MIAMI.- Florida is on the front lines of a growing crisis: Rising extreme heat is forcing farmers to rely more on temporary migrant farm workers, according to new research.
A report from the American Immigration Council reveals that demand for H-2A workers, a temporary visa for agricultural workers, has doubled in Florida between 2017 and 2022.
The state, already struggling with increasingly hot weather, is now seeking more than 50,000 foreign farm workers, a significant increase from the 25,000 it requested just five years ago.
The study, which uses data from the U.S. Department of Labor, reveals a worrying correlation between rising temperatures and increased applications for H-2A workers in Florida.
“We see a clear relationship between counties with higher temperatures and a higher number of H-2A worker applications,” explains Steven Hubbard, a data scientist at the American Immigration Council. “Especially in places like Florida, where counties like Hillsborough and Manatee have seen a significant increase in demand for H-2A workers.”
National phenomenon
This phenomenon extends beyond Florida, with a 65% increase in applications for foreign agricultural workers nationwide between 2017 and 2022.
This increase is largely due to labor shortages in agriculture, a problem that is exacerbated by an aging workforce and increasingly dangerous working conditions due to extreme heat.
Some analysts believe the situation in Florida may be more complex after a law was passed that prevents cities and counties from implementing thermal protection for outdoor workers.
The law has been criticized for putting the health of farm workers, who are already exposed to dangerous heat, at risk.
Meanwhile, the American Immigration Council report highlights the need to address the climate crisis and its impacts on the agricultural workforce.