Ag Labor Remains A Concern For Secretary Perdue

It’s been a pressing question for many in the farming community, especially those in the tree fruit industry.  Legal farm labor.  Many in the ag community say H2A does not work, it’s too cumbersome and makes it too challenging for growers to find the help they need, especially during harvest.  During his recent trip to the Northwest, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said legal farm labor is a concern for him and the USDA.

“We don’t have enough domestic workers for many industries but particularly for the agricultural industry.  And it really gets down to do we want to import a legal work force or do we want to import our food?  And I think most people would like to continue to have their food produced in the United States, I certainly want to see that.”

But, Perdue said that food can’t be produced in the U.S. without a legal workforce.  He added it’s imperative that Congress address the issue sooner rather than later, so farmers can have certainty into the future.  He said his hope is lawmakers try to tackle Aglabor in July before breaking for their summer recess in August.

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