The Farm Workforce Modernization Act makes several needed changes to farm labor provisions, but according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, comes up short of delivering what farmers need.

 

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“Farmers need a wage methodology out of labor reform that allows them to compete against imports coming in from Central and South America where growers there can grow, ship and sell produce to be sold on America’s grocery shelves way below the cost that we can here in the U.S.," said Allison Crittenden, AFBF congressional relations director.  "The wage methodology that we are currently experiencing is putting farms out of business. So, what we need out of labor reform is a system that makes it affordable for farmers to stay in business.”

 

Crittenden added while the legislation adjusts the status of the current workforce and makes changes to the H-2A program, farmers and ranchers deserve more.

 

“We would like to see more changes to the wage methodology, we want to limit litigation exposure for frivolous lawsuits. We want to see real program access for year-round farmers. We don’t want to see caps on a year-round program, we want any farmer, anywhere, in any type of agriculture, to have access to the workforce that they need at price that won’t put them out of business.”

 

The House of Representatives passed the bill this week.  Crittenden said lawmakers need to hear from farmers and ranchers about what they need from any labor reform.

 

 

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