Labor Simplified
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Finding enough labor is a big concern for U.S. agriculture, especially in the fruit and vegetable sector.
Oregon farmer Mike McCarthy says tree fruit has few options to automate labor functions like many other types of agriculture …
McCARTHY … “Many people who grow fruit and vegetables in the United States have not been able to mechanize to the extent of some types of agriculture. Sixty percent of our budget goes to labor in our operation. We handpick, and we do a number of other operations that all require hand labor.”
McCarthy says the solution for his farm has been the H-2A visa program. But there are several barriers …
McCARTHY … “It's very complicated, and we need to do a lot of things to make it so it's farmer-friendly. A lot of farms are family farms. We don't have an HR department with seven employees. We really need assistance. We have to hire an ag labor procurement agency, which helps us get through the process, but it's very expensive.”
McCarthy says farmers need to work together and speak up to find solutions for the labor challenges …
McCARTHY … “I encourage all farmers to spend a certain amount of time getting involved with their farm organizations, whatever they are. Continue to give our message that we've got to have a competitive, profitable agricultural industry to feed America.”
Learn more at www.fb.org/labor .
