Pay attention to the new farm bill

I've been paying attention to it for weeks now.

Anyone think Trump will sign it?

So the house doesn't want a farm bill passed in a election year. Color me shocked.

I haven't been paying attention. Where does it stand in Congress? Passed by either side yet?

How much are they getting paid?

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Cheap labor is absolutely necessary if you expect cheap food.

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I'd rather pay more for food on upfront costs than pay for it on the backend in taxes, uninsured medical and societal strain.


But thats neat that you think you are getting something for nothing.

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That's fine with me as long as they're doing the jobs no one wants to do. Cheap labor is absolutely necessary if you expect cheap food.

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IF the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 becomes law then it will basically turn illegal aliens working agriculture into H2A workers. The minimum wage for the H2A workers is higher than the federal minimum wage. My family's farm had to give our American workers a raise (even if their job performance did not warrant a raise) because you have to pay American and H2A workers the same. The only good that would come from this amendment is that it has the potential to level the playing the field between farmers that are playing by the rules by using American workers and/or legal H2A workers and those that are cheating the system by hiring illegal aliens and paying them less.

If you want cheaper food because you think that using migrant labor is cheaper than you should oppose this bill. I oppose this amendment because I oppose amnesty for any illegal immigrant, but that viewpoint doesn't affect the price of food.

ETA: Here is a link to the bill. Also it is not part of the farm bill because the farm bill was renewed last year.

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Cheap labor is absolutely necessary if you expect cheap food.

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Slavery is needed - Dems

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Cheap labor is absolutely necessary if you expect cheap food.


Not entirely true.

There is also the profit side that can be eaten into (if you will) when labor supply is tight.

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Not much profit in agriculture these days. The trade war with China (although it is a war that needs to be fought and farmers know that and support Trump for fighting it despite what the MSM wants you to believe) has really put a limit on profits in agriculture right now.

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Farmers can legally get cheap labor via H2A visas.

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IIRC the minimum wage for H2A visa workers is approximately $10.50/hr.