According to December LANDTHINK Pulse results, a surprising 38.63% of respondents believe that President Obama’s immigration executive order will have a VERY NEGATIVE EFFECT on American farms. The U.S. Department of Labor, indicates that over half (53%) of farm laborers are undocumented immigrants. In recent years, farm operators have reported a rapidly shrinking labor pool, which has been contributed to several factors including tougher border control. Our audience, like many others familiar with the industry, likely think the executive order, which will block the deportation of nearly 5 million people, will further intensify diminishing farm labor and potentially drive agricultural production outside the United States. Many farmers and ranchers harbor fear and outrage over excessive regulation by the Federal government and the threat it poses to the future viability of the industry.
Last month, the December Pulse asked: The President announced an executive order that will change the way undocumented immigrants work in the U.S. In your opinion, how will this affect American farms?
Immigration policy has been a hot button political issue, long before President Obama’s immigration actions. The majority of our LANDTHINK audience obviously do not support the President’s initiative on immigration, neither do many of the House Republicans, who have denounced it, deeming it unconstitutional. Our informal online survey revealed that 38.63% of those responding said the President’s executive action on immigration would have a very negative effect on U.S. farms. This was followed by 18.41% of our audience that thought there would be NO CHANGE to American farms due to the President’s actions. A scant 13% thought it would have a positive effect. Most farm operators are concerned farm workers will trade the uncertainty of their seasonal jobs for yearly jobs that produce a steady paycheck- even though it often means a lower hourly wage. Additionally, it could cause a competition for farm laborers and drive up the wages. The agricultural industry is being advised to brace for what’s coming down the road due to the immigration executive action. When it goes into effect this year, it will protect parents of green card holders and citizens of the U.S., as well as expand the 2012 “Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals” program, which shielded from deportation those brought into the U.S illegally as children.
Here are the final results:
- 38.63% said Very Negative Affect
- 18.41% said No Change
- 16.97% said Somewhat Negative Affect
- 13% said Somewhat Positive Affect
- 13% said Very Positive Affect
Thank you to everyone who participated and shared the Pulse with friends and connections in the land industry.
LANDTHINK is seeking a sponsor for the February LANDTHINK Pulse and months thereafter. The spring and summer buying season will soon be upon us! There’s no better time for land industry businesses and professionals to sponsor the Pulse question! Pulse sponsorships are offered on a first come first serve basis and are subject to certain limitations. If your business would be interested in sponsoring next month’s February Pulse question, please contact us soon.
Do you have a suggestion for next month’s Pulse question? Submit your question here and we might choose yours!
Should developers be required to pay a farmland mitigation fee to recover or replace land converted to urban use? Tell us what you think! Click here to answer the January Pulse question!
This content may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of LANDTHINK. Use of this content without permission is a violation of federal copyright law. The articles, posts, comments, opinions and information provided by LANDTHINK are for informational and research purposes only and DOES NOT substitute or coincide with the advice of an attorney, accountant, real estate broker or any other licensed real estate professional. LANDTHINK strongly advises visitors and readers to seek their own professional guidance and advice related to buying, investing in or selling real estate.
A regular job with a paycheck every week pays less than farm labor? Are you sure? And just because they are assured not being deported doesn’t mean they will abandon seasonal work. If anything, they will no longer have to fear being caught and deported every time they have to move for that seasonal work. Additonally, just because they might want a regular job with a weekly paycheck doesn’t mean they have the education or training for those jobs.