“Try US Citizens”: US Farmer Struggles to Recruit H-2A Visa Workers Despite R25,000 Weekly Salary

• An American pea farmer went viral on TikTok after revealing he cannot fill farm jobs despite offering R25,000 a week
• The farmer said he extended the offer to H2A migrant visa workers and professional pea pickers, with no takers
• He warned that crops are drying up in the fields and that farm labour shortages could soon affect food supply

An American pea farmer is struggling to find workers on his farm despite offering conditions many would consider generous. He shared his frustration in a video shared on his TikTok handle @user8395919491018 posted on 1 September 2026, and the clip quickly divided opinion across the United States.

The farmer said he has been unable to recruit labour even after putting together a package that includes free housing, fully covered utilities, and a weekly wage of $1,400, roughly R25,000. He made the offer to H2A migrant visa workers and professional pea pickers alike, and none accepted. He added that the problem is not limited to his operation. Neighbouring farms are dealing with the same shortage, with no solution in sight.

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Crops drying up as labour crisis bites

The consequences are already showing in the fields. The farmer warned that unpicked peas are drying out before they can be harvested, and that if these shortages continue across the agricultural sector, consumers will eventually feel the impact at the grocery store.

The video struck a nerve with viewers, many of whom questioned whether the pay and conditions were as attractive as the farmer believed. Some pointed out that a $1,400 weekly wage for what could amount to 100 hours of work breaks down to very little per hour. Others saw the situation as a direct consequence of US immigration policy, noting that the workers most likely to have taken the job are no longer available.

Watch the farmer explain the labour shortage in the TikTok video below:

Mzansi and the world react

Viewers on TikTok had plenty to say about the farmer's predicament:

@JP wrote:

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"Have you tried US citizens?"

@Water Burd asked:

"Where are the 'they're stealing our jobs' people at?"

@ronniecoronado719 said:

"Don't forget to thank your lovely president 🫡"

@Petrotma noted:

"Y'all sent back the ones who would have been happy to do it 👍."

@Steven Woodruff466 pointed out:

"Nobody wants to work 100 hours for $1400."

@Christian Gutierrez suggested:

"Get a contract with prisons."

3 Briefly News articles about Afrikaner farmers in the US

• An Afrikaner farmer moved viewers after sharing his journey of leaving his farm behind to start fresh in a modest apartment, remaining hopeful and grateful despite the dramatic lifestyle change.
• A seasonal farmer operating heavy machinery in the United States on an H-2A visa shared how creating educational videos about the recruitment process helps him cope with homesickness.
• An Afrikaner farmer living in the United States on an H-2A visa offered a look into his journey by sharing a tour of his spacious, fully furnished home provided as part of his agricultural employment.

Source: Briefly News