More Americans may become vegan after all.
veg·an (noun)
a person who does not eat any food derived from animals and who typically does not use other animal products.
As we mentioned a few weeks ago, the mass deportation process isn’t as easy as some may think. Not only are there obstacles, but there are also negative consequences.
President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans have raised significant concerns among U.S. dairy farmers and the broader agricultural industry, which heavily relies on undocumented immigrant labor. Approximately 42% of U.S. farm workers are undocumented, and their potential removal could severely disrupt the nation’s food supply chain.
Why?
Many farms, including dairy operations, depend on immigrant workers for skilled and unskilled labor. Farmers argue that these jobs are difficult to fill with American workers due to the demanding nature of the work and low wages.
Moreover, skilled workers, such as supervisors and mechanics with decades of experience, are also at risk of deportation, further straining farm operations.
Recent immigration raids and the threat of mass deportations have created an atmosphere of fear among undocumented farmworkers, leading many to stay away from work.
Alternative: Sure, farmers could pay American citizens to do the work at twice the salary, but it would cause a surge in grocery prices, potentially forcing many consumers to go vegan out of financial necessity. That’s likely to happen because labor shortages could lead to increased costs for meat and produce. The U.S. may also become more reliant on imported food, reducing the availability of domestically grown produce.
And dairy farmers are particularly vulnerable as milking cows requires year-round labor, unlike seasonal crop harvesting. The loss of workers could force some farms to shut down or significantly reduce production.
If you think the cereal prices are high, wait until the milk is ridiculous.
What about non-documented folks who can legally work in the U.S.?
While some farmers use H-2A visas to hire temporary foreign workers legally, the program is costly and limited in scope. It does not adequately address the needs of year-round operations like dairy farming.
In sum, deportations could destabilize local economies that rely on immigrant labor and increase food insecurity for farmworker families.
The Trump administration’s approach has created uncertainty and fear among immigrant communities, potentially driving some workers underground, and further exacerbating labor shortages.
Farmers and industry advocates have urged policymakers to consider reforms to immigration laws and visa programs to address these challenges while maintaining a stable agricultural workforce. Without such measures, the U.S. food system faces significant risks of disruption.
Opinion: The Trump Administration seems so hellbent on immediate mass deportations, it appears they haven’t considered the consequences. Moreover, the president is overly eager to take praise for deporting a high number of undocumented citizens in a short time. But, not all the blame should be placed on Trump as his immigration policies were a high priority for many of the Americans who supported him.
If more Americans ditch meat and potatoes because they’ll be too expensive, look for Trump to take credit for making the country thinner. It was all part of his master plan (wink, wink).