SLIDE 1 Farmer Perceptions of Farmer Perceptions of Labor Supply and Labor Supply and Immigration Reform Immigration Reform in New York State in New York State
Thomas R. Maloney Thomas R. Maloney Nelson L. Bills Nelson L. Bills Conference on Immigration Reform Conference on Immigration Reform Washington, DC Washington, DC May 8-9, 2008 May 8-9, 2008
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What contribution do What contribution do immigrant workers make immigrant workers make to New York agriculture? to New York agriculture?
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Vegetables: New York ranks 5th nationally in : New York ranks 5th nationally in fresh vegetable production. Most of New fresh vegetable production. Most of New York's fresh vegetables are harvested and York's fresh vegetables are harvested and packed by immigrant workers packed by immigrant workers
- Tree Fruit: The value of NY
apple production was $197 million in 2006. Harvest and pruning operations are done primarily by immigrant workers
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Dairy: More than 1/3 of milk produced in NY comes from farms that employ Hispanic workers
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Floriculture: NY ranks 5th nationally in : NY ranks 5th nationally in floriculture production at $200 million floriculture production at $200 million
- annually. Transplanting operations rely
- annually. Transplanting operations rely
heavily on immigrant workers heavily on immigrant workers
Grapes: NY grows over 33,000 acres of : NY grows over 33,000 acres of wine and juice wine and juice grapes.
Most pruning, tying and other field operations are done tying and other field operations are done by immigrant workers. by immigrant workers.
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Immigration enforcement Immigration enforcement activities are increasing activities are increasing
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Reports of lost farm income due Reports of lost farm income due to insufficient labor supplies to insufficient labor supplies are minimal are minimal BUT BUT …… …….. .. Ag Labor Supplies
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Employer anxiety over suddenly Employer anxiety over suddenly loosing harvest workers or loosing harvest workers or milkers milkers is at an all time high is at an all time high
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Farmworker Farmworker anxiety over anxiety over immigration enforcement is also immigration enforcement is also very high very high
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New York State Immigration and New York State Immigration and Human Resource Management Human Resource Management Issues Survey Issues Survey
SLIDE 11 Methodology Methodology
- Collaboration between Cornell and NYSASS
Collaboration between Cornell and NYSASS
- Survey conducted Sept-Feb 2007, 2008
Survey conducted Sept-Feb 2007, 2008
- Sample: Stratified list of NY fruit, vegetable,
Sample: Stratified list of NY fruit, vegetable, dairy and livestock producers dairy and livestock producers
- Overall response rate 33%
Overall response rate 33%
SLIDE 12 Survey Response Survey Response
1,245 1,245 133 133 265 265 533 533 314 314
Number of Number of Responses Responses
32.9% 32.9% 18.3% 18.3% 30.7% 30.7% 69.2% 69.2% 22.1% 22.1%
Response Response Rate % Rate %
Total Total Other livestock Other livestock Dairy Dairy Vegetables Vegetables Fruit Fruit
Farm Type Farm Type
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Survey results grouped by Survey results grouped by
1.) Employer status 1.) Employer status 2.) Farm type 2.) Farm type
SLIDE 14 Figure 1: Concern that there may not be sufficient workers
SLIDE 15 Figure 2: Importance of immigration reform
SLIDE 16 Figure 3: Importance of a path to citizenship
SLIDE 17 Figure 4: Importance of a guest worker program
SLIDE 18 Figure 5: Concern that there may not be sufficient workers by farm type
SLIDE 19 Figure 6: Importance of immigration reform
SLIDE 20 Figure 7: Importance of a path to citizenship
SLIDE 21 Figure 8: Importance of a guest worker program
SLIDE 22 Farm Managers Farm Managers’ ’ Responses to Responses to Immigration Concerns Immigration Concerns
- Involvement in the Policy Process
Involvement in the Policy Process
- Caution Regarding Staffing Decisions
Caution Regarding Staffing Decisions
Reduce Worker Visibility
- Search for Alternative Labor Pools
Search for Alternative Labor Pools
- Substituting Capital for Labor (mechanization)
Substituting Capital for Labor (mechanization)
SLIDE 23 Labor Efficiency in the New York Dairy Industry Pounds of Milk per Worker 1956-2006
200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 Year Pounds milk per worker
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Robotic Milking Robotic Milking
