Abstract
Farm labor in the U.S. is undergoing significant transitions. First, fewer farmworkers are migrating in the traditional sense, and more are settling in to rural American communities. Second, more women are working in agriculture—a process referred to as the feminization of agriculture. Third, there has been an increase in so-called “recreational” crops” like marijuana and hops grown for craft microbrew beers. This paper discusses these three transitions in Southwestern Idaho. These transitions were observed during pilot research conducted in Idaho during 2017–2018. We present this paper as a case study of current transitions in American agriculture. See the press release for this article.
Highlights
When one imagines the face of a farmworker in the United States, the image is typically a Latino man who migrates from field to field following seasonal crops
Fewer farmworkers are migrating in the traditional sense, and more are settling in rural American communities
In this paper, we have discussed transitions underway in agriculture and farm work in Southwestern Idaho, paying particular attention to how these transitions may influence the well-being of farmworkers
Summary
When one imagines the face of a farmworker in the United States, the image is typically a Latino man who migrates from field to field following seasonal crops. He is generally perceived of as a hardworking man, willing to do the job that “no American wants to do.”. In December 2016, we began conducting research with Idaho agricultural workers to learn more about the challenges they face in maintaining their well-being. During the course of this pilot research, we noted several significant transitions underway in Idaho. An increase in the number of women working in agriculture; and 3.
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