Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Farmers: Trump 'terrible for agriculture'
Politico ^ | 09/01/2015 | Bill Tomson

Posted on 09/01/2015 5:28:18 AM PDT by GIdget2004

Even before real-estate mogul Donald Trump called undocumented immigrants "rapists and murderers" who "have to go," California contractor Carlos Castañeda was having difficulty hiring enough workers to pick celery and squash.

Now Castañeda and others fear Trump's talk about erecting a "big beautiful wall" at the border and deporting millions could make it near impossible to find the guest workers they need, and who would obtain legal status under most comprehensive reforms bills.

"There are growers out there screaming for labor," said Castañeda, a farm labor contractor in San Luis Obispo County in central California. "The people who are coming in are doing the work that not a single American would like to do."

Trump's brash talk about stopping undocumented immigration has excited GOP primary voters, turbocharged his campaign and spurred similar get-tough pledges from several rivals, including Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Scott Walker. But the view from many conservative-leaning agricultural communities is disgust, bordering on dread. Farmers say the candidate’s pronouncements have exacerbated already difficult labor shortages and brought counterproductive political attention to issues they had hoped to resolve quietly in Congress through legislation overhauling the nation’s broken guest-worker program.

Many say they will do everything in their power to educate the public about why Trump’s positions jeopardize their livelihoods — and the nation’s access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: farmers; guestworkers; illegals; immigration; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last

1 posted on 09/01/2015 5:28:18 AM PDT by GIdget2004
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

Trump is for higher taxes. No thank you.


2 posted on 09/01/2015 5:29:35 AM PDT by Tulane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

No problem. Quit farming and allow people with sense to work the land illegal free. Win win. These ‘farmers’ seem determined to propagate the stereotype.


3 posted on 09/01/2015 5:30:40 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

Here is an idea-— pay U.S. citizens enough so that they are willing to do the work..


4 posted on 09/01/2015 5:31:11 AM PDT by freespirit2012
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

So, these farmers admit to hiring illegal workers?


5 posted on 09/01/2015 5:31:51 AM PDT by Catsrus (The Great Wall of Trump - coming to a southern border near you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Catsrus

They could still use migrant workers,
it’s just that they’d have to “sign in” when they come in
and not overstay their legal allowance.


6 posted on 09/01/2015 5:33:47 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

So now we are to believe Politico is concerned about American farmers. Give me a break. Farmers do not want to be outlaws, they want a legitimate guest worker law, but the bastards in Washington will not do it without an amnesty grant.


7 posted on 09/01/2015 5:34:59 AM PDT by iontheball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirit2012

Pay the illegals $5 an hour or whatever and put all of the costs of their benefits on the taxpayers. What a business model!


8 posted on 09/01/2015 5:35:27 AM PDT by ebshumidors
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

“undocumented immigrants”

Sorry, I can only read articles written in English, not newspeak.

I’m sure it’s likely about some low-life farmers that depend on illegals and dont want the laws enforced.


9 posted on 09/01/2015 5:36:19 AM PDT by VanDeKoik
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebshumidors

How about “If you want to keep getting that Welfare check, you better harvest me some celery”.


10 posted on 09/01/2015 5:36:46 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you really want to irritate someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

I have a lot of respect for farmers but...

Their use of “guest workers” is simply a way to transfer their labor costs onto the backs of the U.S. taxpayer.

It’s likely the price of produce would increase if they weren’t able to take advantage of illegals, but it would reflect the true costs of the product and not artificially lowered prices that are subsidized through entitlements laundered through the government.


11 posted on 09/01/2015 5:38:18 AM PDT by chrisser (This space for rent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirit2012
Here is an idea-— pay U.S. citizens enough so that they are willing to do the work.

Here's another idea...don't pay them anything except the food stamps, section 8 and other "benefits" the "US citizen" parasites are currently getting.

Two things would happen, a glut of farm workers...an instant drop from the welfare rolls.

12 posted on 09/01/2015 5:39:03 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republican Freed the Slaves" month.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: freespirit2012
Here is an idea-— pay U.S. citizens enough so that they are willing to do the work..

Remove all forms of government welfare and find out who is willing to work.

13 posted on 09/01/2015 5:40:12 AM PDT by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life, Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

Let the farmer or any contractor also pay for all the social costs associated with hiring migrants instead of dumping them on the backs of taxpayers.

Its only fair if you want to import the labor.

What’s that? Not such a cheap deal anymore?


14 posted on 09/01/2015 5:40:25 AM PDT by headstamp 2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Catsrus

Go to the California Welfare office. Healthy men and women can work for their check. Will get the scammers off the roll and provide needed labor.


15 posted on 09/01/2015 5:40:28 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: VanDeKoik
“undocumented immigrants” Sorry, I can only read articles written in English, not newspeak.

I like "illegal migrants", or better yet..."wetbacks".

16 posted on 09/01/2015 5:40:47 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republican Freed the Slaves" month.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ROCKLOBSTER
Here's another idea...don't pay them anything except the food stamps, section 8 and other "benefits" the "US citizen" parasites are currently getting.

Two things would happen, a glut of farm workers...an instant drop from the welfare rolls.

That's what gets me, they say these are jobs "Americans won't do" well back in my hometown Americans worked in the chicken plants, it certainly wasn't the favored job but it got you by. Now those jobs are taken by the influx of "immigrant workers" and those that used to take the jobs at the chicken plants are most likely the folks that are on welfare (no jobs available and frankly they didn't work anyway).

17 posted on 09/01/2015 5:42:32 AM PDT by ozarkgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

I just wrote the same thing....cuz I hadn’t read any of the posts. So not a copycat...we’re just two great minds thinking alike.


18 posted on 09/01/2015 5:42:35 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

Do what cotton farmers did. Invest in mechanical pickers for your fruit and vegetable crops. We have millions of illegals sitting on their butts and collecting welfare…71% of illegal households receive taxpayer “assistance”…so if they can get Free Stuff without working, your days of cheap labor are over. The rest of us are sick of subsidizing your profits.


19 posted on 09/01/2015 5:43:38 AM PDT by txrefugee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freespirit2012
Here is an idea-— pay U.S. citizens enough so that they are willing to do the work..You must really enjoy the 2 for $3 Egg McMuffin deal at McDonald's.
20 posted on 09/01/2015 5:48:27 AM PDT by Rodamala
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson