CONCORD — Thursday, U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, visited Apple Hill Farm and heard from the farm owners about the challenges and opportunities posed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kuster also discussed farm labor in New Hampshire and the passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Kuster and passed by the House last month with bipartisan support, establishes a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment, reforms the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers while ensuring critical protections for workers, and focuses on modifications to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs.

“I’m glad to be serving on the House Agriculture Committee again this Congress, where I have an important opportunity to ensure the voices of New Hampshire farmers and producers are heard as we consider legislation that affects our nation’s agriculture,” said Rep. Kuster. “COVID-19 has provided many opportunities for our New Hampshire farmers, but the pandemic has also posed challenges and roadblocks for many. That’s why the federal programs to provide relief and support for food producers are critical. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to support our Granite State farms and bolster our agriculture workforce. It was great to hear from Diane and Chuck Souther today about their input on federal agriculture programs, markets for local food, workforce challenges facing their farm, and more. I will continue working to ensure our NH farmers have the support they need to continue serving our communities.”

Rep. Kuster has been a consistent advocate for New Hampshire’s farmers and producers, bringing the voices of Granite Staters to Congress. This year, she joined the NH delegation, as well as dozens of House colleagues from both sides of the aisle, in successfully calling on the Interior Department to rollback short-sighted and damaging actions constricting LWCF that were taken in the lame-duck period of the Trump administration. Also this year, Kuster held a virtual meeting with New Hampshire food producers and distributors to discuss the challenges and opportunities in developing a sustainable, resilient local food system, and how Congress can support their work during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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