U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse last week participated in a roundtable discussion with the California Farm Bureau Federation where CFBF President Paul Wenger says it’s time to rally the troops on immigration reform. Wenger says some people say there’s always next year if it doesn’t get done this year – but he says there is no next year – this is it. Wenger says it’s time for folks to put their differences aside and get it done – which will take phone calls from farmers and ranchers to their lawmakers. Scuse is optimistic the nation will achieve some type of meaningful reform. He says the House of Representatives has elected to divide it into four different bills – and if they can pass those bills, go to conference and work out the differences – it may be workable. United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez notes there are 39-days left when Congress is in session once returns next month until the end of the year – which is not much time. Rodriguez says the ag industry doesn’t survive if ag labor reform keeps getting put off.
Source: NAFB News Service