Georgia's Immigration Law May Cause Long-term Food Shortages Nationwide

When legislators fail to think, groups of consumers usually pay the price. This time, the whole nation could suffer. When Georgia state legislators assigned an effective date of July 1st to a law that scared over 11,000 workers into fleeing from the state, they did not realize that July 1st is when almost all crops in Georgia are harvested. In spite of national news reports, the survey results reporting, the protests, and challenge lawsuits, no one ever mentions that Georgia's farmers supply their crops to the entire nation. No one dares mention another, bigger, threat: food shortages. It happened with tomatoes, and Fox News has already predicted shortages from weather problems.

Worse yet, the results of HB 87 could affect our national economy on a long-term basis. Boycotts against Georgia businesses have already been suggested. Over 10% of farm workers have fled the state to avoid the July 1st deadline, leaving the crops to rot. When the crops cannot be harvested, food importation begins to cover for consumer demand for the crops. When farmers lose whole crops and cannot recover, a bankrupt farmer isn't going to be replaced anytime soon. Thus, a negative affect upon our farmers, food supply, and economy can be created with the stroke of a pen.

Results from a survey of Georgia's $69 Billion dollar industry reveal that HB 87 set farmers and related businesses up for severe losses stemming from the loss of laborers leaving the state, and both the Department of Labor and Governor Deal are trying to repair the damage with prisoner labor. Sadly, it's too late. Farmers are reporting that they have already lost entire crops to this disaster. Food shortages also result in higher prices in grocery stores.

As for local labor, it's hard to get enough single people to pick crops. The 16-hour days are NOT something young married couples with children in day care can handle. The work is far to strenuous for the disabled. One glance inside a Department of Labor lobby reveals a much higher jobless rate for the disabled, so the numbers of "available" workers might not be correct. Finally, it does not make financial sense to travel hundreds of miles in a day to work on a farm when the price of gas is hovering close to $4 a gallon.

For readers unfamiliar with HB 87, here is how Georgia's farming mess started: Matt Ramsey, a Republican, wrote anti-Immigration House Bill 87 (HB 87) and asked for support and Yes votes. The bill passed to the GA State Senate by a 113 to 56 vote and thousands of protesters lobbied against the passage of HB 87, which is now locally known as the "The Anti-Immigration Law." HB 87 was passed by the Senate. Governor Deal signed HB 87 into law, and July 1 was set as the effective date. Hispanic laborers fled the state, leaving over 11,000 jobs unfilled.

GA lawmakers could have pushed the effective date out further, eased up on restrictions, & let more laborers return to work until the harvest season is over. Financial aid to help affected farmers get back to farming for the next crop may be necessary. No matter what solution is entertained, consumers nationwide will still feel the sting of empty plates and bare shelves as they are forced to make do with less this year.