The Covid-19 virus has had an impact on all our lives in one way or another. Even if you haven?t gotten sick, you are still seeing disruption in your daily lives for one reason or another. One way this disruption is affecting the agriculture industry is with the granting of guest worker visas. The State Department and consulates have temporarily placed a hold on these visas due to the outbreak. Some Ag groups, including the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), are concerned.
With a short supply of labor available in rural America, many farms and packing plants rely on foreign-born worker programs. Jen Sorenson is the President-Elect of the NPPC and works for Iowa Select Farms. She talked about the limits of seasonal programs such as the H-2A and the options for pork producers to use like the TN visa program. Now, the issue is with getting enough workers here as the U.S. Mexican consulate has shut down due to Coronavirus concerns.
Sorenson talks about a workaround option. One of these is to have the agriculture industry be declared an essential service for the United States during this time, could allow for special circumstances to allow for visa processing.
Unfortunately, farmers don?t have the luxury of telecommuting to their jobs, so having a reliable workforce is essential.
Speaking of essential, having the DOT list agriculture as an essential need can also ensure the continued shipment of feed to farms, livestock to packing plants, and a stream of critical supplies to the farms.
There are so many ways that Covid-19 has indirectly affected the agriculture industry. As an important cog in the food supply chain, it is essential that farming gets the support it needs to continue feeding America during this challenging time. Citizens should feel free to encourage their Congressional representation to know that they want to see agriculture listed as one of these essential services.
Sorensen says the NPPC joins with everyone in their appreciation of the truck drivers, medical staffs, emergency services, and others who are working hard at keeping this country moving and functioning.
