A perception exists in Michigan that the supply of migrant farm labor no longer meets grower demand (Schmucker, 1998; Roccisano, 1998). An increasing shortage of workers implies an inability to harvest crops on time, incurring potentially heavy financial and quality losses for unharvested fruits and vegetables.;To understand the magnitude of the perceived problem, this study analyzes Michigan's migrant farm labor situation through a grower mail survey, a migrant pilot survey, and a migrant focus group. It explores the current and perceived future supply of (and demand for) migrant farm labor in the apple, asparagus, blueberry, and pickling cucumber subsectors.;The primary finding is that only 25% of the grower respondents experienced a labor shortage in 2000. Of these, only a small percentage had unharvested or late harvested acres, indicating that the present financial losses associated with the shortage are still quite small. The migrant respondents stated that non-economic, management-related changes are as likely as a rise in wages to attract additional labor to where it is needed. The overall survey responses indicate that both types of changes may be necessary throughout Michigan agriculture to prevent a future widespread labor shortage.;The first recommendation of this research is an extensive survey of migrant farm workers who seek employment in Michigan, to expand the knowledge obtained from the migrant pilot survey and focus group and to better balance the data made available by Michigan growers. The second recommendation is for the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service to implement periodic and regular surveys (every two to three years) of growers in Michigan, with an eye to better understanding the long-term trends in grower-migrant relationships and employment opportunities. The third recommendation is for a pilot study to take place, to explore the possible establishment of fair wage niche markets for one or more Michigan agricultural commodities, similar to fair trade coffee presently sold in the United States. The fourth recommendation is the establishment of a state-wide task force whose role would be to improve communication between growers, migrants, and consumers---through survey work, training sessions, and newsletters made available in both English and Spanish.
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