US Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sector NAICS 11

Apr 16, 2026 - Changes to H2-A Visa Program

• The Trump administration is easing restrictions on the H-2A visa program to address worsening farm labor shortages caused in part by stricter immigration enforcement, The New York Times reports. By lowering wage requirements and allowing housing to count toward compensation, the changes make it cheaper for farmers to hire temporary foreign workers. Farmers largely support the move, citing a lack of available US workers and rising production challenges. However, critics, including the United Farm Workers of America and immigration advocates, argue it will suppress wages, discourage and displace domestic workers, and increase reliance on vulnerable foreign labor. Economists suggest lowering wages will not attract more American workers and may instead accelerate automation, reliance on guest workers, and increased imports. Overall, the policy highlights a tension between immigration restrictions and agricultural labor needs, with the industry becoming increasingly dependent on foreign workers to remain viable.
• President Trump has signed a proclamation allowing commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, reversing protections first established in 2016, The New York Times reports. The 5,000-square-mile monument off Cape Cod is home to diverse marine life, including endangered whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and deep-sea corals. Fishing industry groups support Trump’s move, arguing their practices are regulated and vital to coastal economies. Some industry representatives said maintaining healthy waters is essential to their survival. Environmental groups strongly opposed the decision, warning that fishing could threaten fragile ecosystems and arguing the action may violate the Antiquities Act. Critics emphasized the area’s importance as a refuge for marine species and a scientific resource, particularly as ocean warming accelerates. The decision follows a similar rollback in the Pacific and may face legal challenges, as previous attempts to lift protections have been contested in court, according to NYT.

• Farmers face growing economic and generational challenges as rising costs, weak commodity prices, and trade pressures strain farm profitability and make succession harder, The Wall Street Journal reports. Farm bankruptcies rose 46% in 2025, reflecting financial stress across the sector. At the same time, the farming population is aging, with more farmers over 75 than under 35. Many farmers’ children pursue careers outside agriculture. As a result, thousands of multigenerational farms are being sold to larger entities or forced into bankruptcy, accelerating consolidation in the industry. This shift is reshaping food production, potentially reducing crop diversity and affecting rural communities that historically depended on family farms. Government aid has helped some farmers stay afloat, but financial pressures remain. Without younger generations taking over, many farmers face uncertain futures for their land and businesses, raising concerns about the long-term viability of family farming in the US.
• Federal officials plan to revise long-standing management plans governing 2.5 million acres of Bureau of Land Management forests in western Oregon to significantly increase timber production, The Oregonian reports. The proposal could raise harvest levels to those seen in the 1960s (more than 10 times current levels) and potentially open areas that have been protected from regular logging for decades. Supporters, including logging industry representatives, say increasing domestic timber production could help revive local economies and reduce wildfire risk by addressing overstocked forests. However, conservation groups and scientists warn the plan could threaten federally protected species such as the northern spotted owl and reverse protections established after heavy logging in the 1990s. The proposal follows a Trump administration executive order prioritizing expanded US timber production and could involve using the Endangered Species Act Committee to override species protections.