News

Farm Bureau concerned about farmworker bill

Some farm groups are exercising caution when it comes to a farmworker bill that’s been introduced in the U.S. House.

Michigan Farm Bureau’s national legislative counsel John Kran says their organization and the American Farm Bureau have not endorsed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act yet because it currently falls short of Farm Bureau policy by increasing farm employers’ vulnerability and it doesn’t provide a viable long-term solution for the farm sector

He says while there are some good components of the bill, four areas need to be addressed including making wages more market-based and competitive for growers, visa caps, mandatory E- verify and the placement of H-2A workers under the Migrant Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.

The United Farm Workers and many major farm groups support the legislation, including the National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, National Milk Producers Federation, United Fresh Produce Federation and Western Growers Association.

Impeachment hearings could make it difficult for the legislation to move forward.