Inmates could replace migrant workers

Colorado farmers may be teaching inmates how to grow and harvest their crops if a pilot program run by the state’s Department of Corrections is successful. Concerned with the loss of migrant laborers due to new stricter immigration legislation, farmers are worried that they won’t have enough laborers to tend to their crops.

The program will be initiated in Pueblo County, where half of the migrant labor force may not return this year. Frank Sobolik with Colorado State University Cooperative Extension told the N.Y. Times that Pueblo County farmers are very concerned because they are producing high value crops that have a high labor requirement. Inmates who volunteer for the work will be paid about 60 cents a day.

Iowa Department of Corrections is looking at a similar program and has already received inquiries from farmers about inmate availability.

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For more: Frank Sobolik, (719) 583-6566; frank.obolik@colostate.edu; http://www.doc.state.co.us/.