Immigration Issues of Particular Concern to South Carolina Farm Bureau

Yesterday we began our visit with President and CEO of the South Carolina Farm Bureau, David Winkles on the many issues of importance and concern to South Carolina’s farmers. Winkles says that immigration reform is certainly at the top of the list along with 2012 farm bill, over regulation by the EPA and tax issues :

“You know I don’t see any positive movements in the near future. It is one that is high on our list of priorities and one that I certainly wouldn’t want to leave out of the top two or three issues out there. It is a national issue, and we really need to get federal folks to deal with it on a national level. Now, we have done some talking about a guest worker program on a state level, and that might be a solution if we can convince the members of the General Assembly.

Again, it’s a federal issue, the H2-A program works, but very poorly. There are some any restrictions within the H2-A program it makes it very difficult for people who only need one or two people to use that type of program.”

While the general focus has been on the need for migrant farm workers, Winkles says that it’s not only the agricultural economy that’s suffering under the current immigration:

“We really need some solutions. As Farm Bureau we welcome the opportunity to work through some solutions without creating an amnesty situation. But, we really look forward to trying to find some solutions with folks who are willing to find some solutions.

It is a huge problem, we know the….I believe the number was $316 million of product left to rot in Georgia last year , and it's spilling over into other parts of the economy as well. Noticed an article the other day where a Mercedes official was picked up in Alabama under Alabama’s immigration laws, so it’s really spilling over to other parts of the economy, as well.”

Winkles explains that migrant farm workers are an integral part of getting food from the farm to the table:

“Within agriculture there are jobs to do, that there are no domestic workers willing to do. And we need to be able to meet the needs for agriculture to provide the food for our folks here in the US.”

David Winkles, President and CEO of the South Carolina Farm Bureau

South Carolina Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Brings Issues to the Forefront

Many issues of importance and concern to South Carolina’s farmers were addressed at the recently concluded South Carolina Farm Bureau Annual Meeting held in Myrtle Beach. David Winkles, President and CEO of SCFB:

"Well, you know there are a lot of issues out there that are of a lot of interest to farmers.  The primary one being the Farm Bill in congress coming up.  Since the super committee failed in their efforts now we're going to be looking at deficit reduction and how that's going to effect agriculture.  I've stayed on top of that issue, having had a member of the super committee as one of our delegation, we've talked with him on a number of occasions about the work of the super committee.  But of course, now, we don't have anyone on the Senate or House ag committees so we usually stay in pretty close touch with Senators Sax Chambliss and a couple of folks in Georgia and North Carolina who are on the committees to hear about what's going on.  But, we're going to try our best to stay on top of the Farm Bill discussions."

As far as South Carolina farmers go, Winkles says that they are hoping for more of the same:

"Our folks would love to see the structure of the Farm Bill stay as close to what it currently is as possible, especially at commodity time."

Winkles says that another issue of particular concern for South Carolina farmers is over-regulation by EPA:

"Well you know, we're constantly bombarded with regulations on the federal level through EPA.  You know there are a number of lawsuits like the cotton case where we're talking about extra permitting that farmers may have to do to spray their crops with proper protection products.  Certainly, we're going to be following that closely and try to get a legislative fix for that."

And then there’s always tax situations that farmers are particularly aware of, both at the state and federal level:

"Estate taxes are always an issue of concern with agriculture since it is so capital intensive because of the land requirements.  So there are a number of things on the federal level.  Here in South Carolina, we have tax restructuring.  We've got folks talking about that, looking at the entire structure of taxation in South Carolina.  We're going to be working hard to keep the agriculture use value for property -- what we call Ag 208 --  that was passed many years ago.  As well as keeping sales tax exemptions on agricultural products. "

During the annual meeting, Winkles was re-elected to an eighth two-year term as President and CEO of SC Farm Bureau. Tomorrow, we’ll talk further with David Winkles on immigration concerns.

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