Meat Institute Urges Workforce Visa Reform

Meat Institute calls for legal workforce access for processors

The Meat Institute has issued a public appeal to the US Administration to include meat and poultry processors in agriculture workforce solutions.

The organization argues that processors are critical to the meat supply chain and must have access to legal, consistent labour.

Julie Anna Potts, CEO of the Meat Institute, explained, “President Trump has an opportunity to solve the agriculture labor crisis that has challenged our farmers and ranchers for decades.” She called for meat and poultry processors to be included in workforce reform efforts.

Processors are responsible for helping more than 850,000 livestock producers market their animals. Their role is essential to both the economy and public nutrition, supplying meat and poultry to 98% of U.S. households. These jobs often start with pay between $16 and $24 per hour and include benefits.

The Institute recommends changes to the H-2A visa program and upgrades to E-Verify to ensure legal access to a year-round workforce for the processing industry.

The 2023 bipartisan House Agricultural Labor Working Group supported this approach. Its final report emphasized the importance of including dairy, forestry, and meat processors in future visa reforms to secure stable employment across the agriculture sector.

The Meat Institute represents the companies and people behind the U.S. meat industry, helping ensure the sector remains a trusted part of the food system and the national economy.