Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Meets with Producers, Ag Organizations at MFBF
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, the largest general farm organization in Mississippi, once again went above and beyond, allowing its members’ voices to be heard.
Saturday, United States Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer met with agriculture organizations in Mississippi and individual producers to better understand the importance of H2A labor in production agriculture across the state.
This is the second cabinet member from the Trump Administration to meet with producers in the Mississippi Farm Bureau building in Jackson in the last four months, following Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins who made several stops in the state back in September.
“They care enough about the issues to come talk about the problems that a Mississippi farmer has that are unique to us,” said MFBF President Mike McCormick. “I don’t think they can find it anywhere else but in the grassroots that we provide them to have conversations with, and I thought it went fantastic today.”
President McCormick led the discussion with Secretary Chavez-DeRemer as she heard from farmers and producers covering several commodities in Mississippi, including catfish, soybean, cotton, rice, horticulture, and sweet potatoes. Those in attendance say it makes a difference to speak directly to the person who can make the changes they need.
“You always look forward to an opportunity to talk to someone who has the level of influence that she does,” said Austin Davis, Bolivar County row crop farmer. “It’s important not only to be able to give your concerns, but it’s also important to give praise where praise is due. It’s important to tell her that we appreciate the work that she and this administration have done.”
“It really is an honor to be able to talk to someone who has worked tirelessly to push us across the finish line,” said Anna Rhinewalt, Tate County sweet potato and soybean farmer. “The dedication that this administration has had, the appointments that have been made to the cabinet, the synergy that they have worked with, it’s really been unprecedented.”
Rhinewalt testified before the United States Senate’s Agriculture Committee in 2024, warning Senators that many operations cannot continue to run without clear rules regarding their immigrant labor force.
“We were saying if we do not see immediate change, it’s not going to take five years to determine our fate,” said Rhinewalt. “It would happen in a much shorter time frame and, now with the relief that we’ve been given, I think we’re kind of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel to some of this.”
Austin Davis farms soybeans and rice in the Mississippi Delta. He utilizes H2A labor from Mexico. Without those workers, his farm could not survive. Davis says he’s happy with the changes under Secretary Chavez-DeRemer.
“We would not be able to fill a labor force large enough to operate our family farm,” said Davis. “They are absolutely helping to streamline the process, make it easier, make it more convenient to be able to bring labor in, which is such a huge issue for us, as it is for everyone in the agricultural industry.”
After an hour-long meeting, those in attendance felt their concerns were heard. Another example of how Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is bringing Mississippi ag together as one voice for the good of everyone involved.
“We work with all the other agriculture groups in the state, and to have them here to participate, to represent their members that are our members as well, to get our membership involved with such a diverse group of agricultural products here, to talk about the specifics on their farms, I think that’s where the administration learns the most,” said McCormick.