[ti:Farms Look for Answers As Coronavirus Threatens Workers] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.96]In normal times, farmers worry about the economy, the weather and being able to sell their crops. [00:12.72]Now add the effects of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. [00:23.96]Now as harvest season nears in many parts of the United States, [00:30.76]farmers are wondering if they will have workers to bring in their crops. [00:38.12]And, if there are workers, how can they be kept safe? [00:45.80]One area known for its farming is the eastern state of Pennsylvania. [00:54.76]Adams and Franklin counties in rural Pennsylvania have some of the largest farms for fruit and berries. [01:07.04]"Generally, one of the biggest concerns right now... it's just access to workers," said Liam Migdail. [01:18.08]He is with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the largest farm organization in the state. [01:29.28]During harvest season, many farmers employ migrants to collect crops from their fields. [01:37.92]Many are guest workers from Mexico or Central America. [01:44.72]They move from one farm to the next, wherever they are needed. [01:52.52]The possible labor shortage comes from new restrictions on international workers because of COVID-19. [02:03.84]Farmers are also wondering about what to do if their guest workers get sick. [02:14.48]"That would shut us down...if we all got the coronavirus, OK, nobody could work, [02:22.56]the fruit falls on the ground," says Kay Hollabaugh. [02:28.40]She is co-owner of Hollabaugh Bros., Inc., [02:32.88]a family owned and operated fruit and vegetable farm in Butler Township. [02:41.80]For now, she added, her farm is trying to move forward and keep their workers "safe and healthy." [02:52.80]Some farmers say it is too early to tell if the new safety rules [02:59.20]will affect their ability to harvest fruits and vegetables. [03:05.04]At many farms, workers are to begin harvesting crops between May and July. [03:14.44]Farmer Chris Baugher said he does not know if he will have workers. [03:22.12]In 2016, the fruit industry contributed $580 million to the Adams County economy. [03:33.72]It also created 8,500 jobs and added $16.4 million in taxes, an agricultural study found. [03:49.68]An area called the South Mountain Fruit Belt produces 70 percent of Pennsylvania's total apple crop. [04:00.56]That represents over 180 kilograms of apples a year. [04:08.84]In 2019, there were more than 1,800 guest workers in Pennsylvania [04:17.56]through the federal government's H-2A visa program. [04:24.16]Farmer Denton Benedict usually employs around 90 workers through this visa program. [04:34.16]The program lets agricultural employers hire workers from other countries [04:41.12]to do temporary or seasonal work when local workers cannot be found. [04:49.16]"Not being able to find good help locally is the reason that we went to the H-2A program," said Baugher. [05:00.20]He usually has over 20 people from Honduras working on his farm. [05:08.84]Kay Hollabaugh said local people do not want to do the work [05:14.28]because they lack the skills and the work is physically demanding. [05:21.36]On March 20, the U.S. Department of State suspended visa services like in-person interviews [05:30.76]at all embassies and offices overseas because of the coronavirus pandemic. [05:40.08]A week later, it announced that H-2A workers could get visas without an interview. [05:49.76]But it is still not clear if and how many H-2A workers will come to the United States. [06:00.48]"If we don't get our help...that would be devastating," Benedict said. [06:08.28]A shortage of farm workers would also affect people in the United States. [06:14.84]With less produce available, food prices could see large increases. [06:23.20]I'm Susan Shand. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM