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Tuesday, October 21, 2025

How many H-2A petitions were made by Minnesota employers classified under the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry during 2024?

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In 2024, 2,417 of the 2,453 H-2A petitions submitted by employers classified under the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry based in Minnesota were approved, according to data provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services via the H-2A Employer Data Hub.

This represents an approval rate of 98.5%, which is lower than the nationwide average.

The average approval rate for H-2A petitions across the U.S. stood at 98.8% in 2024, slightly higher than the 98.4% recorded in 2023.

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.

While the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry led the H-2A filings with 2,453 petitions, representing 97.2% 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, 100% were approved.

The Minnesota employers with the most approvals classified under the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry during 2024 included Bailey Nurseries Growers, Inc., filing a total of 301 petitions and receiving approvals for all of them, and Riverview, LLP, which filed 151 petitions and received approvals for all of them.

Compared to 2023, the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector in Minnesota saw a 1.2% decrease in the number of seasonal agricultural visas 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 SubmissionsApproved Petitions% Approved% Denied
1Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting2,45397.2%2,41798.5%1.5%
2Wholesale Trade371.5%37100%0%
3Other Services (except Public Administration)140.6%14100%0%
4Retail Trade120.5%12100%0%
5Construction50.2%5100%0%
6Manufacturing30.1%3100%0%

Top Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Industry Employers in Minnesota by Number of H-2A Petitions Issued in 2024

