The National Pork Producers Council has launched a campaign, Year Round Pork Needs Year Round Workers. The group is calling on Congress to pass an Ag Labor Reform Bill. South Dakota Pork Producers Council President Shane Odegaard says the current H2A visa program for immigrant labor doesn’t work for the pork industry.

He says both pork and dairy producers need workers who have special skills and getting those with the limitations of the H2A program makes that very difficult.

Odegaard says several industries are looking for workers and that competition factor has gotten tougher which adds to the difficulty for pork producers getting those employees.

The NPPC is urging Congress to open the H2A visa program to year round labor without a cap and provide legal status for agricultural workers already in the country.