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Posts Tagged ‘georgia’
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
In the wake of major crops losses due to Georgia and Alabama’s tough new immigration laws, some Southern farmers are attempting to adjust to the new labor shortages by changing their crop rotations.
Over the last several months, both Georgia and Alabama passed a series of laws designed to reduce the flow of illegal immigration. Both states required employers to use the federal E-Verify system, which matches employment applications to federal records, both states empowered law enforcement to verify the status of individuals detained by police, and Alabama went as far as to require all students to verify their residency status.
Following the passage of these laws, many agricultural laborers left the state, creating major labor shortages on many farms. Farmers in both Georgia and Alabama have reported millions of dollars in lost revenue and many farms have reported crops rotting in the field with no one to pick them.
While many farmers are hoping that new federal regulations may make it easier to attract guest workers, many are also altering their planting patterns to reflect the new lack of labor. In Georgia, for example, labor intensive crops like Vidalia onions, the state’s official vegetable, may see a ten percent drop in production as farmers plant fewer acres, while crops that can be harvested mechanically are expected to see increased production.
In addition, many farmers are simply planting less in general. While this may reduce their total profits, eliminating wasted money on seeds and fertilizer for crops that may rot in fields can help reduce overhead and get farmers through this rough patch.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: alabama, farm labor, georgia, immigration
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Sunday, January 8th, 2012
According to a study by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, farmers across the state are having a difficult time replacing lost Hispanic farm workers. The study, released last week, concluded that given the complexity and demanding nature of agricultural jobs, the state would have a hard time replacing the diminished labor force.
The labor shortage is an ongoing result of last summer’s immigration battle. Georgia, along with several other Southern states, recently passed one of the strictest immigration bills in the country. The new laws would empower law enforcement to verify the residency status of individuals detained by police. In addition, it would require employers to utilize the federal E-Verify system, which taps into federal databases to verify residency status.
The new laws have prompted an outcry from immigrant rights groups and civil libertarians. In addition to political blowback, agricultural migrant laborers left the state in droves, hoping to avoid the harsh new laws.
This exodus of farm labor has created serious hardships on Georgia farms. Agricultural officials have estimated that the labor shortages have caused roughly $10 million of losses in the state. Acknowledging the importance of Hispanic workers, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black stated, “Non-resident immigrant laborers, those of legal and illegal status, harvest crops, milk cows, gin cotton and maintain landscapes.”
Black’s report is being used by agricultural officials across the country as evidence of the need for major reforms to the federal guest workers program.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: farm labor, georgia, immigration
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Sunday, November 6th, 2011
The state of Georgia is trying to improve farm transportation safety through a series of educational safety programs. In the midst of a busy harvest season, Georgia farmers are swarming state roads and highways. The combination of aggressive drivers and slow moving farm equipment can be dangerous. Last year the state experienced 300 farm related vehicle accidents. At least six of these involved fatalities.
In order to improve vehicular safety, Georgia transportation and agricultural officials have started the Yield Behind the Wheel campaign. The campaign focuses on increasing driver awareness and warning motorists to exercise caution when encountering farm vehicles.
According to Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black, “We’re hoping to reach out to Georgians and encourage safety during this harvest season because if we can impact one family, that’s our most precious commodity, we produce in Georgia.”
In addition to warning Georgia motorists, state officials have cautioned farmers to restrict their driving. Harris Blackwood, the Director of the Office of Highway Safety, stated, “We want to caution to all of our farmers that their vehicles have the slow moving vehicle triangular sign that is required by law, and that it’s up to date and people can see it. And don’t drive at awkward times like twilight or just before sunrise.”
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: farm safety, Gary Black, georgia
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011
According to studies from the University of Georgia, the state’s new immigration law could end up costing Georgia farmers millions of dollars in lost revenue. The immigration law, passed last July, requires all employers to use the federal E-Verify system, which matches employee information against a federal database to verify immigration status. In addition, the law gives the police the power to verify the immigration status of individual they arrest.
Shortly after the bill passed the state experienced an exodus of farm laborers. Farmers who grow the state’s seven largest crops reported labor deficits of nearly 6,000. Efforts by the governor to use convict and parolee labor failed when the overwhelming majority of parolees left the job after only a few days.
