet requirements to prioritize domestic workers but report being unable to find hardly any domestic applicants to fill seasonal positions. The signatories warned that delays or insufficient visa availability could force businesses to scale back operations, default on contracts, lay off full-time employees or close entirely, citing challenges Louisiana businesses experienced during fiscal year 2026.

The letter was signed by Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain, the American Sugarcane League, Louisiana Crawfish Processors Alliance, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Louisiana Forestry Association, Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association, Louisiana Pest Management Association and Supreme Rice Mill.

The organizations urged federal officials to act promptly so employers can plan their workforces and continue serving consumers.