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Alabama: Inmates can replace Hispanic farmhands
Politico ^ | October 8, 2011 | MACKENZIE WEINGER

Posted on 10/09/2011 1:24:37 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Alabama farmers frantically looking for workers to replace those that have fled the state in the wake of its tough new immigration law should just stop by their local prison, according to the head of Alabama’s agriculture department.

John McMillan, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday that inmate labor through the state’s work-release program offers a short-term solution to the sudden labor shortage that has hit Alabama since enforcement of its illegal immigration law kicked in.

Some farmers have said the state’s new law has driven away Hispanic migrant farm workers — and without another potential labor source, they say produce may have to be left to rot in the fields.

“We are optimistic that by Monday, we will have some help for farmers,” McMillan said.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: crops; farmers; food; illegalworkers
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Alabama: Inmates short-term option for farmers desperate for field workers
1 posted on 10/09/2011 1:24:40 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Some things never change, Alabama plantations can’t seem to work without slave labor.


2 posted on 10/09/2011 1:31:20 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Henry County blueberry grower Kent Scott made it through this year's harvest, but is weighing his options for finding workers next year and thinking about in­vesting in a mechanical har­vester to replace some of the people he needs.

Imagine that. The use of illegal labor hinders automation.

3 posted on 10/09/2011 1:35:54 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: glorgau
Time for Americans to step up and replace stoop labor with automation. Artificially holding down wages for the sake of slave labor from mexico only prolongs the mechanization of crop production.
4 posted on 10/09/2011 1:42:46 AM PDT by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
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To: Moonman62

Why not hire little kids? Let them stuff thier faces with berries and pay them a dollar per gallon of berries harvested. Heck turn it into a festival of sorts, yearly.


5 posted on 10/09/2011 1:48:14 AM PDT by Niuhuru (The Internet is the digital AIDS; adapting and successfully destroying the MSM host.)
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To: Moonman62

Keep in mind not all produce can be picked with automation. On another note: if people are looking for work here is a great place for them to work, Might be a good place to get a job, start a union be represented by a lobby and make a few bucks until you retire.


6 posted on 10/09/2011 1:48:54 AM PDT by Plumberman27
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Does anyone else think this can lead to all sorts of negative repurcussions?

(Perhaps if there isn’t enough prison labor to meet demand, the legislature can pass new laws making even more things/actions illegal. That way the police can imprison even more people.)


7 posted on 10/09/2011 1:50:30 AM PDT by gogogodzilla (Live free or die!)
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To: Plumberman27
Keep in mind not all produce can be picked with automation.

Where there's a will, there's a way. For instance, citrus growers use tree shakers when slave labor isn't available. Grapes can be grown on special trellises that allow automation. I'm sure big cotton never thought there would be automation either (not that I'm comparing you to Big Cotton).

8 posted on 10/09/2011 1:57:25 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: Moonman62
Imagine that. The use of illegal labor hinders automation.

Did you see the program recently on all the regulations placed on farmers? They're cripplingly expensive and there are 1000s more lined up in the Obama adm pipeline.

Remember the man who asked Obama about it and he told him to call the Agriculture Dept (?) and all he got was passed around?

And that's just farmers.

9 posted on 10/09/2011 2:01:45 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Plumberman27
start a union

Start a union?

Unions suck.

10 posted on 10/09/2011 2:03:55 AM PDT by Chunga ("Woo hoo!! Palin/West 2012. Unbeatable!!" - Jim Robinson)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The sooner Obama is out of office, the better.


11 posted on 10/09/2011 2:07:32 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: gogogodzilla

Yes there will be repercussions.

Things just aren’t black and white as people who do not govern would like them to be or believe them to be.


12 posted on 10/09/2011 2:13:06 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The interesting thing to me is that the farmers can’t find replacement workers even if they pay above minimum wage. What have we been told over and over again about “jobs Americans won’t do”? How about all those on welfare and not working? They should be mandated to take jobs like these in order to keep their benefits. Start rebuilding the work ethic. I’m sure the courts have already ruled that you can make work mandatory in order to receive welfare benefits.


13 posted on 10/09/2011 2:34:11 AM PDT by animal172 (Please Lord. Come get the liberals.)
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To: Moonman62; shield
The sooner Obama is out of office, the better.

With HUGE coat tails bringing conservatives into power nationally and locally.

14 posted on 10/09/2011 2:35:47 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: glorgau

Tennessee used inmates all over the state in the 1800’s for mining and agriculture.

Your choice. Rot in a 6X8 or work outside.


15 posted on 10/09/2011 2:37:31 AM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

You are very prolific this morning. Good Work!


16 posted on 10/09/2011 2:39:20 AM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: gogogodzilla

Lack of prison labor....LOL?

This is Alabama were talking about. That was a joke...right?


17 posted on 10/09/2011 2:42:51 AM PDT by Carbonsteel
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To: gogogodzilla

Oh noes ! Big bad Alabama is being mean to illegals by telling them to go home ! No wonder you La Raza Rick supporters are throwing a tantrum.


18 posted on 10/09/2011 2:48:13 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Rick Perry has more red flags than a May Day Parade)
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To: fieldmarshaldj
.... No wonder you La Raza Rick supporters are throwing a tantrum.

About what?

19 posted on 10/09/2011 3:05:58 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

La Raza Rick supporters like you don’t want illegals to go home. You want them to just keep on coming and overrunning our country. Why ?


20 posted on 10/09/2011 3:17:36 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Rick Perry has more red flags than a May Day Parade)
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