Agricultural industry’s labor shortages strained by COVID-19

Labor shortages, drought and wildfire have contributed to issues met by Idaho’s agricultural producers. While some of these issues fluctuate on a yearly basis, like drought, labor shortages have become accelerated after the pandemic.  

Lynn Jaynes is managing editor of Ag Proud, a magazine exclusively focused on agriculture in Idaho. Jaynes finds that labor loss has been ongoing for years in the industry. She expects the issue to remain dominant over the next few years. When Jaynes attends economic summits and agricultural presentations, people suggest machinery that is as self-reliant as possible.  

“They’re essentially just encouraging farmers to just kind of buckle down, automate what you can automate,” Jaynes said.  

Another contributor to the agricultural labor shortages is COVID-19. During the pandemic people felt forced into retirement according to Jaynes.  

Raymond Mosman, a seed producer in Northern Idaho, has also felt the effects of the loss of labor. Mosman said he’s had to cut back a shift because he doesn’t have enough workers to fill it. The search for labor is difficult, trying to find quality employees. Although he remains positive about his location in the search for employees.  

“I think probably it’s been better in our area, as far as people being willing to show up to work,” Mosman said. “We do have good employees and I think that the close-knit culture of agriculture definitely helps that.” 

Drought, an uncontrollable feature in farming, has also posed a problem for farmers and agricultural producers in Idaho. Mosman’s seed production, like several other producers in Northern Idaho, doesn’t use irrigation because of the lack of surrounding lakes and reservoirs.  

Mosman relies heavily on rainfall but faced one of the hottest summers in 2021.  

“We saw reductions in in our yields that that ranged from 30% to 50%,” Mosman said. “That was a pretty big blow this year.” 

Jaynes said Southern Idaho, also affected by drought the past two years, has used up their reservoir space to alleviate the dry periods.  

The recent hot, dry summers in Idaho have also increased wildfires throughout the state. Fires and smoke in the air can not only destroy crops but also damage the product for the crops that survive.  

“All the farmers had to be way more careful than normal using water rigs and fire radiation in every field,” Mosman said. “It increases their costs, and it was hard on the income side as well.” 

Although the effects of drought and wildlife depend on the year, rainfall has been heavy in past years. Still, crops have been strained and feel the effects of these factors. 

“If you get some stressors, as opposed to a preserved setting right when that potato is supposed to form, the potato won’t form and it puts in all the energy, but nothing grows down underneath,” Jaynes said.  

Sierra Pesnell can be reached at [email protected]