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Immigrant laborers a benefit to farms
By Ivy Farguheson
For the farming industry, the more things change, the more they stay the
same.
At present, though, those in and out of the farm industry discuss labor
in relation to one of America's hottest political topics: immigration.
"(The misconceptions are) that all farm workers are illegal and that all
farm workers are a drain on the economy, as far as welfare, health care
and so forth," said Rod Ritcherson of UMOS, the non-profit advocacy
agency based in Wisconsin. "That is just not true. They would rather
find work than have to rely on a check from the government."
In Wisconsin, 4,000 to 6,000 migrant workers enter the state annually,
according to the Department of Workforce Development, with a large
number working in Waushara County. As a result, UMOS, which was started
to provide emergency services to migrant workers, has a office in
Wautoma. Currently the organization has offices across the country and
provides programs in Workforce Development, education, child care
development, and social services.
The Center for Demography and Ecology at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison produced a working paper on the economic impact of
migrant workers in Wisconsin. Based on their study, the researchers
found that the state is benefiting more than it is losing.
"The direct spending of funds by and on migrants and the indirect, or
re-spending by 5,541 migrants working in Wisconsin and spending part of
their wages, results in about 417 jobs for Wisconsinites created
annually, generating about $14.9 million in income to Wisconsin
residents and businesses per year and the creation of $8.7 million in
revenues flowing to Wisconsin state and local governments," wrote Doris
Slesinger and Steven Deller in their paper.
Wisconsin, like California, benefits financially from migrant farm
workers.
There is no accurate way to determine how many of the migrant workers
are illegal, but according to Ritcherson, many of the farm laborers in
Wisconsin come from south Texas and are immigrants, many with roots in
Mexico.
"We are seeing more immigrants," he said. "We have seen an increase in
immigrant workers and a need for immigrant workers."
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