Migrant farm worker shortage

[Farmer]

National Public Radio report. Text below:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/05/26/pm_immigration/#

Swine flu yields bad news for farmers
Farmers in the Southeast are worried they won't have enough help from seasonal migrant workers due to fallout from the swine flu. Janet Babin reports.


TEXT OF STORY
Kai Ryssdal: Although the immediate fear of a global swine flu pandemic has quieted, the aftershocks of the early stage of the outbreak are still spreading. Farmers in the Southeast are having a hard time finding enough migrant labor to work their fields this year. The virus has created backlogs on both sides of the border that are keeping legal migrants idle. Marketplace's Janet Babin reports now from North Carolina Public Radio.


JANET BABIN: They may look like any other root vegetable. But sweet potatoes are a labor-intensive crop.

Sue Johnson-Langdon: They're transplanted by hand and then they're harvested by hand.

That's Sue Johnson-Langdon with the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission. She says this year there aren't enough workers to do the transplanting. After the swine flu outbreak, Mexico closed its immigration offices.

JOHNSON-Langdon: Which is where the workers get their travel visas and their work documents, and get documented in order to enter the country.

There have been no reported cases of legal migrant workers with swine flu. Mexico has since reopened its immigration offices. And migrant workers have begun to trickle into sweet potato, lettuce and tobacco fields. But the delay has left many U.S. farmers scrambling.

Tony Asion is with the Latino advocacy group El Pueblo. He says the virus made the immigration process tougher for workers and for farmers.

Tony Asion: They want to do everything on the up and up and not hire undocumented workers, but the reality is that they don't have enough people to work and as a result, they may very well lose a big chunk of their crops.

And that, in turn, could end up costing us more at the grocery store.

In Durham, N.C., I'm Janet Babin for Marketplace.

 

[the doctor]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

The CDC in their comment on seasonal farm workers vulnerability to pandemic influenza stated that about half of them were illegal aliens with little to no access to health care and who live in crowded conditions when working in the US. They also are within the high risk age group for mortality and morbidity being predominately in the age 15 to 45 age group.

Under pandemic conditions, these folks will be at great risk something pointed out by the CDC who reminded their employers under US law OSHA regulations governing how their workers are treated still apply irrespective of whether or not their employed are within the US legally.

This is an incredible hypocrisy in my view. Consider this, without the hard work by these people, we can not feed the US population yet we consider their presence within the US a crime?

GW

 

[mixin]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

This is an incredible hypocrisy in my view. Consider this, without the hard work by these people, we can not feed the US population yet we consider their presence within the US a crime?

I'm sure our toes are touching the FT policy line here; otherwise, I would answer this.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

This is an incredible hypocrisy in my view. Consider this, without the hard work by these people, we can not feed the US population yet we consider their presence within the US a crime?

I don't have a problem responding with support for this sentiment, even though I too am subject to getting my hand slapped.

Dr. Woodson has stated an opinion that does not malign nor denigrate any one person, or whole class, or race of people.

On the whole, the post shows a great deal of compassion for the plight of migrant workers.

 

[NurseNalts]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

In response to the migrant worker health care needs, my new job as resource nurse for a migrant worker Head Start begins on Monday. Through federal and state funding we will be providing free (covered by taxpayer monies) daycare, healthcare, family referrals, housing support, health education and resources, prenatal/postpartum, WIC, vaccinations, well child care and ill child referrals (all expense paid), even dental and eye care (including vouchers for oral surgery if needed.)and the list goes on. A part of my job description, I will treat diaper rash, assess and facilitate treatment of pinworms and such, pick lice nits, provide transportation in my personal car under company policy, whatever is needed within policy.

We are funded to provide for 52 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Over the counter and prescription medications are paid for. Diapers are supplied along with formula, sippy cups, tooth brushes and tooth paste. There are resources for food, clothing, shelter, spiritual care, family counseling, drug treatment and educational resources and full access to local/regional hospitalization if needed.

I recognize that this represents a MINUTE number of children that are involved in the migrant worker "system". And I sympathize that their lives are very difficult ones. But there are resources here.

We do not ask for documentation regarding legal status, though more paperwork is required if MA is applied for.

I see the inconsistency in the system needing workers to grow the food we need yet cracking down on the illegal immigration. But consider the public health risk that he illegal immigrants present to our local area?!

I have this job because of that risk, all federal/state funded. These children (be it a small number) will have better access to fully paid health/dental/mental health care than I can provide my own kids (since I opt to not go on the federal dollar.)

IMHO, in our area at least, there are many resources for migrant families who have choosen or have been economically forced into that lifestyle.

I don't know for certain how a migrant worker shortage may affect our agricultural area, but those who are here and are enrolled by their guardians will have reasonable access to resources.

 

[NurseNalts]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

I wanted to add, regarding health care for adult migrant workers, we're coordinating with local/county public health to provide mobile health vans, provide health screenings and assessments, basic clinic care with N.P.'s, vouchers for referrals to specialists, vaccinations, health fairs, assistance with family social service issues, transportation and more.

