b'dependonpeoplewithoutproper workforce now and into the future.Forexample,inregardtoH-2A documents to work on our farms,workers and the crisis, it is unclear if he said. There\'s too much at stake Whenhopefully soonthe cur-theircontributiontoacompanys not to have a legal workforce." rent reality passes into our rearviewpayroll can be counted for purposes mirrorandweresumeasenseofofsecuringaPaycheckProtection Weinthepotatoindustryagree, normalcy, we as a nation cannot fallProgramloan.TheSmallBusiness which is why we remain focused on back on relying on an antiquated H-Administration should make it clear enacting a workable, efficient solu- 2A visa system that has been a bur-thattheseessentiallegalworkers tiontoaddressournationslong- den to growers and workers alike. Asshouldabsolutelyhavetheirpay- standing farm labor challenges both the coronavirus has exposed and aschecks counted, as clearly they are a for the present and the future.food-insecure Americans now betterrequirementthatthefarmerbears understand:Thereistoomuchatand part of the business they are try- Unfortunately with our federal gov- stake.ing to protect. ernmentfocusedonimmediateneedssurroundingthepandemic, Todownloadtheepisode,U.S.In the early days of the pandemic, SenatenegotiationsontheHouse- RepresentativeNewhouseonAgU.S. Representative Dan Newhouse passedFarmWorkforceModerniz- WorkforceReform,andNPCafourthgenerationfarmerfrom ation Act have stalled. Yet, as fami- CelebratesNationalAgDay,searchSunnyside,Washingtonjoined liesworryabouttheirdwindling for and subscribe to Eye On PotatoesNPCsEyeOnPotatoespodcastto foodpantries,nowisexactlythe in your preferred podcast app. discusshowaglaborreform timetoenactlong-termsolutionsbecomes even more critical during a that will provide American agricul-timeofcrisis.Wecannolonger ture with a stable, legal, and reliableMAY/JUNE 2020 POTATO GROWER 9'