155. The Labor Dilemma

Guest post by Austin Lyons, Chipstrat

The Labor Dilemma

Austin Lyons is a Senior Product Manager at Blue River Technology where he uses his MBA, engineering background, and entrepreneurial spirit to shape the future of autonomous agriculture. Outside of work, this Iowa dad of four trains for marathons and writes about the semiconductor industry at Chipstrat. 

When I talk to farmers, the conversation inevitably turns to the struggle of finding and keeping reliable workers. They're competing for local talent with industries like retail, warehousing, and even work-from-home jobs. Even family farms see their kids choosing other paths. One farmer summed it up: “I have a great team, but am I overwhelmed with job applications? No. Not even in my little agricultural town.”

Government data reveals a shrinking American farm workforce. Surveys by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service show a decline in the number of workers, while the Economic Research Service reports a shift in demographics. Farms are employing fewer fami…