07/05/06 Immigration Still A Hotbed

While the government is trying to settle the market access issue another issue is still on the minds of Ag producers across the northwest. The immigration issue is far from being settled and it has not been easy on local producers who are unsure of what to expect. Mike Wade general manager with Columbia Fruit Packers is hoping for a positive change. WADE: Well it's frustrating because obviously there's a lot up in the air right now and I'd like to think that whenever we get to some changes that the changes are going to be positive for our industry but at this interim sort of period of time, I'm quite concerned. I don't know common sense doesn't seem to be prevailing at the moment. Congress is equally concerned and unsure of what the future holds. Washington Congressman Doc Hastings does not think it is a dead issue and still thinks an agreement can be met. HASTINGS: It's too early to say that definitively but clearly there hasn't been movement on both the House or the Senate and we tend to work on deadlines. There has to be some movement when we come back after the Fourth of July work period but things can come together very quickly and we'll just have to see. I continue to one that believes that border security is very important but we need to have a workable guest worker bill for our agriculture based industry. Wade says that the shortage of labor is a very real issue right now. WADE: Well we have growers very concerned about the supply of labor and I know in one of our blocks here in East Wenatchee our manager over there was hoping to have 20 pickers on his first day and he had seven. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.