May 21, 2013
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina farmers want state legislators to lobby Congress to pass an immigration law overhaul so they can hire more people to work in fields and the state's agriculture industry can meet increasing food demands worldwide.
About 300 people associated with the North Carolina Farm Bureau visited the Legislative Building on Wednesday and held a news conference to discuss a survey of state farmers.
The bureau said farmers are worried about losing income, downsizing operations or in some cases shutting down if a state-mandated E-Verify requirement stays in place without an improved federal guest-worker program.
Companies that employ as few as 25 workers will have to check work authorizations starting this July, although there are exemptions for some seasonal workers.
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