ARLINGTON, VA -- The Meat Institute today called for the processing sector, a critical part of the meat and poultry supply chain, to be included in the Trump Administration’s plans for a stable and legal agriculture workforce.

“President Trump has an opportunity to solve the agriculture labor crisis that has challenged our farmers and ranchers for decades,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “As reforms are considered, we urge the Trump Administration to include meat and poultry packers and processors in his efforts to improve agriculture worker programs.

“More than 850,000 hog farmers, cattle ranchers and poultry growers rely on meat packers and processors to market their animals and consumers rely on processors for the nutrient dense meat and poultry they feed to their families.

“Meat and poultry processors -- thousands of small and large companies -- keep the rural economy moving by producing the beef, pork and poultry purchased by 98 percent of American households. These companies offer excellent pay with entry-level wages ranging from $16.00-24.00 dollars an hour plus benefits. Our members, together with their suppliers and others in the meat and poultry supply chain need changes to the H-2A visa program and modernization of E-Verify to ensure the processing sector has access to a consistent, year-round, legal workforce.”

There is strong bi-partisan support for packers and processors to be included in agriculture labor program reforms. In 2023, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) created the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group co-chaired by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ar.) and Rep. Donald Davis (D-NC). Their final report, released in 2024, called for granting year-round industries access to the H-2A program.

“One thing that has become clear is the need for dairy producers, meat processors, sugar processors, forestry, ranchers, and others to have access to a steady and legal workforce,” the members said in the report.

About the Meat Institute

The Meat Institute represents the full community of people and companies who make the majority of meat American families rely on every day. The Meat Institute’s hands-on regulatory and technical expertise, proactive advocacy, unique convening power, collaboration within and beyond animal agriculture, and sector-leading continuous improvement initiatives drive relationships and resources that ensure meat continues to be a vital, trusted pillar of healthy diets and thriving communities for generations to come. To learn more, visit: MeatInstitute.org.