Georgia Survey Finds Farmers Are Having Hard Time

Replacing Migrant Workers

A study by the Georgia Agriculture Department of the state farm workforce shows that finding legal
employees with the skill and desire to do labor-intensive harvesting is extremely difficult.
The reasons, says a report released Tuesday of the studys findings, include the complexity and
expense of government programs intended to help farmers employ guest workers, and the physically
demanding nature of many agricultural jobs.
The Agriculture Department undertook the study after Georgias legislators passed a measure that
targeted undocumented immigrants. The state General Assembly asked the agency to conduct a
study of immigration's role in the agricultural industry, which the report described as the states top
economic driver.
Farmers participating in the study said they have suffered roughly $10 million in crop losses
because of the law, which many say has driven away workers.
Fayette County Ga Business
It is both fitting and convenient to turn to agriculture when launching a discussion on [immigration],
wrote state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black in an introduction to the findings. Non-resident
immigrant laborers, those of legal and illegal status, harvest crops, milk cows, gin cotton and
maintain landscapes.
Georgia farmers and agribusiness employers," Black wrote, "widely attribute the need for these
workers due to the fact that local citizens do not generally possess or care to develop the specialized
skills associated with agriculture and, further do not regularly demonstrate the work ethic necessary
to meet the productivity requirements of the farm business.
Other studies conducted in the state last year also indicated that the law appeared to be having an
adverse impact on agricultural business.
The report said that the findings were preliminary and that more research was needed to assess
what impact the new immigration law was having on agriculture.
But one thing had emerged clearly, it said: Congress must fix the nation's immigration system to
make sure farmers have enough workers.
Black said a federal guest worker program is too cumbersome for farmers, many of whom said it was
off-putting because of its expense and excessive paperwork. Many employers surveyed said they
preferred to rely on word-of-mouth for finding workers.
When asked if they had difficulty finding workers, 56 percent said yes, and 36 percent said no. The
rest said the question was no applicable to their business.
Asked the reasons for the difficulty in finding workers, many said the work is too physically
demanding and difficult for U.S. citizens (non-immigrants), the report said. Respondents believe that
only immigrant workers are willing to do the tasks needed in their operations. An additional theme is

that respondents believe that it is difficult to find qualified and trained workers to aid in their
operation.
The report said that employers reported paying their workers at or above the federal minimum
wage, with some paying $15 per hour or more. But even with the state unemployment rate of nearly
10 percent, the report said, farm jobs remained difficult to fill.
Georgia tried using criminals on probation to fill some of the farm jobs, with mixed results. But while
some farmers who agreed to employ people on probation cited some deficiencies, a few said that it
was an option that deserved more consideration.
The report echoed many of the same concerns that Black voiced last year when he testified at a
Senate subcommittee hearing on immigration enforcement and farm labor.
Proponents of stricter immigration laws say Americans would be more willing to do some of the
hardest jobs immigrants do if the pay and conditions were better.
One group, Farmworker Justice, which advocates for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, called the
report disappointing because it did not include the views of employees.

The report gives these growers complaints

more than ample space, but there are no
voices of farmworkers, farmworker
organizations, said Bruce Goldstein, the
groups executive director.
Commissioner Black's report is
disappointing because the agricultural
laborers the focus of the report play no role
in the report. Despite lengthy surveys of
growers and other agricultural business
operators, the report lacks any input from
the seasonal farmworkers who are
supposed to be the main subject.
http://newmandvsuzqiwoh.wikidot.com/blog
:10
This story contains material from The
Associated Press.
Follow Elizabeth Llorente on Twitter:
@Liz_Llorente
Elizabeth Llorente can be reached
elizabeth.llorente@foxnewslatino.com
Follow us on twitter.com/foxnewslatino

Like us at facebook.com/foxnewslatino
Elizabeth Llorente can be reached at elizabeth.llorente@foxnewslatino.com. Follow her on
https://twitter.com/Liz_Llorente
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter & Instagram
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/01/03/georgia-agriculture-survey-finds-farmers-are-hav
ing-hard-time-replacing-migrant/
http://www.gcsu.edu/business