I can't help watching the equivocations of the candiates for president. McCain, who flip-flopped, saying, "I get it," when confronted with the rebellion of the Conservatives in his party who pounded him into submission over his immigration policy..then there is Obama-who will not make a stand on any policy whatever, and who virtually has no position on a servicable guest worker program.

It appears that the horizon is far off on a solution to the farm labor problem as far as foreign workers is concerned. In the meantime there are growing media blurbs about mechanizing as much as possible, selling off produce farms that rely on hand-pickers for livelihood and increased calls for other foreign nationals to be admitted in the country, such as the Jamaicans, Puerto Ricans and the like. Some voices are sounding less strident in the union arena. They are finally feeling like their position has been compromised by the Homeland Security crackdown, I surmise. Time will tell.

Florida's Farmers are fighting an uphill battle in trying to recruit and hold onto laborers. First, they must get them--and in the present immigrant-hostile environment, this is quite a task.. Secondly, they must hold onto them. I have noticed a definite upswing in the amount of housing Florida's Farmers and producers are trying to build to accomodate their workers. Still, there are the locals, who view the new housing as a blemish on their neighborhoods, as they are haunted by past visions of tent cities and migrant camps. But, these are new times. The housing proposed in Florida now is up to code in every way and the character of the workers is just that; the character of a visa'ed worker. The H2A farmhands are more professional and willing that the wandering bands of workers in the past. Finally, court battles by lawyers and special interests groups such as the recent court contest in Southern Florida against the huge buyers of produce in the state are not helping build good will in the state. Now, add to the mix, the introduction of new application chemicals that--if you read our recent posts--are not even in the field yet and are already being scrutinized for future lawsuits. I feel sorry for Florida farmers, but hope that the infrastructure of support by farm groups and particularly the Florida legislatures will stand behind them to have a good harvest this year and beyong.

The state of the art of migrant housing is rising. No longer content with tents and tenaments that are substandard, city, county, state and federal mandates are pulling resources together to provide adequate, safe and comfortable housing for laborers.

In addition, the farmers are gettin help through subsidies of differing natures; grants, state funding, federal funding and corporate producers are getting in the act.

What will evolve will be a ground-swell of support that will encourage and promote the H2A federal migrant laborer program... I think the present state programs will bow to it.

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Thanks

Anton

My name is Bryan Scofield
I am the CEO of Scofield Catering and Management Inc.
We provide mobile and static catering for H2a programs
We have the ability to provide service anywhere in the USA.
is there a outlet for our company to market to H2A opperators
or H2A service providers?
thanks

As we we study the proposed rule changes I continue to be dissapointed as their are very few positives and many negatives. Having to advertise 75-120 days in advance of the date of need is preposterous. How many people who agree to a farm job are going to still be interested in 75-120 days. After 21 years in the labor business and and having worked as a labor as a young man I don't think to many will still be there 75-120 later. More Laterm Mike

I am excited to announce that Mike Nobles, President, H-2AUSA, is going to have an upcoming book. It is about the whole area of migrant labor in America and pulls in resources, research, and people in the know about the field.
It will act as both a primer for those who are not familiar with the immigration and H-2A/H-2B programs, and will project future options for the programs. The book will be a balanced presentation of the facts, it is fair to say, and different voices will be heard. Let us know if you would like a copy when it comes out. More about this later, when it is closer to completion.

Looks like the Dept of Homeland Security is working on a new version of the No Match Lette. Should be out early Jan 08

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