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Farm Bill/Foreigners

stephenclark1

New member
I posted this over in the political session but I was hoping for a few more responses over here. I'm most interested in peoples responses to my question about whether Im going to be employable or not in a few years but if anyone knows anything about the Farm Bill that'd be much appreciated.

Looking for some help.
Im trying to find out information about the Farm Bill and what will happen if it is not passed. Will it just revert back to the old Farm Bill?

Also heres a question for you patriotic Americans. I am from England, Ive spent a while working around in different countries on farms and ranches. I especially like the North American way of ranching and one day I hope to live and work out here. I am currently going to school in OK getting a degree in Animal Science. My question is how willing would any of you be to employ a person such as me? Im sure you all would prefer to employ an American and I think thats right, but if you had a vacancy and I could fill it, would any of you be willing to employ me and go through the paperwork necessary to employ a foreigner?
 

Kato

Well-known member
Don't overlook Canada. :D

There is a big shortage of skilled livestock workers in Alberta because of the oil business grabbing all the labour. I saw an ad for a pen checker in a big feedlot for $70,000 a year plus benefits. A friend of mine has a father with a ranch in Alberta, and he has to pay over $25 an hour to get a ranch hand.

There's not a lot of money raising your own cattle here, but there's money working for some of these big outfits. I don't know how they do it with the labour costs, but that's a whole other story.
 

andybob

Well-known member
Stephen, as an 'ailien' working in the USA I find a very positive attitude toward experienced people willing to work hard,especially if English speaking. I manage for a company that has recruited qualified managers from various countries to redress the shortage of local people prepared to manage stock farms. As a younger person, the oppertunities in farming/ranching in the future are likely to increase as fewer young people seem to be considering careers in agriculture.
 

mrj

Well-known member
stephenclark1 and andybob, my guess is most ranchers on this site are operating family ranches, which generally do their own management and need help more in the area of 'ranch hands' or laborers, rather than people with degrees in ranch management.

If mistaken about that being the case on this site, it certainly is so among SD ranchers.

For the ranches and farms I'm aware of that need help, the big problem is generating the income necessary to pay good help. Typically,the owner/manager works with, and usually works more hours than, the help. What I'm saying here, is that for most ranch owners work is 'equal', with no job 'beneath' the owner's dignity to perform. Above his physical ability, maybe, if older or injured, but not beneath his dignity!

If it is true that 'corporate farming' is taking over, and I haven't seen numbers proving that true, then more managers would be needed.

Have either of you checked out the relatively new program at Texas A&M, Kingsville for ranch managers? Looks very interesting and thorough and appears to be a good investment for those serious about those jobs.

Good luck to you both.

MRJ
 

gjdodger

New member
Anyhow, you asked about the Farm Bill. As I recall, if no Bill is passed prior to the expiration of this one September 30th, we revert to legislation passed in the 30's under the New Deal. Very high support prices for crops, production quotas; nobody wants that. If Congress cannot get 'er done by 9/30, they would likely pass an extension of the current bill for one year. That's particularly important for winter wheat guys who want to know what the program will look like while they're planting next year's crop.
 
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