[JustaDumbBlonde]

I can only cite my personal experience, as well as that of many other farmers and ranchers that I know. I’ve stated our situation pretty clearly in the thread.

[conservonator]

The biggest problem with farm and ranch work is that historically, at least here in the upper Midwest, most of the labor was done by teenagers. Modern labor laws have virtually eliminated that segment of the labor market from taking those jobs. 14-16 year old kids will work for lower wages because they don't have a family to support. You can't find an adult to work 30-50 hours a week for ten bucks an hour because it's almost impossible to keep a household for that kind of money.

Not sure what it is about this issue that confuses some people, market principles apply to labor just as they apply to other goods and commodities. But than, most farm and ranch "businesses" are so heavily subsidized that the entire concept of market principles has gone out the window.

[Tammy8]

No one has to hire illegals- it is a choice. Every business that hires illegals competes with businesses that don’t hire illegals. I know farmers that hire nothing but illegals and farmers in the same area hiring NO illegals- same with ranchers, construction. It is a choice and not only are illegals UNFAIRLY competing with legal workers- businesses that hire illegals are UNFAIRLY competing with businesses that don’t.