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Minnesota State Wire

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Minnesota: Employers classified under Manufacturing industry turn to H-2A program for 3 seasonal farm jobs in 2024

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Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership/ur-m-jaddou-director-us-citizenship-and-immigration-services

Ur Mendoza Jaddou, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. | https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/organization/leadership/ur-m-jaddou-director-us-citizenship-and-immigration-services

Employers classified under the Manufacturing industry based in Minnesota submitted three H-2A job orders during 2024, according to data provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-2A Employer Data Hub.

All of these petitions submitted were approved.

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%.

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry led the H-2A filings in Minnesota during 2024, with 2,453 petitions (96.9% of all submissions), and an approval rate of 98.5%. Meanwhile, the Wholesale Trade industry was the second largest contributor, filing 37 petitions (1.5% of the total), with an approval rate of 100%.

The Minnesota employer that made the most petitions classified under the Manufacturing sector during 2024 was DJ Coleman Farms, with seven petitions.

Compared to 2023, the Manufacturing sector in the state saw a 50% 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.

H-2A Petitions by Industry in Minnesota, 2024
RankIndustryTotal Petitions% of All Submissions% Approved% Denied
1Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting2,45396.9%98.5%1.5%
2Wholesale Trade371.5%100%0%
3Other Services (except Public Administration)140.6%100%0%
4Retail Trade120.5%100%0%
5Construction50.2%100%0%
6Manufacturing30.1%100%0%
Top 100 Employers H-2A Petitions in Minnesota during 2024
Company NameIndustriesTotal Petitions% Approved% Denied
Bailey Nurseries Growers, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting301100%0%
Riverview, LLPAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting151100%0%
Gerten GreenhousesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting120100%0%
Bailey Nurseries, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting109100%0%
EMP Serv, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting59100%0%
Altenburg Construction, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting5981.4%18.6%
Featherstone Fruits and VegetablesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting5164.7%35.3%
Black Gold Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting48100%0%
Raguse Family PartnershipAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting38100%0%
Bailey Nurseries Services, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting37100%0%
Bergens NurseryAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting31100%0%
Schaefer Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting2896.4%3.6%
Wilmer Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting26100%0%
Southwind OrchardsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting26100%0%
Distinctive Floral CompanyWholesale Trade26100%0%
Jirik Sod Farm, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting26100%0%
Boehnke Waste HandlingAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting25100%0%
Dan and Jerry S Greenhouse, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting25100%0%
Pederson Brothers FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting25100%0%
Reece Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting22100%0%
Bergens GreenhousesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting22100%0%
Rinke Custom Harvesting, LLPAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting22100%0%
Kandi Produce, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting22100%0%
Thomas WolcynAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting22100%0%
Hilltop Swine, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting21100%0%
Field Brothers FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting20100%0%
Hoffman and Mcnamara CompanyAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting20100%0%
QTE by Products, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting19100%0%
Fresha, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting18100%0%
Monda Honey Farm, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting16100%0%
Hickory Orchard, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting16100%0%
Prosser Kuznia, GPAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting16100%0%
The Valley Tree Company, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting15100%0%
JL Coleman Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting15100%0%
Twin Spruce Farm, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting14100%0%
Scotch Prairie Farms, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting14100%0%
Wilsons Nursery, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting14100%0%
Wescott Agri Products, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting14100%0%
United Farmers CooperativeAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting14100%0%
E Clan, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting14100%0%
Nelson FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting1464.3%35.7%
Cider Hill FarmAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting13100%0%
Thronson FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting12100%0%
Lamb S Honey FarmAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting12100%0%
D and H Field Services, Inc.Other Services (except Public Administration)12100%0%
Matt HolienAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting12100%0%
Endless Acres Holding, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting12100%0%
Triple V Concrete Construction, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting12100%0%
Mccann Potato CompanyAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting11100%0%
Exploration Drilling, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting11100%0%
Alan Collette Farming AssociationAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting11100%0%
ASRJ Enterprise, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting10100%0%
Schwartz Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting10100%0%
Longtin FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting10100%0%
Homestead Apiaries, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting10100%0%
Dakota Valley Potato CompanyAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting10100%0%
A Landscaping, LLCRetail Trade10100%0%
HFC, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting10100%0%
Oak Ridge Terminal, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting9100%0%
C R Koehl and Sons, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting9100%0%
Omodt and Jorde Farms, GPAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting9100%0%
Minn Kota Agent ProductsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, Wholesale Trade9100%0%
Midwest NurseryAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting9100%0%
Walsh Farm, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
JFF, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
Doubletree Farm, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
Don Yaggie FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
John Miller Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
Spear Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
Bradley JagolAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
J and H Harvesting, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
Boll Family FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting8100%0%
Mark S ProsserAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Smeby FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Progressive Farms, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Schmitz Farms, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
FTP Construction, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Seeds Farm, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Novak S Grown Right VegetablesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
DJ Coleman FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, Manufacturing7100%0%
JW Scott FarmAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Jim Whiting Nursery and Garden Center IAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Ideal Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting7100%0%
Capp FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Andrew P MerronAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Field Farms, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Ramsey ConstructionAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
EBP, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Paul Suda FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Ries Farms, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Blairs Bees and Honey, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Spanier FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Agent Technician DrainageAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Richard ElbertAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Bonanza Bean, LLCAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
Kuznia, GPAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting6100%0%
RM Steel, LLCConstruction5100%0%
Honl S Bees, Inc.Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting5100%0%
L and B Theis FarmsAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting5100%0%
John F Desautel Farming CompanyAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting5100%0%

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