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Visa delays cut Arizona farm revenue by up to $100,000

By Drooid · Oct 31, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Arizona farmer John Boelts says strict United States border rules hinder hiring Mexican labor.
He lost up to $100,000 in revenue last spring because late visas delayed workers.
Yuma farms provide 70-90% of winter leafy greens for the United States and Canada.
About 15,000 workers cross the border daily from November to March for the harvest.
Renovated crossing now causes one- to two-hour waits, slightly faster than before.

History

The Bracero Program, launched by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mexican President Manuel Ávila Camacho in August 1942, brought about 4.5 million Mexican laborers to U.S. farms until its termination in 1964. After the program’s end, growers turned to temporary visas, and today Yuma’s winter-leafy-green farms face similar labor shortages, risking losses of up to $100,000 per season.

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The Bracero Program, launched by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mexican President Manuel Ávila Camacho in August 1942, brought about 4.5 million Mexican laborers to U.S. farms until its termination in 1964. After the program’s end, growers turned to temporary visas, and today Yuma’s winter-leafy-green farms face similar labor shortages, risking losses of up to $100,000 per season.

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