RankCompany NameTotal Petitions% Approved% Denied
1Bailey Nurseries Growers, Inc.301100%0%
2Riverview, LLP151100%0%
3Gerten Greenhouses120100%0%
4Bailey Nurseries, Inc.109100%0%
5Altenburg Construction, Inc.5981.4%18.6%
6EMP Serv, LLC52100%0%
7Featherstone Fruits and Vegetables5164.7%35.3%
8Black Gold Farms, Inc.48100%0%
9Raguse Family Partnership38100%0%
10Bailey Nurseries Services, Inc.37100%0%
11Bergens Nursery31100%0%
12Schaefer Farms, Inc.2896.4%3.6%
13Jirik Sod Farm, Inc.26100%0%
13Wilmer Farms, Inc.26100%0%
13Southwind Orchards26100%0%
16Boehnke Waste Handling25100%0%
16Pederson Brothers Farms25100%0%
16Dan and Jerry S Greenhouse, Inc.25100%0%
19Bergens Greenhouses22100%0%
19Reece Farms, Inc.22100%0%
19Thomas Wolcyn22100%0%
19Kandi Produce, Inc.22100%0%
19Rinke Custom Harvesting, LLP22100%0%
24Hilltop Swine, Inc.21100%0%
25Field Brothers Farms20100%0%
25Hoffman and Mcnamara Company20100%0%
27QTE by Products, LLC19100%0%
28Fresha, LLC18100%0%
29Hickory Orchard, LLC16100%0%
29Monda Honey Farm, Inc.16100%0%
29Prosser Kuznia, GP16100%0%
32The Valley Tree Company, LLC15100%0%
32JL Coleman Farms, Inc.15100%0%
34Nelson Farms1464.3%35.7%
34Scotch Prairie Farms, LLC14100%0%
34United Farmers Cooperative14100%0%
34E Clan, Inc.14100%0%
34Wescott Agri Products, Inc.14100%0%
34Wilsons Nursery, LLC14100%0%
34Twin Spruce Farm, Inc.14100%0%
41Cider Hill Farm13100%0%
42Thronson Farms12100%0%
42Lamb S Honey Farm12100%0%
42Endless Acres Holding, LLC12100%0%
42Matt Holien12100%0%
42Triple V Concrete Construction, Inc.12100%0%
47Mccann Potato Company11100%0%
47Exploration Drilling, Inc.11100%0%
47Alan Collette Farming Association11100%0%
50Longtin Farms10100%0%
50Schwartz Farms, Inc.10100%0%
50Homestead Apiaries, Inc.10100%0%
50Dakota Valley Potato Company10100%0%
50ASRJ Enterprise, LLC10100%0%
50HFC, Inc.10100%0%
56Midwest Nursery9100%0%
56Omodt and Jorde Farms, GP9100%0%
56C R Koehl and Sons, Inc.9100%0%
56Oak Ridge Terminal, LLC9100%0%
61Don Yaggie Farms8100%0%
61J and H Harvesting, LLC8100%0%
61John Miller Farms, Inc.8100%0%
61Walsh Farm, LLC8100%0%
61Spear Farms, Inc.8100%0%
61JFF, Inc.8100%0%
61Bradley Jagol8100%0%
61Doubletree Farm, LLC8100%0%
61Boll Family Farms8100%0%
70JW Scott Farm7100%0%
70FTP Construction, LLC7100%0%
70Smeby Farms7100%0%
70Jim Whiting Nursery and Garden Center I7100%0%
70Progressive Farms, LLC7100%0%
70Seeds Farm, LLC7100%0%
70Schmitz Farms, LLC7100%0%
70Ideal Farms, Inc.7100%0%
70Mark S Prosser7100%0%
70Novak S Grown Right Vegetables7100%0%
81Bonanza Bean, LLC6100%0%
81Kuznia, GP6100%0%
81Capp Farms6100%0%
81EBP, LLC6100%0%
81Paul Suda Farms6100%0%
81Ries Farms, LLC6100%0%
81Field Farms, Inc.6100%0%
81Spanier Farms6100%0%
81Agent Technician Drainage6100%0%
81Blairs Bees and Honey, LLC6100%0%
81Ramsey Construction6100%0%
81Richard Elbert6100%0%
81Andrew P Merron6100%0%
94Anderson Truck Farm5100%0%
94Wayne Lessard Farms5100%0%
94Honl S Bees, Inc.5100%0%
94Van Lin Orchards5100%0%
94Dean Sternhagen Farms5100%0%
94Dan S Honey Company5100%0%
94Pflipsen Farms, LLC5100%0%
94L and B Theis Farms5100%0%
94Deere Farms, Inc.5100%0%
94Darrell F Entzminger and Sons5100%0%
94Sorum Farms5100%0%
94Forest River Farms Partnership580%20%
94Nbbo Farming5100%0%
94Peterson Farms Honey, LLC5100%0%
94John F Desautel Farming Company5100%0%
109Shane Eidsness4100%0%
109Bear Claw Farms, LLC4100%0%
109Reichmann Land and Cattle4100%0%
109Silo Farming Partners4100%0%
109Farmco Supply Company, LLP4100%0%
109Foslien Custom Harvesting, Inc.4100%0%
109Nuest Partnership4100%0%
109Fossen Farms4100%0%
109BLTT Farms, Inc.4100%0%
109Blue Diamond Farming Company4100%0%
109Agri Systems, Inc.4100%0%
109Adam Gajeski4100%0%
109Peatland Reds, Inc.4100%0%
109Loyland Farms, Inc.4100%0%
109Takco, Inc.4100%0%
109Halfmann Farm, Inc.4100%0%
109Handy Farms4100%0%
109Friederichs Seed, Inc.4100%0%
109Riverdale Operations4100%0%
109Ratzlaff Farms4100%0%
109Kohlnhofer Farms, Inc.4100%0%
109Lake Agassiz Bean, LLC4100%0%
109Tailfeather Ranch, LLP4100%0%
109Gasper Trucking, LLC4100%0%
109Skyview Dairy4100%0%
