Climate Change & Insects and H-2A Usage Reaches New High

**USDA research shows climate change may increase the insect population posing a threat to specialty crops.

Researchers say codling moth, peach twig borer and oriental fruit moths are notorious for infesting most walnut, almond and peach orchards in California.

Due to temperature increases, these insects are expected to appear up to 28 days earlier, and the time between generations could be shortened by up to 19 days.

**New data from the American Farm Bureau shows H-2A usage reached new highs in fiscal year 2023 despite an increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate.

This increase in both demand for workers and wage rate continues to put stress on the farmers bottom line.

The data shows the total number of certified H-2A positions increased 2% over fiscal year 2022, a slower rate than in years past, but still up by more than 100,000 workers compared to 2020.

**For the 12th consecutive week, the nation's average price of gasoline declined, falling 9.6 cents from a week ago to $3.12 per gallon.

The national average is down 23.7 cents from a month ago and 10.1 cents lower than a year ago.

The national average diesel price fell 8.4 cents and stands at $4.10 per gallon, 86 cents lower than a year ago.