The U.S. Department of Labor has announced $90 million in grants are available for farmworker training and career services but some in the agricultural industry say the efforts are misdirected.
National Council of Agricultural Employers President Michael Marsh calls the program ironic.
“We are in the midst of an ag labor shortage in the United States and actually been in it for quite some time,” he says. “And the total number of foreign workers that we’re having to recruit to come in and take some of the domestic jobs just continues to increase.”
The Department says the funding is meant to increase farmworker access to agriculture jobs or jobs in other industries.
