Opinion: Looking At Labor

The heated war of words over Arizona’s new immigration law has put the debate back on top of the table. In agriculture, we appreciate the complexity of this issue and the need to have a stable workforce in place to work in the fields and groves. Having said that, I don’t like the fact that some people are ganging up on Arizona. As a border state, I can appreciate voters there feeling as though they are under siege. Literally, thousands are killed in drug-related violence on the border every year. With lack of federal direction, they felt they had to act — and they did.

The federal government has filed a lawsuit against the state, noting its primacy over immigration policy. Gov. Jan Brewer replied, “As a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement, Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels. Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice.”

AgJobs Back?

To say the lines have been drawn in the sand would be an understatement. But, this whole argument may force a renewed effort for comprehensive reform. One such reform is the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act (AgJobs). It would provide temporary legal residence to about 1 million undocumented farmworkers and up to 150,000 workers in Florida.

AgJobs has enjoyed wide support from farm groups and labor groups. It has been on the brink of passage several times, but loses steam before crossing the finish line. Some hope the renewed interest brought on by Arizona will help this first step in reform finally get passed.

To me, AgJobs makes common sense. Growers want to hire people who are in the country legally. And, farm labor wants to be here with peace of mind ICE won’t be paying a visit to the fields or packinghouses. For those on the “build a wall, send them all home” side of the argument, AgJobs is a temporary measure and should be a fair compromise. But, I get a feeling those folks aren’t that interested in compromise.

So, here we are with a problem that is decades old. In that time, both sides of the debate have gotten awfully good at pointing the finger at one another, but not so much at finding a solution. Hopefully, Arizona will shine a spotlight on our collective failure and lead us to an answer.

Welcome Aboard Board

One final note. I’d like to welcome members of our new editorial advisory board. We look forward to their feedback on how Florida Grower can serve its readers even better in print and online. Members are listed below.

UF/IFAS: Brian Boman
Plant Nutrition: Gerald O'Conner - KeyPlex
Financial: Dave Kernodle - Carden & Associates
Citrus: Andrew Meadows - Florida Citrus Mutual
Citrus Growers: Jerry Newlin - Quinton Rose
Vegetable Growers: Paul Allen - Hank Scott
Crop Protection: Donny Oleniczak - Bayer CropScience

I invite any of you to share your thoughts on how we are doing or give us a tip on stories you think we should be covering.

The heated war of words over Arizona's new immigration law has put the debate back on top of the table.