North Carolina's congressional delegation is asking the U.S. Department of Labor to listen to farmers before making changes to the visas used by seasonal farm workers.

Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat, sent a letter (link below) co-signed by the state's other members of Congress to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Tuesday asking her and her agency to consider the concerns of farm families and agricultural groups about any possible changes to the H-2A visa program.

Those visas are for foreign laborers who work on farms for less than a year and are required to return to their home country. The Labor Department is considering possible changes in wage rates, as well as in transportation and contract requirements, and the agency is seeking public comments on the topic. 

Etheridge warned that some changes being considered could make the visa system more costly and burdensome to farmers and, ultimately, raise the grocery bills for consumers.