Steady Labor Supply Crucial for Agriculture
By Kevin Rogers, President
Arizona Farm Bureau
The following editorial was printed in newspapers and portions broadcast on the airwaves across Arizona.
Arizonans deserve to be upset over the failure of our border and immigration policies. The system is broken and we know it in border states. The problems threaten and cost us in any number of ways. Understandably, as our frustrations reach the boiling point, some of the realities and sensibilities escape from the pot as rising steam.
I want to discuss one of these realities. It gets less attention than border security and enforcement. I appreciate that it has far less acceptance among public opinion, but with due respect, opinion does not always reflect what is real – and the reality is we need access to foreign pools of labor within a legal system.
You can say it is not so, and you can repeat it so many times you believe it, but that does not change the situation. I heard a speaker say, “I don’t understand your business (agriculture), but you don’t need to hire foreigners.” With due respect, if you don’t understand my business, then you may not be factual in your opinions. Political rhetoric and pandering can certainly change the dynamics of discussion, but it does not necessarily sway formidable economic challenges and demographics.
What I say holds for many other sectors, but I speak only for agriculture and without this access to foreign labor, we are quite literally out of business. We face an aging and increasingly educated native-born workforce. Our labor needs are often arduous and despite an embrace of technology, we rely heavily on unskilled sources of labor.
These sources are simply not available to us from the United States - in the supply needed and when they are needed. At the same time, studies show the need for unskilled labor increasing generally with supplies as uncertain. We do not take jobs away from willing native-born workers – there are plenty of opportunities by the way. In season, we need 30,000 per day during lettuce harvest in Yuma. Any takers?
About this time, your next argument is for us to pay higher wages and the problem will go away. Our wage rates continue to rise. Profit margins continue to be squeezed, but the argument only works for an unlimited supply of labor. It especially does not work if we eliminate access to the labor. Outside of agriculture, there are only 5,000 work visas for unskilled labor for this country, so this might begin to give you a feel for the problem.
When we say policies are broken, they are broken all the way around. And, if you still need convincing, please contact me for an extended discussion on markets and competition. I would enjoy it, and it might lead to greater understanding for both of us.
You may not like what I say, but we need comprehensive reform that includes border security, workplace enforcement and access to legal pools of foreign workers. All of this can fit together – not neat and tidy and not without cost, but we can have improved security and lawfulness without severe economic consequences.
Key words: Immigration reform in Arizona
