01/10/06 Farm labor issue at AFBF convention

Washington Ag January 10, 2006 American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman focused almost exclusively on immigration reform during his opening press conference at the AFBF annual convention in Nashville this week. Stallman unveiled an economic analysis showing an immigration reform bill passed by the House last year could cost U.S. agriculture nine-billion dollars annually. And American Farm Bureau Federation Director of Congressional Relations Austin Perez, says those costs could drive U.S. fruit and vegetable growers out of business and force their production south of the border. Perez: "If we continue down this road without a workable guest worker program we could see agricultural production shifted to other countries. We are so concerned about border security and border security is absolutely critical. We've also got to have a broader definition of "homeland security." That's got to include food security. We have a problem with foreign sources of oil. Do we really want to create the same problem with America's foods and fibers." AFBF President Stallman says there's not a legislative solution currently on the table that meets all of Farm Bureau's immigration policy objectives. About 40 members of the Washington State Farm Bureau were expected to attend that national convention in Nashville. I'm Bob Hoff.