2017 Fall Farm Outlook

2017 Logan County Fall Farm Outlook Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Oct. 25, 2017 Page 29 A growing problem everywhere Continued ►► FARM LABOR: S ince early spring there has been a sign out in front of Topflight’s Kruger elevator advertising for a company called StaffQuick, a temp agency that Topflight uses to recruit the seasonal and temporary workers that they need. Todd Steinberg, Western Region Division Manager at Topflight, said that StaffQuick comes once a week to their conference room to interview applicants. “It has worked better than some other things we have tried,” says Steinberg. When asked if it completely took care of their staffing needs, Steinberg responded that there is always the unanticipated work rush that comes on and then it is usually impossible to find the help we need. Most of the country is reporting a shortage in agricultural workers. In states where agricultural workers tend and pick produce, there has been a very high shortage of workers. Changes in national politics and immigration policies have led to fewer immigrant workers entering the country. In the United States, 50 percent of agricultural jobs are filled by immigrant workers and they are staying away because they fear the person and the policies of President Donald Trump, who is waging war against undocumented entry into the United States in order to fill the job ranks with American citizens instead of foreign immigrants. But the result is that American citizens don’t seem to want those jobs. Seasonal and temporary jobs, unsanitary conditions, manual back-breaking labor, and working outside all day don’t seem to suit most Americans. Several states report that produce has rotted on the vine because of the significant shortage of agricultural workers. The result will be higher produce prices and maybe even shortages because the crops just don’t pick themselves. By Jim Youngquist