Farmers say migrant workers are vital to Susquehanna Valley agriculture

Susquehanna Valley farmers address immigration policies and labor challenges Advertisement Updated: 6:38 PM EST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Nicole Beltran Reporter Susquehanna Valley farmers address immigration policies and labor challenges Updated: 6:38 PM EST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Nicole Beltran Reporter As Democrats prepare to take control of Congress and investigate President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spending, the effects of these policies are being felt across the Susquehanna Valley’s agricultural sector. Farmers in the region say migrant workers are vital to local agriculture, but they have witnessed ICE detain employees and are seeking solutions that allow migrant workers to thrive while being authorized to work. Advertisement Joe Smucker, a poultry farmer at Smucker Farms, expressed frustration over the challenges migrant workers face, including lower wages. “It bugs me a lot,” Smucker said. Smucker believes migrant workers play a crucial role in strengthening the nation. “That’s healthy for our country to have people coming in and, and, and fueling society and building in society,” Smucker said. However, he also stressed the importance of finding a balance. “I think there needs to be a limit to it. And I think they need to be getting paid enough that another person might actually be tempted at the job,” Smucker said. Sarah Zost, president of the State Horticulture Association of Pennsylvania and a fruit grower, pointed to the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program as a way to ensure higher wages. She noted that while the program provides a legal and reliable workforce, it comes with significant administrative burdens and high costs. “It brings us a legal, reliable workforce that has a huge administrative burden and high cost,” Zost said. She explained that the program’s application process and set wage requirements create financial challenges for employers. “That’s a big problem with a program and could put a lot of farmers out of business. When you’re talking about wages for a farm, that’s over 40% of our expenses is labor for the year,” Zost said. Zost said she is advocating for change both locally and nationally, keeping an eye on the “Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act,” legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that aims to modify the H-2 temporary agricultural worker program. Smucker believes broader changes are necessary to address the challenges facing farmers and migrant workers. “I don’t know what, what that would look like, but I do know it would cause a great restructuring,” Smucker said. Make WGAL a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Watch: Giant pandas make much-anticipated debut at Zoo Atlanta 19-year-old to become one of Massachusetts' youngest representatives in state history Dramatic video: Mother rescues man drowning 'We brought him home': A WWII soldier killed 82 years ago has finally been laid to rest