We have all seen them. The faded help wanted signs hanging in livestock markets or local feed stores. They reflect a growing crisis in U.S. agriculture: who is going to do the work?

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The impact of a diminished workforce spreads far and wide. From rounding up pairs horseback to processing weaned calves at the feedyard, skilled and committed employees are needed at every level of the beef supply chain.

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Many families are fortunate to have the next generation eager and ready to take on the challenges of modern-day ranching, but they will need support to get there.

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“It is incredibly hard to find good people who are willing to show up every day, do the job — and do it well,” says Richard Keeth, senior vice president of business management for másLabor, the nation’s largest provider of nonimmigrant labor services.

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Each year, the company works with thousands of employers to legally secure a reliable workforce through H-2A and H-2B visas. Keeth stresses the importance of updating the archaic programs.

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“Decades have passed since these programs were initially founded,” he says. “The seasonality requirement, in particular, proves a barrier to entry for many livestock folks.”

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Removing the seasonality component from H-2A programs is a top priority among the Common Ground Coalition’s objectives, along with creating a more optimized and efficient process for workers in good standing to return to the same employer. The coalition also seeks to redefine “agricultural employer” to expand its scope for purposes of H-2A programs to include more employers essential to U.S. agricultural production.

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The Workforce Modernization Act, introduced in May 2025 by Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), is an encouraging step forward. The legislation aims to reform the H-2A visa program to ensure a reliable, legal workforce for agricultural producers.

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Keeth says he is encouraged by the greater purpose shared by those at the Common Ground Summit and who have signed on to the coalition.

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“There’s a lot of passion,” Keeth says. “What is impressive to me is the number of folks talking about what we as a collective can do to make this industry more accessible to the next generation.”