According to the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, farmers have lost over $140 million since the law went into effect on July 1. These massive losses also translate into a $390 million loss for the larger state economy and the loss of over 3,200 jobs, devastating news in the midst of the economic recession.
The Center for American Progress predicted even heavier losses for the state’s agricultural sector, releasing a report that indicated that the state could lose between $300 million and $1 billion as a result of lost labor.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: georgia, immigration, recession, unemployment
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011
Earlier this week, Georgia farm leaders, including the state’s agricultural commissioner, testified in front of the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security. In particular, the subcommittee was interested in investigating Georgia’s tough immigration laws and their impact on the state’s agricultural sector.
Earlier this summer, Georgia passed a series of tough immigration laws that cracked down on the hiring of illegal immigrants. In particular, the law required all employers to use E-Verify, an electronic residency verifier that matches potential employees with information on federal databases.
In the wake of these laws, Georgia has seen a dramatic dip in available farm labor. Many farms have reported being unable to adequately harvest their crops, with some farmers reporting crops rotting in the field. Overall the state has suffered tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue as a result of the labor shortage.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black acknowledged these losses in his Senate testimony. The state’s informal survey of farms revealed a deficit of about 11,000 farm labor jobs. Even with high state unemployment levels, farm labor is difficult to find.
The situation in Georgia, Black argued, demonstrates the need for a more comprehensive federal guest worker program. Black joins a growing list of American politicians who are calling for major revisions to the guest worker program to allow more migrant workers the ability to legally reside and work in the United States in order to meet agricultural labor needs.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: farm labor, georgia, immigration, work visas
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Sunday, October 9th, 2011
According to a comprehensive review by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has been remarkably lax in regulating large-scale factory farms. Over the past three years the organization has issued only a single fine for pollution violations. Environmental advocates claim that in a state with dozens of factory farms, officially known as concentrated animal feeding operations, this level of citation is grossly below average.
EPD officials say that the low numbers of fines are proof that Georgia farmers are acting responsibly and that there simply aren’t a high level of environmental violations. The EPD district coordinator claimed that the organization simply doesn’t receive many complaints.
Environmental activists disagree, claiming that the EPD is simply laying down on the job. In February, for example, a Georgia farmer was cited for dumping gallons of liquefied cow manure into a freshwater pond, a pond which fed into surrounding streams and water sources. After months of investigation, the farmer agreed to bring his farm up to regulation and attend waste management classes. He was not fined by the EPD.
This failure to regulate, activists claim, is endemic in the EPD. In addition to a reluctance to fine farmers, many of whom might simply go out of business in the face of high pollution fines, the EPD is also slow to regulate environmental violations. For example, the EPD took three years to fully investigate a southeastern Georgia poultry farm that was reported for improper manure storage.
In the wake of this heightened scrutiny, the federal Environmental Protection Agency is stepping in to monitor Georgia farm regulations, requiring reports and updates regarding farm pollution violations.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: EPA, georgia, pollution
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Sunday, September 18th, 2011
The Georgia Farm Bureau is currently accepting applications for agricultural scholarships for the 2012-2013 school year. Applications are due by February 24, 2012. In order to qualify, applicants must currently be high school seniors who are planning on entering the University of Georgia system or Berry College. In addition, they must plan on pursuing an undergraduate degree in an agricultural field, such as agricultural or environmental science.
The Georgia Farm Bureau will distribute over $14,000 to ten qualified seniors. The top three applicants will receive $3,000 divided between their first two years of college. The remaining several recipients will receive a onetime scholarship of $750.
Georgia farm officials are encouraging students to apply. “I would like to encourage any high school seniors in our county who are planning to pursue a degree in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences, or a related agricultural field to consider applying for the Farm Bureau Scholarship,” said Casey, Polk County Farm Bureau president.
This scholarship is the latest in a series of efforts by farm organizations across the country to encourage young people to enter the agricultural industry. Collectively, farming is an increasingly graying profession, with the average age of farmers steadily increasing.
