Labor Reform

Without labor reform, the current House proposal on a national E-Verify mandate could prove burdensome to agriculture. Agriculture needs access to a legal and stable labor force, according to American Farm Bureau congressional relations director Kristi Boswell. However, given the current political climate, Boswell says the issue is facing an uphill battle.

Boswell: It makes things a little more complicated when things are politicized, but we are still working hard. Ag labor on the ground is still an important issue, our farmers are struggling to find workers every day and as harvest seasons start really ramping up, the need is exhibited more and more, so we are trying to convey that message to members of Congress.

Boswell says agriculture needs a guest worker system that is easy to navigate for farmers.

Boswell: We need to make sure we have a new guest worker program administered by the USDA that allows for more flexibility and one that's much more streamlined and efficient so a small grower or a big grower can all use it without having to hire agents and lawyers, we need something that's simple and works on the ground.

Boswell says agriculture wants to play by the rules.

Boswell: Farmers out there want to play by the rules, and we want to make sure our workforce is legal and make sure we have the proper documentation for all our workers. However, taking on that responsibility without a legal workforce, is just to devastating for us to take that risk. We continue to work on substantive legislation and hope that any mandatory E-Verify legislation goes forward.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.