(Infographic) The U.S. Farm Labor Shortage
The impact of the farm labor shortage on U.S. agriculture.
As of 2016, hired farm workers made up 35.3 percent of the total hours worked on a farming operation, second only to the principal operator. These workers perform essential daily tasks needed to keep a successful farm running, such as caring for livestock, working in the fields, and maintaining farm machinery. As the population of farm labor continues to decline, primary operators are feeling the pressure to find alternative solutions to keep up with production for the growing demand of fresh produce.