presidential paradigms
The Facts About Immigration Reform
Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation
People often argue with
others’ opinions. In fact, we
tend to enjoy it. The comments
section of any news website is
evidence of that.
It’s much more difficult
(and pointless) to argue with
the facts. So it’s great when
farmers have economic data
that bears out what they
are seeing on their farms
and ranches. “Don’t
take my word for it,”
they can say. “See for
yourself.”
On the issue of
immigration reform,
we have the facts. As
congressional leaders
debate an immigration
overhaul, Farm
Bureau has released an
economic study that
lets us see for ourselves
how labor shortages are
hurting agriculture and
the impacts of various
immigration reform
proposals on food
production and prices.
We All Pay the Price
The study shows that
if Congress goes the
enforcement-only route, America would lose about
$60 billion worth of its food production. Of course,
when production goes down and demand is the same
or growing, prices go up, and that’s exactly what
would happen with food. The report shows that food
prices would rise by 5 or 6 percent on top of normal
price increases if Congress focuses solely on steppedup enforcement. We’ll all pay a price, farmers
and consumers alike, if Congress does not couple
4 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
immigration enforcement with measures to create a
more stable labor supply.
Farmers depend heavily on an immigrant labor
force – not because they want to, but because often
those are the only workers they can get for seasonal
and physically demanding farm work. We know ѡ