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SOTU response: Kansas Livestock Association calls for permit extensions for long-term migrant workers

The Kansas Livestock Association says President Biden needs to extend permits to long-term migrant workers to address the labor crisis.

CEO Matt Teagarden says the livestock industry is suffering from shortages. “Many ag-related jobs in our state are unfilled. When farmers and ranchers don’t have workers to help care for their livestock or harvest their crops, we produce less and prices go up.”

During a response to the State of the Union address, hosted by the American Business Immigration Coalition, Teagarden said the issue isn’t just about food costs and inflation. “Our ability to feed ourselves is in peril as we shift to becoming a nation that relies more and more on imports of agricultural goods. This should be unacceptable. America must be able to feed itself.”

AUDIO: Matt Teagarden’s SOTU Remarks

He says the administration needs to act sooner rather than later. “We will see more crops rotting in the field, livestock operations unable to grow and more of our food production moving overseas.”

The American Business Immigration Coalition says there were 9.5 million job openings in the U.S. as of December, but only 6.5 million people looking for work.