Ag Labor Summit Addresses Critical Shortage in Farm Country

Описание: In Ag Country, folks aren’t bashful in telling others that food security is national security. However, a real threat in the ability of our farmers and ranchers to raise the food and fiber we all enjoy is a shortage of labor-both domestic and foreign.

During the Ag Labor Summit in Billings, Montana, one of the speakers was James O’Neill, Director of Legislative Affairs with the American Business Immigration Coalition who talked about Immigration Policy and the Future of U.S. Agriculture.

For MSGA Director and rancher Kevin Elias from Chinook, Montana, he's wanting to learn more about the H2A program and foreign labor as family dynamics and the local workforce in our rural communities has changed.

O'Neill says that the lack of labor in Agriculture isn’t just an issue for farmers and ranchers, it ultimately affects consumers as well.

Montana Pulse Crop Committee President and farmer Brian Aklestad From Galata was one of the panelists regarding The Role of Immigrant Labor in Agricultural sustainability and said foreign labor is essential on his operation

One of the key take aways from this Ag Labor Summit is, as long as these domestic labor force trends continue and American workers remain uninterested in seasonal or even full-time farm work, farmers and ranchers will continue to turn to alternative labor recruitment to ensure a dependable food system.

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