The search for seasonal labor in agriculture has started and many farmers and ag businesses are coming up empty handed.
Ron Sportel of Sportel Greenhouses in West Michigan tells Brownfield labor continues to be their number one issue and immigration uncertainty isn’t helping the situation. “The last two years have been absolutely horrible.”
Sportel says a lot of workers whether they are legal or not have left the country, leaving many in agriculture wondering how they will find enough employees that are necessary for this season.
“We do everything we can to mechanize and to make it flow better but there’s only so much you can do, you still need manual labor.”
He says they offer employees a much higher pay than minimum wage. They have a bit of advantage compared to some other seasonal employers because their season starts in January, but the continual search for labor is overwhelming.
Sportel’s concerns were echoed by many other agriculture groups during Ag Day at the capitol on March 22. The seasonal job search has started, and employers aren’t finding the labor supply they need.
Source: brownfieldagnews.com