The California Drought Is Over, But Poor Farm Productivity Is Not

Our farm workforces throughout the nation are at risk.

We have been saying for the past year that one of the most talked about issues in our nations capital, by our president is hurting our food supply. Our farm workforces throughout the nation are at risk. The vast majority of California's farm workers are foreign born, with many coming from Mexico. The PEW Research Center reports more Mexicans are leaving the U.S. than coming here. 

Fortune reports that farmers say they're having trouble hiring enough people to work during harvest season, causing some crops to rot before they can be picked. According to NBC News, the situation has triggered losses of more than $13 million in two California counties alone. 

And it is all about the ongoing battle about U.S. immigration policies. 

To make the jobs more attractive, farmers are offering salaries above minimum wage, along with paid time off and 401(k) plans, but for farmers, who have seen net farm income fall 50% since 2013, these additional expenses could be devastating. 

What this means is along with the increase prices we’ve already seen in meat and poultry, our produce prices are not far behind.