FWMA Update Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Farmers and ranchers are facing escalating costs and challenges to their operations that, at last count, was forcing the closure of 14 Washington farms and ranches PER WEEK.
U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse doesn’t like the sound of that …
NEWHOUSE … “That’s a very disturbing number that you give that we’re losing farms at that rate, but it’s the truth. It’s what’s happening. It’s happening in the state of Washington. It’s happening all over the country.”
But the Sunnyside Republican says there is work being done to help solve some of the problems …
NEWHOUSE … “Part of the solution, it’s not all of it but a part of the solution is to have a reliable, legal workforce in our country. So, my legislation, the Farm Work Modernization Act, I think, does a lot of good things to help provide that reliable, legal workforce.”
But Newhouse says it’s not yet made it out of committee …
NEWHOUSE … “But frankly, Bob, I’ve got to say, in the current environment, when we have the number of illegal crossings across the border, the southern border particularly, it’s really difficult to interest a lot of my colleagues in Congress on anything that has to do with the subject of immigration.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and why it’s still a good plan to follow.
