Farmers Strain to Hire Americans

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/us/farmers-strain-to-hire-american-workers-in-place-of-migrant-labor.html?_r=1&hp

I found this article interesting because it is somewhat of a head scratcher- there are farmers, willing to pay at least $10.50/hour (which may not seem like much, but if you're unemployed can add up to some extra cash every month) to anyone that wants to work their lands during summers. But they can't find locals and instead have to bring in more migrant workers from Mexico.

This made me remember back to when I was 15 and got my first job working for Dekalb/Monsanto for the summer. We were outside every day (unless it was pouring rain) working 9 hours in lovely Iowa heat and humidity. But since I was a desperate teen in need of cash, it was this or work in a restaurant. Yes- it is hard work. It requires a lot of the same monotone movements, lots of bending, walking, etc. All in all- you exercise. A lot.

So I can understand why some in the story quit the farm work. But a job is a job in my book. And these farmers would love to work with locals instead of migrant workers- but they can't get enough workers. Does this mean people haven't hit rock bottom yet? I'm not sure. But if I was unemployed, any work is better than no work. You don't get to be picky when you've got nothing. I guess some people really need to see the bottom of the barrel before they'll take a job that requires rolling up your sleeves and doing some good old fashioned hard labor.