Trump's mass deportation plan could hinder US farmers; lead to higher prices
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The U.S. agriculture sector, which relies heavily on migrant workers, would face difficulties if President-elect Trump goes through with his proposed mass deportation plan, leading to higher consumer prices, experts told FOX Business.
Consumers could face higher prices from the shock to the labor supply, but the country would also become more reliant on imports, which are now under the threat of tariffs, according to David Ortega, food economist and Michigan State University professor.
«It's important to highlight that these individuals fill critical roles that many U.S. born workers are either unwilling or unable to perform,» he said.
If implemented, it could result in decreased crop yields and unharvested fields, particularly in the specialty crop sector, which relies heavily on human labor. Ortega explained that producers and companies would likely have to raise wages to attract enough workers, and those increased costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers.
TRUMP'S PROPOSED TARIFFS COULD DRIVE UP FOOD PRICES, EXPERTS SAY
However, farmers have lamented that it's difficult to get Americans to do these jobs, in part, because of how labor-intensive they are.
According to the 2019-2020 National Agricultural Workers survey, only 36% of farmworkers surveyed were United States citizens, 19% were lawful permanent residents and another 1% had other work authorization through another status, excluding H-2A visas.
Farm worker cuts and picks up asparagus at the A-Bar Ag Enterprises in Firebaugh, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
«The people who are picking tomatoes, the people picking avocados… these people are
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