[Captainpaintball]

WHY DON’T WE HAVE ROBOTS THAT CAN DO THE JOB OF ILLEGAL ALIEN FARM WORKERS?

[2ndDivisionVet]

In most cases we do. There’s an agenda there that has nothing to do with labor costs.

[Theoria]

Illegals are cheap labor. So cheap, that it prevents innovation.

If we didn't have the illegals the prices would adjust to reflect on the workforce, and if the wages increased too much the innovation would occur to bring down the prices in labor.

So the ag lobby prefers the illegals and importing labor instead of robots. Look toward Japan for the opportunities in that sort of technology.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“WHY DON’T WE HAVE ROBOTS THAT CAN DO THE JOB OF ILLEGAL ALIEN FARM WORKERS?”

We do. His name is John Deere.

[BfloGuy]

WHY DON’T WE HAVE ROBOTS THAT CAN DO THE JOB OF ILLEGAL ALIEN FARM WORKERS?

We will, in short order. The machines to replace migratory labor are expensive to produce and, if not needed, will be resisted.

But the technology exists -- if only it becomes economic to buy it.

[cynwoody]

WHY DON’T WE HAVE ROBOTS THAT CAN DO THE JOB OF ILLEGAL ALIEN FARM WORKERS?

It's being worked on ...

At present, the machine costs $50k and takes eight seconds to pick a ripe berry, which works out to what? about 24 pounds per hour? It takes a Mexican 15 minutes to pick a "flat" (12 pounds of strawberries). At $1.50 per flat, the Mexican makes $6/hr. So, the robot only picks half as many berries per hour. But on the other hand, it works all night.

Of course, technology is made to be improved. What if the machine only took one a couple of seconds per berry and only cost $5k?

[Balding_Eagle]

WHY DON’T WE HAVE ROBOTS THAT CAN DO THE JOB OF ILLEGAL ALIEN FARM WORKERS?

For the very same reason it took so long for cotton picking machines to be invented, economics.

Back then it was slavery which was more economical, today it's Pedro.

[kingattax]