Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Talks About Farm Labor Shortage Report

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Talks About Farm Labor... (Added: January 05, 2012)

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Georgia's top agriculture official is speaking out about a study by his department about the availability of farm workers. (more)

0 Ratings | 8 Video Views

Post a Comment or Rate this Video

» View More Videos

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Talks About Farm Labor Shortage Report

Credit: Tuquyen Mach

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black speaks to group at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah.

By: Tuquyen Mach | WSAV News 3
Published: January 05, 2012

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) --

Georgia's top agriculture official is speaking out about a study by his department about the availability of farm workers.

Lawmakers ordered the study in Georgia House Bill 87, the state's crackdown on undocumented workers.

In the report issued Tuesday, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said Congress must fix the nation's immigration system so farmers have the labor they need to harvest crops.

Farmers participating in the study said they have suffered roughly $10 million in crop losses because of labor shortages.

The report calls existing guest worker programs that require farmers to check workers' status through a federal database too cumbersome.

It also calls for more education about temporary worker programs.

Black was in Savannah Thursday afternoon to speak to a group at the Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. He said Congress just needs to step up to the plate to reform the system.

"The buck stops at the federal level. We need to reform H-2A, develop a different brand, and come up with a 21st century guest worker program that works for all of agriculture in Georgia and America," said Black.

Black said it appears that fear about the state's illegal immigration legislation contributed to the reduction in workforce.

The study included responses from 138 Georgia counties, with more than 800 producers participating.