Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 10/3/17



The National Pork Producers Council on Monday said it is urging Congress to adopt legislation that would help address a labor shortage in agriculture.

NPPC said it supports the AG Act, which would create an H-2C program allowing non-seasonal agriculture workers to remain in the United States for up to three years while deferring a portion of their pay as incentive for them to return to their home country. Workers would need to return for one month for every year in the United States. The bill was introduced Monday by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)

The new program would allow undocumented workers, who can demonstrate agriculture work experience over the previous two-year period, to get an H2-C visa. The program would cap allowances initially at 500,000 workers, allowing for adjustments based on labor demand each year.

“The U.S. pork industry is suffering from a serious labor shortage,” NPPC President Ken Maschhoff said in a news release. “We commend Congressman Goodlatte for sponsoring this important legislation, which allows undocumented workers already in the United States to continue working in vital agriculture jobs.”

Maschhoff said current visa programs aren’t working for pork producers or for the agriculture industry in general, and that the Goodlatte bill will solve the problem.

“The U.S. pork industry needs a viable agriculture workforce to remain globally competitive,” he said.

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