70: Let's Talk Ag Labor – Development, Retention, H-2A

In this episode of the CattleUSA Daily Podcast, Lauren Moylan discusses the pressing labor challenges facing the agricultural industry, emphasizing the importance of both attracting and retaining skilled workers. She outlines various strategies for building a sustainable labor pipeline, including partnerships with local schools and focusing on employee retention through respect and recognition. The conversation also highlights the need for technological investments and legal labor options, particularly the H2A visa program, while advocating for policy changes to address labor shortages. Moylan encourages listeners to take action and engage in advocacy for labor reform in agriculture.LinksWatch on Youtube!⁠⁠⁠CattleUSA Website⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠CattleUSA Media⁠⁠ - ⁠Facebook⁠ - ⁠Instagram⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠The Next Generation Podcast Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO RATE & REVIEW THE PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Click the link, scroll down to where it says “Ratings & Reviews” and click the small link that says “Write a Review”)⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE TO RATE & REVIEW THE PODCAST ON SPOTIFY!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍️⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Click the link, select the three dots next to the following button, and click the star that says “Rate show”)TakeawaysYou cannot grow a cattle business without people.Hiring is hard, but retention is even harder.The workforce is aging and disappearing.Build your own labor by partnering with local schools.Good help stays when they're respected.Small things matter with retention.Shift from warm bodies to skilled workers.Invest in labor-saving tools where it makes sense.We need a true path to citizenship for H2A employees.No one is coming to fix the problem unless we start doing it ourselves.Chapters00:00 The Labor Crisis in Agriculture04:36 Building a Labor Pipeline06:54 Retention Strategies for Agricultural Workers09:20 Rethinking Workforce Structure10:17 Leveraging Technology and Legal Labor Options11:14 Advocating for Policy Change in Labor12:56 Taking Action for Agricultural Labor Reformagriculture, labor shortage, workforce retention, agricultural jobs, H2A visa, labor reform, employee engagement, technology in agriculture, youth involvement, policy advocacy