I’m in Tillamook OR at their creamery often, and their dairy farms have started to bring in automated milking equipment. There are so many advantages to it, and the milk is tested before it leaves the milking head.
The cows prefer them, as they get to decide when they need to be milked.
Some agricultural processes can be automated, some cannot.
If the agricultural industry thinks that the illegals they hire now will work for the same low wages after they become “legalized”, they are fools.
Farming has steadily moved toward more automization, just like most industrial jobs. It will continue to do so.
It is regulation that is killing jobs, and especially stupid enviromental regulation.
We have cleaned up 95% of the pollution for example fo $1, but the EPA insists that we pay $10 to clean up the next 2%
[If the agricultural industry thinks that the illegals they hire now will work for the same low wages after they become “legalized”, they are fools.]
Why are illegals hired in any industry ? Because they cost less and can be worked harder without complaints that legal workers would make. If they become legalized, they will no longer be as attractive to those employers. Those employers will hire fresh illegals. The newly “legal” and now unemployed immigrants will become dependent on government benefits, added to the rolls of foodstamp and housing assistance recipients ... and Democrat voters.
I say save a few steps — deport all the illegals, build a wall to keep out fresh ones, and send all the Americans already on the welfare rolls out to work the farms. In the cities, make them clean the streets and alleys and graffiti to collect their welfare — and watch how quickly they disappear from those rolls.
I think technology is at a point it would be accepted even with a cost. It is consistent, on time and does its intended job. Plus it works 24 hours per day. If you had the choice of today’s American workforce or the illegal workforce vs tech and automation, the choice is becoming easier. I think Fidelity is even introducing technology that will provide advice to investing that is computer driven. People aren’t needed.