News Home
NC Christmas Tree Farmer to Testify Before Congress
Washington, DC,
October 3, 2007
A North Carolina Christmas tree farmer will testify before the House Agriculture Committee about the labor needs of American agriculture this week. Harry Yates, who has been growing Christmas trees in Watauga County for more than 30 year
Contact: Aaron Groen
A North Carolina Christmas tree farmer will testify before the House Agriculture Committee about the labor needs of American agriculture this week. Harry Yates, who has been growing Christmas trees in Watauga County for more than 30 years, will testify about the importance of streamlining burdensome migrant labor regulations. “Today’s farmers looking for laborers are forced to jump through too many regulatory hoops,” Yates said. “Farmers need a reliable, legal workforce, but federal regulations make getting the workers we need an almost full-time job.” Yates will testify before the full Committee about the impact of current work visa rules and regulations. He plans to share how his experience as a successful Christmas tree farmer has underscored the need for reform to the nation’s agriculture worker programs. “Reliable labor is a critical issue for North Carolina’s farmers,” Rep. Foxx said. “Without a steady workforce our farmers face the troubling reality of unpicked crops and heavy losses. I’m glad that Harry was willing to share his insight and years of experience with the Agriculture Committee. It is refreshing to hear from someone like Harry who has solid commonsense.” Foxx, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, has been a proponent of reforming and simplifying the federal government’s complicated H2A visa program. Harry Yates will be one of six growers from around the country on a panel of farmers at Thursday’s 11 a.m. hearing. He will join producers of produce, dairy, citrus, cattle and other crops. To watch the Committee proceedings please go to the committee’s website at http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html. ### |