Random thoughts on ag labor shortage

[AlanB]

I can't speak to why farmers may or may not use the h2a program but for me, whether or not there were people wanting to come work for my landscaping company the hoops that you are made to jump through to get the visas are slightly ridiculous, not to mention expensive. That may have an affect on why they may or may not be used. If there is a significant cost to apply for and get the H2A visas and the farmers are already working with razor thin profit margins, they aren't going to spring for a bunch of money to get labor. Especially when labor used to be readily available in the form of illegal/legal immigrants. I'm no expert but the whole complexity of the visas programs seems to me to be supporting a niche industry of companies whose sole purpose is to get visas for companies. Simplifiy the process, make less work for the government and the applicant, and you can take out the middleman thus saving both sides money. Too simple really.

I think the last three words sum up why the Government will not do it.

 

[Jimmyp5]

I agree the process seems pretty stiff... I just looked at it and all the contractors on the web who manage the workers and paper work. For those like me you really don't know the process I attached a file from one of the contractors that shows what they have to do in order to get the workers into the US. Lot's of steps, I noted there rate of $14.50 per hour to do this...could get costly. But that really is a unknow unless you talked to the company directly.

As a long time Fed, at the exective level the effort needed to get this done does not susprise me. Treaty's, worker laws etc... all come into play...not that it good or bad it the process of protecting guess workers...

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

All along, I maintained an off farm full time job that far exceeded my farm income. In short, I "survived" farming at night and made a decent living by day.

I never did consider myself "wealthy", however, by the time I called it quits, my net worth was beyond my wildest dreams. It can be done. If I can pull it off, it's not at all impossibe.

Not sure I have anything to offer to those guys who need big numbers of helpers who'll work for chicken feed other than there's better ways to go about making a living.

FMJ, You offer me the wealth of your wisdom learned from years of your work ethic and I appreciate that.

I attribute your wealth to a number of things just from reading your posts over the years.

Partly due to being a "part time" farmer full time worker.

Partly due to having family help when needed and keeping things within your realm.

But I think its mostly due to the fact that even though you think you are wealthy, your not too "high horsed" to rebuild a worn out $75 dollar plow and make into something you can use.

Your a Great American.