 

[mixin]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

I don't have a problem responding with support for this sentiment, even though I too am subject to getting my hand slapped.

Dr. Woodson has stated an opinion that does not malign nor denigrate any one person, or whole class, or race of people.

On the whole, the post shows a great deal of compassion for the plight of migrant workers.

I am not in support of his sentiment. Illegal immigration is probably something which we should not get into here.

 

[Farmer]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

In response to the migrant worker health care needs, my new job as resource nurse for a migrant worker Head Start begins on Monday. Through federal and state funding we will be providing free (covered by taxpayer monies) daycare, healthcare, family referrals, housing support, health education and resources, prenatal/postpartum, WIC, vaccinations, well child care and ill child referrals (all expense paid), even dental and eye care (including vouchers for oral surgery if needed.)and the list goes on. A part of my job description, I will treat diaper rash, assess and facilitate treatment of pinworms and such, pick lice nits, provide transportation in my personal car under company policy, whatever is needed within policy.

We are funded to provide for 52 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Over the counter and prescription medications are paid for. Diapers are supplied along with formula, sippy cups, tooth brushes and tooth paste. There are resources for food, clothing, shelter, spiritual care, family counseling, drug treatment and educational resources and full access to local/regional hospitalization if needed.

I recognize that this represents a MINUTE number of children that are involved in the migrant worker "system". And I sympathize that their lives are very difficult ones. But there are resources here.

We do not ask for documentation regarding legal status, though more paperwork is required if MA is applied for.

I see the inconsistency in the system needing workers to grow the food we need yet cracking down on the illegal immigration. But consider the public health risk that he illegal immigrants present to our local area?!

I have this job because of that risk, all federal/state funded. These children (be it a small number) will have better access to fully paid health/dental/mental health care than I can provide my own kids (since I opt to not go on the federal dollar.)

IMHO, in our area at least, there are many resources for migrant families who have choosen or have been economically forced into that lifestyle.

I don't know for certain how a migrant worker shortage may affect our agricultural area, but those who are here and are enrolled by their guardians will have reasonable access to resources.

We also have many undocumented restaurant and food processing plant workers in the US. I agree that people harvesting our food, preparing it, processing it, should be people with access to health care.

They should also have paid sick leave so that if they are ill, they can stay home and still have money to feed themselves and their children. Think of all the foodborne disease outbreaks ultimately linked to sick food handlers.

The health of the 'least' among us, affects us all.

Please note- I do not view people who perform manual labor as the 'least' aming us. I perform heavy manual labor every day! My point is that many view this issue as an 'us' versus 'them' resource allocation issue. People do not see that we are all in this together.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

.....I agree that people harvesting our food, preparing it, processing it, should be people with access to health care.

They should also have paid sick leave so that if they are ill, they can stay home and still have money to feed themselves and their children

This already occurs with food service workers regardless of the citizenship status. Assuming that illness comes from outside any country is a big mistake. While the food industry may warrent extra consideration, there are many public-contact jobs where people don't have insurance and are forced to work sick.

The real question is, are you willing to pay the higher costs of goods or take a lower return on your stock market investments, so that necessary health policies can be implemented?

.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

Yes! I am...

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

Duplicate post

 

[the doctor]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

Snicklefritz, please forgive me for walking on the edge here. This was not my intention.

As a doctor, I don't see people in terms of class or ethnicity nor do I see them in terms of their gender or sexual orientation. I don't even care about their politics or their insurance status! These factors are important for me to know only in terms of how I might best be of service to them.

The point I was trying to make is that the health of most of the field labor on the farm in the US as well as the majority of those employed in meat packing plants is important to all people who live in this country. Why because the most of the food on our table passes through their hands with the exception of that produced overseas that we consume.

These workers are at high risk from pandemic flu for the reasons mentioned above in my first post for this thread. They need and deserve our help because they, like we are human beings and we have now become dependent upon them for the food we eat.

This is the current situation whether we like it or not. If by magic we could remove all here illegally from our country pronto, it would result in a significant and prolonged food shortage in the US and frankly worldwide since we produce a surplus of food that supplies the world.

NurseNalts; God bless you and your mission. How exciting! I wish you the very best in your work and congratulate you on your courage to take this position. I am sure you will find this work extremely satisfying. You have the potential to change the lives of everyone you touch during this tour of duty. I wish I was able to serve beside you.

Grattan Woodson, MD

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

Dr. Woodson, no need for forgiveness. I think we're on the same page.

In fact, I'd add a twist to part of your post:

These workers are at high risk from pandemic flu for the reasons mentioned above in my first post for this thread. They need and deserve our help because they, like we are human beings and we have now become dependent upon them for the food we eat.

(emphasis mine)

That's really another way of saying 'we' are in need of 'thier' help - isn't it?

 

[the doctor]

Re: Migrant farm worker shortage

Yes, in truth we all need each other. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Everyone counts and this is why it is my goal to do what I can to see that as many of us make it through this thing in one piece.

For our species to make a recovery from the catastrophe that I think possible requires this.

Thanks for getting it in one Snicklefritz. Obviously you have a good heart.

GW