By Andi Anderson
For a decade, thousands of migrant farm workers from Mexico have traveled to Michigan each year to work in vineyards and orchards. Many depend on their seasonal earnings to support families and build a better life back home. Now, new federal rules are lowering the minimum wage for H-2A visa workers, cutting hourly pay by up to $4.50, or about 25%.
The decision follows complaints from farmers who said the rising costs of labor, transportation, and housing had become unsustainable. “This move is a key step towards modernizing the H-2A program,” said a state farm bureau representative. “More work needs to be done, but this is a great start.”
Still, many worry the cuts will discourage workers from returning. “We get the same guys coming back every year, and it's a pretty severe decrease,” said a Michigan farm manager. “They're used to the wages they've been getting paid.”
Data shows that Michigan’s use of H-2A visas has surged from about 2,000 workers in 2015 to around 15,000 in recent years, making the state one of the top 10 for the program. The H-2A wage had risen from $15.37 in 2022 to $18.50 in 2024 before dropping to $18.15 in 2025. Under the new rules, entry-level workers will earn $13.47, while skilled workers will make $17.47 per hour.
Many migrant workers fear the impact. “They were getting scared, concerned,” said a vineyard manager. “They're already doing the math of how much they're gonna be earning and how much they'll be sending back home.”
One long-time worker expressed frustration: “Farm work is hard, and not everyone is willing to do it. Even if it’s raining, or snowing, we get it done anyways, and I think the salary we get is fair for what we do.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dmaroscar
Categories: Michigan, Rural Lifestyle