Caswell Farms Ltd - Caswell, Jim

Document ID: ETA-2009-0004-0004
Document Type: Public Submission
Agency: Employment And Training Administration
Received Date: September 10 2009, at 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Date Posted: September 11 2009, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Start Date: September 4 2009, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Due Date: October 20 2009, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Tracking Number: 80a2063a
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This is comment on Proposed Rule

Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Aliens in the United States

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As a small vegetable grower for the last 10+ years we have successfully used the H2A program for 6 out of 7 years. In 2008 when the wage went to $9.13 we ended up in the red. We were no longer going to participate in the program until the wage came down at least close to what other local farmers were paying undocumented workers. We have been profitable this year paying the lower wage of $8.00. With the new proposed rules we will not be growing our 15 acres of vegetables and the six workers will not be working at our farm next year. We have tried to be legal and follow the rules, but this ruling has priced us out of the business of producing food.