Ag Secretary on H-2A Pt 2
With Today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. Agriculture needs bodies to get much of the work done. And, many, if not most, of those bodies are here courtesy of H-2A visas allowing them to work for our farmers and ranchers.
On a recent “Sonnyside of the Farm” podcast, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says those guest workers are more “essential” now than ever …
PERDUE … “And, there’s a real labor shortage of farm labor in America and these people contribute to keep us fed and keep our national security throughout the food security chain in that way and I appreciate them and I appreciate the Department of State being very flexible in their ability to allow us to continue to process these workers as “essential” workers coming in to help our economy.”
And, Perdue says the government is doing it’s part …
PERDUE … “During this coronavirus, our partners across the federal government, including DHS and Border Patrol as well as the Department of State, and wave in-person interviews and streamline applications to ensure our farmers have access to labor so their crops can be planted, harvested and sold in market.”
Fortunately, Perdue says some of those workers are already here …
PERDUE … “The Department of Labor has also been very flexible in identifying over 20,000 workers remaining here, that they will allow their visas to be extended and moved from one contractor or one farm to another. So, that’s also helpful.”
Perdue says these flexibilities will allow our farmers and ranchers to utilize workers they need to get our food from the farm to our tables.
Check out “The Sonnyside of the Farm” podcast by going to
https://www.usda.gov/sonnyside
