May/June 2020 - 33

Ag labor reform never more critical
Most Americans
have likely seen the
bumper sticker slogan,
" No farms. No food. "
But few are aware of
NATIONAL
POTATO
COUNCIL
Kam Quarles
Chief Executive
Officer
the less catchy reality:
" No foreign farm
workers. A whole lot
less food. " It doesn't
roll off the tongue
but it's a reality that
growers have lived with
for years. The pressure
is particularly acute for
those in the specialty crop industry especially
during planting and harvesting seasons.
As the current COVID-19-induced
international shutdown moves from days into
weeks and potentially into months, American
consumers are recognizing what growers
have long known: the nation is dependent
on foreign labor to get food grown on our
nation's farms to our grocery stores and,
eventually, onto our plates.
With food insecurity at an all-time high
and people taking risks even to venture out
to stores, it is heartbreaking to read about
fields being ploughed under just because
we don't have the labor to pick the fruits
and vegetables ready for harvest. Should
the current pandemic stretch into the Fall,
growers could face a food crisis unparalleled
in our nation's history and stories about lost
harvests could become the new normal.
In the U.S., nearly 250,000 foreign guest
workers help plant and pick fruit and vegetables
each year. Even when the system is working its
most efficiently in processing H-2A visas, fewer
workers are available than is needed by the
industry. Unfortunately, now with the pandemic
slowing things down, many in the specialty
crop industry are reaching panic mode.
Even though the State Department has
relaxed rules allowing it to process visas
faster, companies are still having difficulties
getting workers they need on time. In the
highly perishable fruit and vegetable industry,
delays of even a few days can be damaging
to operations who count on workers showing
up during a narrow window to plant or
harvest. When that window is missed, the
impact can last an entire year.
While the pandemic has reduced the flow
of foreign workers into the United States
to the detriment of individual operations
and consumers alike, it has served to bring
national attention to the ongoing labor
shortage faced by the agriculture community.
It makes great sense that we should take
strong action, both in the short and long
term to make sure this labor force is secure.
For example, in regard to H-2A workers
and the crisis, it is unclear if their contribution
to a company's payroll can be counted
for purposes of securing a Paycheck
Protection Program loan. The Small Business
Administration should make it clear that these
essential legal workers should absolutely have
their paychecks counted, as clearly they are a
requirement that the farmer bears and part of
the business they are trying to protect.
In the early days of the pandemic, U.S. Rep.
Dan Newhouse - a fourth-generation farmer
from Sunnyside, Washington - joined NPC's
" Eye On Potatoes " podcast to discuss how ag
labor reform becomes even more critical during
a time of crisis. " We can no longer depend
on people without proper documents to work
on our farms, " he said. " There's too much at
stake not to have a legal workforce. "
We in the potato industry agree, which
is why we remain focused on enacting a
workable, efficient solution to address our
nation's longstanding farm labor challenges
both for the present and the future.
Unfortunately, with our federal government
focused on immediate needs surrounding
the pandemic, Senate negotiations
on the House-passed Farm Workforce
Modernization Act have stalled. Yet, as
families worry about their dwindling food
pantries, now is exactly the time to enact
long-term solutions that will provide
American agriculture with a stable, legal, and
reliable workforce now and into the future.
When - hopefully soon - the current
reality passes into our rearview mirror and
we resume a sense of normalcy, we as a
nation cannot fall back on relying on an
antiquated H-2A visa system that has been
a burden to growers and workers alike. As
the coronavirus has exposed and as foodinsecure
Americans now better understand:
There is too much at stake.
To download the episode, " U.S. Rep.
Newhouse on Ag Workforce Reform, and
NPC Celebrates National Ag Day, " search for
and subscribe to " Eye On Potatoes " in your
preferred podcast app.
Spudman * May/June 2020
33
May/June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2020
