WASHINGTON, D.C. –A delegation of agricultural leaders, farm worker advocates and employer representatives met last Friday with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to discuss the farm labor crisis and the outlook for comprehensive immigration reform.
The diverse and bipartisan delegation, which included the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR) and the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), met with Vilsack at the mid-year meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in Washington, D.C.
NASDA president and Delaware agriculture secretary Ed Kee presented examples of why the current farm labor crisis and immigration is a serious issue affecting the industry. He described the tough choices some growers have to make in order to stay in business. For example, he spoke of a Delaware vegetable farming family that has been resisting the pressures of urbanization even as labor concerns could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
“Agriculture utterly depends on a foreign-born workforce,” said Craig Regelbrugge, co-chair of ACIR, describing the worsening situation facing farmers who need labor. “Even in this recession, few Americans are seeking jobs on the farm. As our nation has become more urban and better educated, we’ve lost the culture of agriculture,” he continued.
Arturo S. Rodriguez, president of the UFW, described how the deplorable status quo is hurting farmers and farm workers, and how both sides came together to negotiate balanced, bipartisan and broadly-backed federal legislation known as AgJOBS.
“Either Congress acts to bring a solution, or we will continue to see our food production move to other countries,” Rodriguez said. “The United States depends on these farms and farm workers for food. AgJOBS secures America’s food supply and is the most practical and equitable solution in addressing grower concerns about labor shortages.”
Several state agriculture secretaries and commissioners spoke about the needs in their own states. Vermont Agriculture secretary Roger Allbee described the critical role foreign-born labor plays in his state’s dairy industry. Director Dan Newhouse of Washington State spoke about the devastation caused by an ongoing enforcement-only approach to the immigration challenges facing his state’s apple producers and others. New Mexico agriculture secretary Miley Gonzalez reported that cattle, dairy, and vegetable producers in his state are mobilizing and calling on Congress to act. “Industry involvement and support will be critical to getting bipartisan action and support for this important legislation,” he added. Other states rounding out the diverse and bipartisan agricultural leader delegation meeting with Vilsack included California, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah.
Vilsack reiterated his administration’s strong support for congressional action to repair America’s broken immigration system. He outlined the challenges, ranging from widespread public mis-perceptions to the serious implications inaction will have for our food supply. But, he also emphasized that political leadership for this issue must be bipartisan. He said respected leaders on both sides will need to stand up and counter the voices from the extremes on both parties. Finally, Vilsack made it clear that strong support from the grassroots is critical to the political leadership needed to get to solutions.