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Illinois is home to tens of thousands of farmworkers who contribute substantially to our state economy. Heading link

  • $ 19 bil. Generated by agricultural commodities, annually

  • 71,000 Farms in Illinois

  • 55,000 Farmworkers, 80% live in IL year round

A farm worker walks through a field of tall corn plants
Photo by Erik 🖐 on Unsplash

Illinois is a key producer of corn, soybeans, and hogs. But the state’s agriculture is diverse and includes many other crop, livestock, and greenhouse operations as well. Crop production happens seasonally, typically between April and December.

Some 55,000 hired migrant and seasonal farmworkers are employed in Illinois each year. Most (80%) live in Illinois year-round and shift into agricultural work in summer. “Follow the crop” workers are settled in the southern US and migrate north with the growing/harvest season. And “shuttlers” come across the border, often utilizing the H2A visa, a temporary work visa specific to agricultural work. Mainly, they come from Mexico and Central America.