Will the Unemployed Take the Difficult Jobs in Agriculture?

The article linked below from "The Arizona Republic" is a thoughtful look at the new law in Arizona for enforcing the Federal Immigration statutes.  It looks at the impact on agriculture in relation to employment of illegals and the possible impact on those suffering from the near 10% unemployment rate in Arizona.  It asks the difficult question that has been one of contention among those who support guest worker programs and those who do not, "Will unemployed citizens take the difficult jobs that are going unfilled because of the implementation of the new law?

Arizona immigration law opens farm jobs to unemployed

On a related note:

Statement by Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Attorney General’s Amicus Brief in U.S. v. State of Arizona Case

Help: Guest Worker Program Wanted

Farm labor -- particularly seasonal labor in fruit and vegetable farming -- is a difficult issue. Most of the jobs last for only short periods and are difficult, back-breaking, hot, laborious jobs. They are jobs that few U.S. workers will take. They often are for low wages.

Just across the border to the south of many large agricultural areas where fruits and vegetables are primary crops, live large numbers of unemployed, or underemployed, workers who would jump at the chance to gain additional income by working in the fields. They are hindered from doing so by the border.

Border security is a major issue for our country. It is one that I won't dwell on in this post. It is also a factor in how to deal with the issue of migrant labor from south of the border.

It is time for a guest worker program. It must be part of a larger immigration reform that provides for border security. It is important for agriculture and therefore important to the U.S. consumer who desires -- and even demands -- low-cost, reliable food supplies.