MU Extension Works With Swine Industry, TN Visa Workers To Address Labor Shortages

By Linda Geist

University of Missouri Extension specialists are working with the swine industry and temporary visa holders to help recruit, retain and develop agriculture professionals needed to address ongoing farm labor shortages.

The TN visa program was established in 1994 under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The “TN” designation, short for Treaty NAFTA, refers to a professional nonimmigrant classification now governed by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

TN visas allow U.S. employers to hire specialized agriculture professionals from Mexico and Canada. Unlike programs such as H-2A, which focus on seasonal farm labor, the TN visa program supports year-round professional positions. That’s an important advantage for swine operations that require consistent staffing, says Mag Lopez, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension who leads the project funded through checkoff dollars from the National Pork Board.

TN visa holders typically meet specific educational and professional requirements, Lopez says. “These workers are a unique and important part of the workforce, especially in livestock and particularly in swine production,” he says.

MU Extension state swine breeding specialist Tim Safranski says the work helps address persistent labor shortages in rural swine-producing areas while supporting profitability and animal health.