Fixing Visas & Still Hot and Dry

Fixing Visas & Still Hot and Dry. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Yesterday we reported on the computer problem creating headaches for farmers trying to get workers up from the border who are stuck there waiting for immigration officials to print visas. Very late on Wednesday we received word that a fix was in order. Congressman Dan Newhouse has asked for fix that would be more permanent.

NEWHOUSE: There was a similar situation, I believe, a year ago where they granted an emergency provision to allow those workers entry since they had already completed all the necessary documentation so they were allowed into the country to work. And then the State Department can work on their technical fixes that they need to accomplish so this won’t happen again.

Indeed that’s what has happened again and according to officials those workers should be moving north as we report this. A permanent fix has not been undertaken.

According to USDA meteorologist, Brad Rippey it doesn’t look like we are going to be getting much of a reprieve in the weather any time soon.

RIPPEY: Temperatures previously last week had been up in the 100 degree plus range as far north as South Central Washington. Temperatures have backed off a little bit. In general we’re still seeing above normal temperatures throughout the western U.S. west of the Rockies.

Which is increasing the demand for more irrigation waters that we just don’t have.

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.