Farm Bureau Statement on Immigration Enforcement on Farms

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today expressed concern over reports that immigration enforcement focus will resume on farms and ranches.

“President Trump recently emphasized agriculture faces unique circumstances that warrant a different approach to enforcement practices. Agriculture is inherently labor intensive – farmers cannot care for crops and animals without the contributions of the men and women willing to do the hard work. These are dedicated employees who work alongside farm families every day.

“Current agriculture workforce programs are broken. They do not meet the year-round needs of farmers, and they’ve become so expensive they are out of reach for many farmers. Unfortunately, domestic workers do not apply for farm jobs, despite aggressive hiring efforts. Without farm workers, vegetables will be left in the fields, fruit will remain unpicked, and cows will go unmilked. The end result is a reduced food supply and higher grocery prices for all of America’s families.

“Congress must prioritize fixing the farm labor crisis that the President identified. Outdated systems must be modernized so farmers can find enough workers to help plant and harvest crops and care for livestock. America can have both a secure border and a labor program that provides a desperately needed and dependable farm workforce.”