USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service will resume its Agricultural Labor Survey in July after the Department of Labor agreed to pay its costs. NASS suspended the survey in April due to budget constraints.

"We are very pleased to be able to reinstate this important agricultural survey and provide the Department of Labor with the information it needs," said NASS Administrator Cynthia Clark. "The Agricultural Labor Survey is critical in helping U.S. farmers and ranchers hire the workers necessary to grow and harvest the food and fiber we need each and every day."

The Department of Labor uses the survey information for its H-2A Program, which is a provision under the U.S. Immigration and Control Act. This program allows the department to issue certificates to agricultural producers, allowing admission of temporary non-immigrant alien farm workers for seasonal farm labor. To make accurate decisions, the department relies on NASS' agricultural labor data to analyze the farm labor supply and demand and establish the need for additional certifications.

Read more: Farm Futures

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