Farms, Meat Plants Brace for Trump Immigration Crackdown

The agriculture industry is working to avert a potential labor crunch following threats from President-elect Donald Trump to launch a mass deportation of migrants after he takes office. America’s food-supply chain relies on a predominantly immigrant workforce for some of its most challenging jobs, such as picking fruit, applying pesticides on crops, operating machinery and slaughtering livestock. About two-thirds of U.S. crop-farm workers are foreign-born, and 42% aren’t legally authorized to work in the country, according to a Labor Department report. Agriculture trade groups are lobbying the incoming administration for the expanded use of temporary work visas. Some farms and meatpackers are forging deeper ties with recruiters who can ensure a steady labor supply. Read more