Monday, August 20, 2007

Agricultural Workforce in Colorado

Tonight while eating rice and beef on corn chips, I listened to Jim Lehrer discuss the lack of agricultural workers here in Colorado. Some farmers only planted half of their fields because they anticipated a 50% reduction in labor. Others went as far as to not plant in Colorado.

Farmers who did plant are facing labor shortages despite advertising and recruiting in local job markets. How are they filling these gaps? Inmates.

Maybe we'll start to wake-up to the need for foreign workers. Maybe we'll even learn to give a little more respect. And remuneration.

Related Articles: The Denver Post, IndyStar, High Plains Journal.

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