109CHS, Inc.4100%0%
109Leiting Honey4100%0%
109Fitzgerald Organics, LLC4100%0%
109Hemker Wildlife Holdings4100%0%
109Spring Valley Farms, LLP4100%0%
109Brian Dettler Farms4100%0%
109Cannon Tree Farm4100%0%
109P and K Farm4100%0%
142Johnson Payroll Joint Venture3100%0%
142Kameron and Evan Collette Farm Partnership, LLC3100%0%
142MHF of Freeborn County, Inc.3100%0%
142Landscape Renovations, Inc.3100%0%
142Trilogy Agent Group3100%0%
142Diekmann Farms, Inc.3100%0%
142Allen Yaggie Farms, Inc.3100%0%
142Sweet Honey Drop, LLC3100%0%
142Randy Johnk Farm Farm3100%0%
142Mike Olson Farms, LLC3100%0%
142Unruh Farms, LLC3100%0%
142Budke Bees3100%0%
142Jeff Steer3100%0%
142Ludvigson Farms3100%0%
142Lindegard Farms3100%0%
142Alex Yaggie3100%0%
142Lakefield Farms3100%0%
142Iverson Cattle3100%0%
142Eric Engelstad3100%0%
142Brent Riopelle3100%0%
142Swanson Farms3100%0%
142R and R Farms3100%0%
142Peterson Farm3100%0%
142Overby Farm3100%0%
142Lucas Spitzer3100%0%
142Ovind Farms3100%0%
142LB Pork, Inc.3100%0%
142Tveit Farms3100%0%
142Jared Peterka3100%0%
142Derek Clement3100%0%
142K West, Inc.3100%0%
142Jarvis Stein3100%0%
142Brad Lynn3100%0%
142Alex Howatt Farms3100%0%
142Jade and Suk, LLC3100%0%
177G and B Thompson Partnership2100%0%
177Scott Howatt Grain Farms2100%0%
177Charles Stein2100%0%
177Christopher Griffin2100%0%
177Kendall Klaus2100%0%
177JBT Farms2100%0%
177Estate Uw Lanny P Marlenee Test Trust2100%0%
177Garth Kruger Farms2100%0%
177Douglas Winzenburg2100%0%
177Becker Farms, Inc.2100%0%
177Mcmahon Farms2100%0%
177Seyer Farms, Inc.2100%0%
177Big Stone Agent Service2100%0%
177Rafferty Farm2100%0%
177Cynthia and Robert Toelle2100%0%
177Heidi and Raedell Braaten2100%0%
177Nelson Pumpkin Patch, LLC2100%0%
177Alex Anderson2100%0%
177Terry Miller2100%0%
177TLB Air, LLC2100%0%
177Nymann, Inc.2100%0%
177River Country Cooperation2100%0%
177Meixel Farms2100%0%
177Brandon and Brooke Downs PTR2100%0%
177Kyle Nygaard2100%0%
177Misselhorn Tiling and Excavation Licensed2100%0%
177Justin Downs2100%0%
177Andahl Farms2100%0%
177Mike and Terri Gorder Farm2100%0%
1773 J S Partnership2100%0%
177Star Farms, Inc.2100%0%
177Gilbertson Farms2100%0%
177Hunt Farms2100%0%
177Triple D Cattle, LLC2100%0%
177BB Sczepanski LP2100%0%
177Joe Wagner2100%0%
177Brushvale Grain, Inc.2100%0%
177Arlin Kaul Farms2100%0%
177Rodney Haraseth2100%0%
177Rasmussen Farms2100%0%
177Mcilonie Family Farms2100%0%
177Pork Chop Farms2100%0%
177Kram Farms2100%0%
177Ottem Farm2100%0%
177Demaray Harvesting and Trucking, LLC2100%0%
177Mark Dickson Farm2100%0%
177Kleins Cow Palace2100%0%
177Ken Iversen Farms2100%0%
177Mertec, LLC2100%0%
177Eric Wilson2100%0%
177CC Borgen, Inc.2100%0%
177Endreson Custom Services, LLC2100%0%
177Andrew Pulk2100%0%
177SFI, Inc.2100%0%
177Diamond J Custom Farming, Inc.2100%0%
177Hapka Farms, Inc.2100%0%
177Foens Farms, Inc.2100%0%
234Michael Stamer Farms General Partnership1100%0%
234Risacher Farms Trucking, LLC1100%0%
234TND Farms1100%0%
234MDF, Inc.1100%0%
234Aaron Miller1100%0%
234Bradow Farms1100%0%
234Daniel Sletten Farm1100%0%
234Day Star Dairy, LLC1100%0%
234Tyler Bodnar Farms1100%0%
234Pribyl Ranch, Inc.1100%0%
234Olander Farms, LLC1100%0%
234Spanier Cattle, LLC1100%0%
234Strickler Agent FLP1100%0%
234D and M Yutrzenka JV1100%0%
234Erickson Farms, Inc.1100%0%
234Ross Engraf Farm1100%0%
234Effertz Ez Ranch1100%0%
234Bolton Bees, LLC1100%0%
234Bergeson Nursery, LLC1100%0%
234Open Box Rafter Ranch1100%0%
234P and J Turkeys, Inc.1100%0%
234Leininger Ranch1100%0%
234Three Branch Ranch JV1100%0%
234William Stanley Farms1100%0%
234Dwayne Erickson1100%0%
234Richard Bremer1100%0%
234MCF Farms, LLC1100%0%
234Estenson Farms1100%0%
234Mark Pankonin1100%0%
234Andy and Nancy Downs PTR1100%0%
234Carlson Harvesting, Inc.1100%0%
234Carlson Farms1100%0%
234Brett Sobolik1100%0%
234Mattis Farms1100%0%
234K and D Krueger Farms, LLC1100%0%
234David Arends1100%0%
234Chris Gradin1100%0%

Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The source data can be found here.

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