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Custom Harvesters, AFBF react to travel ban labor exception
Agriculture groups are applauding the State Department’s move to promptly allow foreign farm workers from South Africa into the U.S.
Ryan Haffner from Kansas is a board member for the U.S. Custom Harvesters and utilizes the H-2A program every year. “Other than Mexico, South Africa would be probably the next biggest country for ag workers, and in the custom harvesting business, the South Africans would probably be the largest group of people from a certain country.”
Haffner says like the dairy industry, he would like a year-round permanent labor solution, but he uses the H-2A and J1 internship programs now. He says farmers and harvesters bringing workers in from western Europe had problems last year and they will likely experience trouble again this year. “I have visas for several people there that were never able to go, and some crews that I’ve spoken with, you know their largest group of workers comes from there so it would be great to see that exempted. Quite a few people come from Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.”
Haffner says not being able to get foreign workers into the U.S. would be devastating for both their businesses, the farmers they work for, and the food supply in general. He says the State Department’s quick action to allow more South African workers is a big relief.
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall issued a statement saying he is also appreciative of the State Department’s quick action to look at foreign ag workers on a case-by-case basis under a national interest exemption. Food and agriculture workers have been deemed essential during the pandemic.
American Farm Bureau Federation estimates around five thousand workers from South Africa would have been blocked by President Biden’s latest executive order on COVID 19 travel restrictions.
Nice article. We are a corn, and soybean farming operation in Southeast Iowa, and we also use H2A workers.
We have had 11 last year and plan on having that many again as well. It was a great relief that President Biden lifted the travel ban for the South Africans. We just don’t seem to get people who want to work in our area, so the South African H2A workers have really worked out well for our operation. Yes, we will have to have them quarantine before they can go get their licenses and Social Security numbers, but that is what has to happen. Our biggest issue on getting them back last year was interpretation of some rules. When they went to leave, they had to have a negative covid test, and South Africa said 72 hours prior to departure was when the test was needed to be done. At the Cedar Rapids airport, they said it was 72 hours prior to final arrival, which it takes them 2 days to get back home, so that really cuts into the time frame on when it can be done. I had to take one from Cedar Rapids, back to Washington and back to CR within a 2.5 hour time frame to get a second test done because his first flight got delayed and they said his first covid test had expired.
Some of the rules just need to be made clearer. But we can’t argue with the airlines because that is how they are getting home so you do what you have to do. They are here to work and for the most part are good workers. You soon learn who not to have return to your operation the next year.