Short on Labor, Farmers in US Shift to Mexico (visas, illegal immigrants, wages)

[Mach50]

Short on Labor, Farmers in US Shift to Mexico

She predicted that more American farmers would move to Mexico for the ready work force and lower wages. Ms. Feinstein favored a measure in the failed immigration bill that would have created a new guest worker program for agriculture and a special legal status for illegal immigrant farm workers.

In the past, some Americans have planted south of the border to escape spiraling land prices and to ensure year-round deliveries of crops they can produce only seasonally in the United States. But in the last three years, Mr. Nassif and other growers said, labor force uncertainties have become a major reason farmers have shifted to Mexico.

I have a customer base that demands we produce and deliver product every day," he said. "They don't want to hear the excuses." He acknowledges that wages are much lower in Mexico; he pays $11 a day here as opposed to about $9 an hour in California. But without legal workers in California, he said, "I have no choice but to offshore my operation."

[RedNC]

All the farmers need to do is go to the nearest construction site and remind the workers that they need to go back to the jobs they promised to work when they were granted temporary worker visas.

[Hawkeye48]

Let them go to Mexico, the farms here aren't going to go anywhere. They'll be purchased by investors and utilize automated picking.

[citigirl]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye48

Let them go to Mexico, the farms here aren't going to go anywhere. They'll be purchased by investors and utilize automated picking.

I think this is a great idea since it was these farmers that brought all these illegal immigrants in to begin with. Adios!