Observations from the 2026 AFBF Convention in Anaheim, CA
15 Jan 2026, Posted by in Economics and Prices, Meetings and Events, National News, News- H2A seasonal ag labor users would have been encouraged by numerous mentions during the convention of the attention being given to ag labor reforms. Aside from the win on the AEWR wage rate freeze already announced, the Trump administration DOL gives H2A application processing a high priority. Brian Pasternak of the USDOL Ofc of Foreign Labor Certification on a Monday morning panel pledged their support in assisting grower applications. On Sunday afternoon, House and Senate Ag Comte chairs Thompson and Boozman said ag labor reform is among their 2026 priorities – showing a glint of hope after years of waiting. Among the concerns is the escalating demand for a documented ag workforce amid all the pressure now created on immigration issues in the US.
- AFBF staff economist Danny Munch addressed a host of trade and commodity topics at his panel session on Monday morning. He said trade partners as a rule insist on certainty as a key ingredient in the ever-competitive world of farm trade. The US is struggling of late with this for a number of reasons, including “inefficient ” ports and vaciltating tariff rules. The US share of world ag trade has shrunk from 75% to 23 % since 1990. Munch also said on specialty crop expenses in the last five years have soared while risk management tools like crop insurance are scarce and therefore provide little or no safety net. Dairy farmers, in some instances, now find refuge from profit squeeze by selling their livestock for beef. Even in California, wine industry operators report a generational change of less wine consumption together with other unwelcome market pressure.
- Stepping off the plane at LAX airport and walking outside to the Uber carport, a traveler noticed a sustained brisk wind that did not let up. On a bus tour the next day to Temecula, a California county Farm Bureau tour host identified that weather as the annual Santa Anna winds. It was those same winds last year that sustained the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles that the nation witnessed. “Had there not been heavy rainfall during the past few weeks,” he said, “those fires may have returned.” Not more than an hour later outside Anaheim, the countryside was green and rolling with hills. Beautiful to see.
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On the Tuesday NJFB tour, the group started off at Riverbed Farm. This aquaponics operation sits in the heart of Anaheim and helps contribute fresh and nutritious produce to those in need. This unique urban agricultural landscape was a great way for our farmers to see what it means to be an urban farmer and how small plots contribute meaningfully to the agricultural community in the state.
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On the trade show floor, Gripp hosted an information session titled From Chaos to Control: Modernizing Farm Communication, which described the bottlenecks that arise from poor communication on farm and the need to streamline communications systems to one centralized platform. Communication is at the heart of any business; ensuring there are no breaks in the on-farm communication chain is critical. When one person is equipped with the tools to do technology-related work, etc., the lack of tribal knowledge by the rest of the staff can lead to inefficiencies. Sharing this tribal knowledge is the key to being effective as a farm enterprise.
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To maintain the health of our farming economy in NJ and beyond, farmers must be able to compete in global markets. This can be achieved by keeping export markets open, such as that of the soybean industry. Global growth in the protein sector has underscored soy demand, as it is a major contributor to feed that supplies us with this protein. This increased market access will allow farmers in the US to stay competitive and remain viable.
