Farms, ag businesses face labor shortages

INDIANAPOLIS — A group of bipartisan stakeholders discussed labor shortages and solutions during a roundtable hosted by Indiana Farm Bureau and the American Business Immigration Coalition.

Here are some key quotes from the event:

“Every single sub-sector within agriculture is facing this shortage, and the current visa system is insufficient. We need to fix the labor shortage now so we can keep our shelves stocked and to lower food prices. We hope that Senators Braun and Young will lean into their roles (as supporters of Indiana agriculture) and support the negotiations of Senators Crapo and Bennet.”

James O’Neill, director of outreach

American Business Immigration Coalition

“In Indiana, almost 70% of immigrants are responsible for working in the manufacturing, logistics and agriculture industries, which are considered essential. When you come to Marion County, about 40% of the frontline and essential workers are immigrants.”

Gurinder Kaur, CEO

Immigrant Welcome Center

“It’s estimated that if we lost our immigrant workers, milk prices would double, costing the U.S. economy nearly $32 billion. The H-2A program was created in 1986 for seasonal workers and is geared toward vegetable and fruit farms. But our livestock industry has no year-round source for workers. This has deep implications for our farms. My family milks cows down near Evansville, and this (lack of year-round workforce) has a tremendous impact on animal care and well-being. We want to urge Senators Braun and Young to engage in a discussion as to how we can be part of the solution to fixing the labor issues that agriculture faces here in Indiana.”

Steve Obert, president

Indiana Dairy Producers