Opinion: Federal policy change means farmworkers in Maine will likely see a pay cut this year

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 1, 2026

the federal H-2A visa program, which allows foreign workers to work in seasonal agricultural jobs in the United States. A key part of the H-2A program is the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, or AEWR. For most of 2025, the AEWR for H-2A workers in Maine was $18.83, well above the current state minimum wage of $15.10. For 2026, the baseline AEWR for most H-2A workers in Maine will be $14.81. By law, these workers cannot be paid less than the state minimum wage, but this still works out to a potential pay cut of up to $3.73 per hour. We are lucky to live in a state with such rich and diverse agriculture. But we must also remember the lives and livelihoods of the workers who bring this produce to us and reflect on what fairness demands that we provide these workers in return. ~ Michael Haedicke