The Region - News from July 26, 1987

The new immigration reform laws have not created a farm labor shortage, a state legislative committee was told. K.R. Kiddoo, director of the state Economic Development Department, said 10,000 more people are working in agriculture this summer than last, creating a farm work force of 170,000. Kiddoo was one of several witnesses testifying before the Joint Committee on Refugee Resettlement, International Migration and Cooperative Development during a hearing in Fresno. Weather, crop surpluses and migration patterns, however, have caused spot shortages, Kiddoo said. He predicted the fall harvest could be short 2,000 to 3,000 workers, based on monthly reports employers file with his office. After the hearing, state Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles), who chairs the joint legislative committee, said, “We clearly realize there is no labor shortage.” Growers have claimed the 1986 immigration laws have created a worker shortage.