Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Jennifer B. Higgins, Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | https://medium.com/the-u-s-digital-service/meet-the-dhs-digital-service-champions-may-2018-caee7dade2b
Of these, 2,417 were approved (98.5%), while 36 were denied (1.5%).
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-2A visa program allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs when enough domestic workers are unavailable. Employers must demonstrate a short-term need and that hiring foreign workers will not negatively affect U.S. workers' wages or working conditions. These jobs must first be offered to U.S. workers, and both domestic and H-2A workers must receive at least the highest of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) or other wage benchmarks.
The average approval rate for H-2A petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98.8%, slightly higher than the 98.4% recorded in 2023. Statewide, employers across all industries filed 2,532 job orders during the same period, with an approval rate of 98.6%.
While the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry led the H-2A filings with 2,453, representing 96.9% of all submissions in Minnesota during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Wholesale Trade industry, which accounted for 37 petitions and represented 1.5% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Wholesale Trade industry, all of them were approved.
The Minnesota employers with the most petitions categorized under the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector during 2024 included Bailey Nurseries Growers, Inc., which filed 301 petitions with an approval rate of 100%, Riverview, LLP with 151 petitions and an approval rate of 100%, and Gerten Greenhouses, which filed 120 petitions with an approval rate of 100%.
Compared to 2023, the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector in the state saw slightly decrease in the number of H-2A petitions filed during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
Due to manual data entry and the use of paper forms by applicants or petitioners, occasional discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details may be found in the H-2A Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is the data used in this article. Despite these potential issues, USCIS works to ensure accuracy.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 2,453 | 96.9% | 98.5% | 1.5% |
| 2 | Wholesale Trade | 37 | 1.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 14 | 0.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Retail Trade | 12 | 0.5% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Construction | 5 | 0.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 3 | 0.1% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industries | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey Nurseries Growers, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 301 | 100% | 0% |
| Riverview, LLP | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 151 | 100% | 0% |
| Gerten Greenhouses | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 120 | 100% | 0% |
| Bailey Nurseries, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 109 | 100% | 0% |
| EMP Serv, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 59 | 100% | 0% |
| Altenburg Construction, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 59 | 81.4% | 18.6% |
| Featherstone Fruits and Vegetables | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 51 | 64.7% | 35.3% |
| Black Gold Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 48 | 100% | 0% |
| Raguse Family Partnership | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 38 | 100% | 0% |
| Bailey Nurseries Services, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 37 | 100% | 0% |
| Bergens Nursery | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 31 | 100% | 0% |
| Schaefer Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 28 | 96.4% | 3.6% |
| Wilmer Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Southwind Orchards | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Distinctive Floral Company | Wholesale Trade | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Jirik Sod Farm, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 26 | 100% | 0% |
| Boehnke Waste Handling | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 25 | 100% | 0% |
| Dan and Jerry S Greenhouse, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 25 | 100% | 0% |
| Pederson Brothers Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 25 | 100% | 0% |
| Reece Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| Bergens Greenhouses | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| Rinke Custom Harvesting, LLP | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| Kandi Produce, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| Thomas Wolcyn | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 22 | 100% | 0% |
| Hilltop Swine, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 21 | 100% | 0% |
| Field Brothers Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 20 | 100% | 0% |
| Hoffman and Mcnamara Company | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 20 | 100% | 0% |
| QTE by Products, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 19 | 100% | 0% |
| Fresha, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 18 | 100% | 0% |
| Monda Honey Farm, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Hickory Orchard, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| Prosser Kuznia, GP | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 16 | 100% | 0% |
| The Valley Tree Company, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| JL Coleman Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 15 | 100% | 0% |
| Twin Spruce Farm, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Scotch Prairie Farms, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Wilsons Nursery, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Wescott Agri Products, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| United Farmers Cooperative | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| E Clan, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 14 | 100% | 0% |
| Nelson Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 14 | 64.3% | 35.7% |
| Cider Hill Farm | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 13 | 100% | 0% |
| Thronson Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Lamb S Honey Farm | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| D and H Field Services, Inc. | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Matt Holien | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Endless Acres Holding, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Triple V Concrete Construction, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Mccann Potato Company | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Exploration Drilling, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| Alan Collette Farming Association | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 11 | 100% | 0% |
| ASRJ Enterprise, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Schwartz Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Longtin Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Homestead Apiaries, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Dakota Valley Potato Company | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| A Landscaping, LLC | Retail Trade | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| HFC, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 10 | 100% | 0% |
| Oak Ridge Terminal, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| C R Koehl and Sons, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Omodt and Jorde Farms, GP | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Minn Kota Agent Products | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, Wholesale Trade | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Midwest Nursery | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 9 | 100% | 0% |
| Walsh Farm, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| JFF, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Doubletree Farm, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Don Yaggie Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| John Miller Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Spear Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Bradley Jagol | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| J and H Harvesting, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Boll Family Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 8 | 100% | 0% |
| Mark S Prosser | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Smeby Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Progressive Farms, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Schmitz Farms, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| FTP Construction, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Seeds Farm, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Novak S Grown Right Vegetables | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| DJ Coleman Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, Manufacturing | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| JW Scott Farm | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Jim Whiting Nursery and Garden Center I | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Ideal Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 7 | 100% | 0% |
| Capp Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Andrew P Merron | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Field Farms, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Ramsey Construction | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| EBP, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Paul Suda Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Ries Farms, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Blairs Bees and Honey, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Spanier Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Agent Technician Drainage | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Richard Elbert | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Bonanza Bean, LLC | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| Kuznia, GP | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 6 | 100% | 0% |
| RM Steel, LLC | Construction | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Honl S Bees, Inc. | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| L and B Theis Farms | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| John F Desautel Farming Company | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 5 | 100% | 0% |
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