Abstract: California agriculture relies heavily on immigrant labor, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as fruits, vegetables, grapes, and nursery production, making the sector highly vulnerable to immigration-related labor disruptions. This article examines how immigration enforcement affects farm labor availability and farm operations using original data from the California Farmer Immigration Enforcement Survey, which provides broad coverage across the state’s major agricultural regions. Results show that direct immigration enforcement on farms was rare, but effects from potential off-farm enforcement or indirect effects resulting from general immigration enforcement activity, such as anxiety and fear, were widespread. One in four farmers reported at least one negative consequence, including labor losses, operational disruptions, or heightened worker anxiety. These effects were most pronounced among labor-intensive commodity producers and in coastal production regions. Farmers adapted through a range of strategies, including hiring through farm labor contractors, offering worker retention incentives, using the H-2A program, or reducing production, though adaptation patterns varied across regions and commodity groups. The findings highlight the broader economic consequences of immigration enforcement for agricultural labor markets and underscore the importance of workforce stability for maintaining California’s agricultural productivity.

Abstract: The One Big Beautiful Bill dramatically changes SNAP through three major changes: expanding time-limited work requirements to an estimated 1.6 million more SNAP households, shifting billions in costs to states, and restoring the cost neutrality for benefit adjustment. We show how these shifts impact food security and state budgets.

Abstract: Plant breeding is key to growing the pea-processing sector. Interviews with processors revealed that attributes that enhance processing efficiency and the functional value of pea ingredients are highly valued. Concerns included undesirable traits in some high-protein pea varieties and consumer response to the use of gene editing in breeding.