In an effort to encourage younger people to enter farming, some states have offered tax credits and tax breaks to young farmers, while other have offered grants and favorable loans to young people entering the profession.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: agricultural scholarships, farm bureau, georgia
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Thursday, August 18th, 2011
According to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia’s state environmental protection agencies are failing to adequately inspect and protect environmental quality on many Georgia farms. The recent problems arise from large-scale pig and chicken farms, both of which generate large amounts of manure. The storage and removal of this manure is strictly regulated by the EPA and other state and federal agencies. Improper handling and disposal practices can lead to excess nitrogen and phosphorus leaching into groundwater.
According to the EPA’s Office of the Inspector General, however, state agencies have not been adequately inspecting and regulation manure lagoons on animal farms across the state. The EPA’s report indicated that roughly three-fourths of state inspections of Georgia large-scale farms were incomplete.
Georgia environmental advocacy groups used the EPA’s report as evidence of the need for further federal regulation and oversight. The executive director of the Georgia River Network stated, “It is surprising and unfortunate that Georgia is not doing everything it can to address these pollution problems.”
The EPA report has also generated controversy. Officers with the Georgia Environmental Protection Agency have asked for more time to investigate the EPA’s findings. At the present, they claim that they cannot completely get on board with the EPA’s conclusions.
In addition, some officers in the EPA do not believe that large-scale animal farms are responsible for pollution problems. According to Chris Plymale, the EPA’s Southeast storm water enforcement chief, there is no evidence from surface water sampling that can currently be traced back to large livestock farms.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: EPA, fertilizer, georgia, runoff
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Sunday, August 7th, 2011
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has indicated his willingness to resume the use of probationer labor on Georgia farms this fall. The need for farm labor is the result of a May immigration bill that sought to severely curtail illegal immigration in Georgia.
Georgia’s immigration legislation sought to mandate the use of E-Verify, an electronic residency verification system, and punished employers who evaded or ignored the law by hiring illegals.
The immigration bill resulted in a sharp decline in farm labor in the state. According to opponents of the bill, migrant laborers, both legal and illegal, left Georgia as a result of the strict legislation, an exodus which created a void of more than 10,000 jobs. These lost jobs are estimated to have cost the state more than $300 million since the law went into effect.
Earlier in the summer, Governor Deal and the state’s Department of Agriculture sought to address the loss of jobs by using probationer labor, claiming that giving jobs to former convicts on probation allowed them to develop valuable skills and while filling needed jobs. Despite these hopes, many probationers left their farm jobs after only a few days, citing backbreaking work and hot weather.
Georgia agricultural officials hope that the program will pick up more in the fall, when the weather changes, than it was last summer.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: georgia, immigration, Nathan Deal
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Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
Georgia farms are still reeling in the wake of the state’s tough new immigration bill. Passed last month, Georgia’s new immigration law is one of the toughest in the country, providing stiff punishments for employees who hire illegal immigrants and allowing law enforcement to verify the legal residency of suspects they encounter.
Earlier in the month, an informal survey of Georgia farms, directed by Governor Nathan Deal, revealed over 11,000 farm labor vacancies, most caused by the departure of farm laborers, both illegal and legal, in response to the new immigration bill. The worker’s flight has so far cost Georgia farms over $300 million in lost revenues and could reach over $1 billion if the loss of labor is not stopped. The President of the Georgia Agribusiness Council warned that without the necessary labor, crops will rot in the fields and loss of revenue will spiral out of control, costing everyone in the state.
Earlier in the month, Governor Deal proposed a new system of farm labor, relying in prison probationers and Georgia convicts to fill the 11,000 new farm vacancies. Officials were optimistic that the state’s 100,000 probationers, many of whom have difficulty finding work, would leap at the opportunity. However, the results of this new system have been poor so far. Dick Minor, the President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and owner of a Georgia farm, reports that many probationers quit after a single day of work, with many leaving after thirty minutes. Those that stayed were not as efficient as many of the Mexican and Guatemalan workers Minor typically employs.
With as much as two-thirds of probationer labor not returning to work, many farmers are pessimistic about the future of this program. Without dependable farm labor, farms cannot function. In addition, some Georgia officials, like former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, have pointed out the distasteful historical implications of using convicts for manual labor.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: georgia, immigration, Nathan Deal
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