Commentary: Import labor or import food--who will decide?

Issue Date: August 13, 2008

By Lynne Finnerty

Real leaders don't run from the responsibility of making tough choices. They make those decisions based on the best information available and a genuine desire to do what's right.

America has before it such a choice when it comes to the future of American agriculture. Global markets, the loss of domestic agricultural labor, the shrinking of the farm family, economic factors driving farm consolidation--all these are working together to change how we grow our crops, manage our orchards, harvest our fruits and vegetables and maintain our dairies. The fact is, either more workers will come to our country to help us with these tasks or we will have to import the food we will no longer be able to grow.

Unfortunately, many in Congress--influenced by voices like cable commentator Lou Dobbs--have neglected the responsibility to lead on the issue of immigration and farm labor reform. As a result, America is left with a choice by default: As our labor shortage worsens, we will depend on other countries for more of our food while our own agricultural economy shrinks by billions of dollars a year.

This is not a good choice in terms of food security or safety. Agricultural methods in the United States are among the best in the world. Pesticide and food safety rules guarantee Americans the highest-quality food available. Our ability to produce food in the U.S. ensures that we don't have to depend on others. Are we willing to give that up?

Unless Congress acts, we may have no choice. If American farmers cannot hire enough workers to plant, tend and harvest their crops, many will shutter their operations or move them south of the border.

It's already happening. According to Agriculture Department data, 13,280 farms went out of business from 2006 to 2007, and 84,155 acres of agricultural production have moved from the U.S. to Mexico.

One of the nation's most productive tomato growers, Keith Eckel of Pennsylvania, closed down this year because he couldn't get enough workers.

"If we went ahead and planted this season, we would have $1.5 million to $2 million worth of tomatoes in the field that we're not positive we can harvest. That's too big a risk," Eckel said.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein sponsored a bill this year to allow 1.35 million foreign agricultural workers to secure permits to remain in the country for five years if they work a certain number of days in agriculture. Feinstein's bill--a good start at providing at least short-term relief from the agricultural labor shortage--did not pass.

"No one wants to see the dissolution of the family farm, and I believe that's where we're going" if farmers can't get the workers they need, Feinstein says.

So, what happens next?

What you can do is talk to your neighbors, newspapers and elected leaders about this problem. If you or someone you know is facing a critical labor squeeze, tell your story.

What Congress should do is deal with this important economic issue. Not dealing with it won't make it go away, and it's an abdication of Congress' responsibility to make the tough choices and lead.

(Lynne Finnerty is the editor of FBNews, a publication of the American Farm Bureau Federation. She may be contacted at lynnef@fb.org.)

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item. Top