Crop Revenue Is at Risk and How Agnomy Is Helping [$28 Billion]

Labor shortages in agriculture aren’t just an inconvenience; they’re a billion-dollar problem. A growing body of research reveals the significant implications of farmers and growers being unable to find the necessary assistance to complete essential tasks.

The Scope of the Labor Shortage

According to the Produce Marketing Association’s Farm Labor Shortage Report,

• 56% of farmers can’t hire enough help
• 21% of essential farm work goes undone

That unfinished work results in lost productivity, delayed harvests, and crops left unharvested in the field. When you apply those numbers nationally, the impact is staggering.

$28 Billion in Crop Revenue at Risk

Using USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) data, total U.S. crop cash receipts in 2024 were valued at $239.6 billion. If 56% of farms face shortages, and 21% of essential work goes undone, that puts nearly 11.76% of production at risk.

In dollar terms, that’s roughly $28.2 billion in potential lost crop revenue each year.

This isn’t just a statistic; it’s the difference between farm families staying afloat or facing financial strain, and it has ripple effects throughout the entire food supply chain.

Family Farms Bear the Burden

The impact is magnified when you consider that family farms account for 90% of U.S. agricultural production value (USDA NASS, via Farm Bureau).

These aren’t massive corporate entities; they’re multigenerational family businesses that rely heavily on timely, reliable labor to survive. Compounding the challenge is the fact that 30% of U.S. farmers have been in business for less than 10 years (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition). Younger and beginning farmers often lack established labor networks, leaving them especially vulnerable to shortages.

Why Traditional Labor Sourcing Isn’t Enough

The current methods of hiring farm help, such as word of mouth, current network, or seasonal crews, are no longer meeting demand. These methods are often:

• Slow – Farmers often can’t afford to wait for callbacks during harvest.
• Unreliable – Middlemen sometimes overbook or prioritize larger farms.
• Opaque – Farmers often don’t know what help is truly available nearby.

The result? Lost time, lost crops, and lost revenue.

How Agnomy Helps Solve the Labor Crisis

Agnomy was created to address this issue directly. Built for farmers, by farmers, the platform provides growers with direct access to labor and agricultural service providers, eliminating the need to rely solely on their own network or word of mouth.

With Agnomy, farmers can:

• Find and book farm labor services instantly
• Request quotes and schedule jobs automatically
• Communicate directly with providers in-app
• Pay securely, all in one platform

And for service providers, Agnomy offers the visibility and business tools to reach more farmers, manage quotes, and streamline operations, so they can spend more time working in the field and less time on paperwork.

The Bottom Line

The U.S. agricultural sector is facing a $28 billion annual risk from labor shortages. With family farms producing 90% of our food and many younger farmers lacking the networks to source labor, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Agnomy is working to close this gap by giving farmers and service providers a smarter, faster, and more reliable way to connect. By removing barriers and middlemen, Agnomy ensures that essential farm work gets done, protecting crops, livelihoods, and the future of American agriculture.

👉 Learn more at agnomy.com/agnomy-app

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