DELMARVA — The Department of Homeland Security has issued a memo clarifying that dairy farms may be eligible to bring in H-2A guest workers, as long as specific duties qualify as temporary or seasonal. The guidance, released Wednesday, notes that federal law already includes dairying in its definition of agricultural labor covered by H-2A.
Under the new guidance, the key test is not the type of work performed but whether the position itself is genuinely temporary or seasonal. The memo also states that consecutive petitions are permitted if duties differ meaningfully between periods.
Cattle Markets
USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report shows steep declines across key metrics. University of Tennessee agricultural economist Charley Martinez noted that May placements were down 10% compared to 2025, and marketings of fed cattle came in 12% below last year — the second lowest May total on record.
Markets
At Thursday’s close, July corn settled at $4.17½/bu, down 3½ cents. July soybeans fell 9¼ cents to close at $11.22¾/bu. July Chicago wheat dropped 7 cents to $6.05¾/bu.
At Laurel Grain Company in Laurel, Delaware, December corn is bid at $4.59/bu and November soybeans at $10.93/bu.
Forecast
Skies are partly sunny Friday with a high of 83°F. Saturday brings sunshine and a high of 84°F, favorable conditions for fieldwork.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, June 19, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
