League of Women Voters hosts panel on Agricultural Migrant Workers
From staff reports
The League of Women Voters Leelanau County (LWVLC) Farm Labor Task Force will host a panel program on “The Agricultural Migrant Worker in Leelanau County: Issues and Challenges, 2013-14” on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at noon in the lower level meeting room of the Leelanau County Government Center.
Securing reliable, skilled seasonal farm and processing labor continues to challenge our local agricultural employers. The panelists include a long time county farm employer, representatives from migrant housing and education, and a seasonal worker and current NMC student. This LWVLC presentation follows a new study by its Farm Labor Task Force on this vital aspect of our area’s economy. Proposed federal immigration law reform may provide a more efficient farm labor visa; however, given growing uncertainty over weather conditions, crop size, and the lack of willing, skilled domestic workers, the question remains as to how our local agricultural employers will attract skilled, reliable workers to northern Michigan, the end of the migrant worker stream.
The public is invited. Many people bring a sack lunch. LWVLC business meeting to follow presentation.
For more information, call (231) 386-5106, visit LWVLeelanau.org or follow LWVLC on Facebook.
Read this story in our November edition about how our broken immigration system hurts Leelanau agriculture.
