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Custom harvesters’ labor tight-rope

The future of custom combining in the U.S. is threatened by labor and fuel issues, says an officer with U.S. Custom Harvesters.

Dan Misener says trying to get people in the U.S. to work during the harvest season is next to impossible…

“A lot of guys have switched to H2A labor. They can come in, they can work and they can go home. But, the way immigration is going it’s getting to the point where it’s virtually impossible to get them here and IF you can get ‘em here, the rules and regulations with the Department of Labor has just gotten to the point where it’s just going to start putting custom harvesters out of business.”

Misener says his group is pushing Congress for immigration reform. He says another problem is H2A workers being unable to get a hazardous materials endorsement with their Commercial Drivers License for loads over 119 gallons…

“What we want to be able to do is haul 1,000 gallons of fuel from the supplier to our combines without having to have a HAZMAT on your CDL.”

Misener says they’re hopeful that provision will be included in a comprehensive transportation bill this year. He tells Brownfield U.S. Custom Harvesters has been working on that issue since the 1990s.

AUDIO:  Interview with Dan Misener at 2014 NAFB Trade Talk (4:00 mp3):