Mass deportations would be an unmitigated disaster for American agriculture, a fact starkly illustrated by the concerns of a Florida tomato farmer who voted for Trump. He supports tariffs against Mexican farmers who undercut his business by employing cheaper labor, and he agrees with deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes. However, the prospect of expelling all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country fills him with dread. His family’s 4,000-acre tomato farm, like countless others, relies heavily on a workforce largely composed of undocumented workers.
The sheer scale of the proposed deportations is staggering, surpassing even the notorious 1954 operation that forced over a million people back to Mexico.… Continue reading
Economists predict that two of Donald Trump’s key campaign promises—mass deportations and increased tariffs—would significantly increase food prices in the United States. Deporting undocumented immigrants, who comprise a substantial portion of the agricultural workforce, would cause labor shortages leading to higher wages and subsequently higher prices for domestically grown produce. Simultaneously, tariffs on imported food would further elevate costs for consumers, as there’s no mechanism to offset the combined impact of labor shortages and import taxes. This price increase would affect a wide range of food products, from fruits and vegetables to dairy and meat, impacting all segments of the food supply chain.
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It’s a strange thing, isn’t it? People complain about rising grocery prices, but then turn around and vote for policies that are practically guaranteed to make those prices even higher. It’s like they’re choosing to get slapped in the face with a giant, inflated grocery bill.
Think about it: a significant portion of our food production relies on undocumented workers. They pick our fruits and vegetables, process our meat, and keep our shelves stocked. They do this for low wages, often in difficult and dangerous conditions, simply because they need the work. Now imagine what happens when you remove those workers from the equation.… Continue reading
The risk of bird flu spreading to humans is an enormous concern, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The potential for such a scenario is deeply troubling for numerous reasons, especially in light of the history of zoonotic diseases jumping from animals to humans. The statistics regarding the transmissibility of diseases between humans and livestock are alarming, with a significant percentage of pathogens capable of crossing that barrier.
The industrialization of animal agriculture has exacerbated the risk of diseases like influenza A, which is known to cause pandemics, spreading to humans. The close proximity and increased genetic uniformity of livestock in factory farming settings create ideal conditions for viruses to mutate and spread amongst humans more easily.… Continue reading
I often find myself contemplating the photos of the land subsidence in California, specifically in the farm region where the ground is collapsing due to excessive water pumping. The irony of this situation occurring after Tulare Lake’s reappearance is undeniable. It is disheartening to know that the ground under the lake is made of dense clay, incapable of replenishing the aquifer that has been rapidly depleted. The issue at hand is not a recent development; in fact, it has been known for decades that the resource-harvesting practices in this region are unsustainable.
Farmers in California, one of the wealthiest and most politically influential industries in the state, have resisted any suggestions for more responsible water usage.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker