Session 5: Farmers, Farm Workers, and Just Livelihoods

Session 5: Farmers, Farm Workers, and Just Livelihoods photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl

Read Proverbs 13:23 and 1 Corinthians 9:7-11

There are various passages in the Bible that call for decent and fair treatment of workers, acting justly toward them and not exploiting their labor.  Proverbs 13:23 suggests that injustice makes it difficult for poor farmers to benefit from what their fields produce. In the 1 Corinthians passage, Paul reaffirms the biblical principle that workers should earn an adequate livelihood from their labor. He states this within the context of addressing the care and livelihood of those called to be apostles.

Throughout the Bible, calls for justice reflect a basic understanding that within the community, honest work deserves a decent livelihood. It is basic to how people should live in relationship with one another in God’s world.

Read Leviticus 19:33-37

Immigrants (also referred to as strangers, aliens, or sojourners) are recognized in the Bible as one of the most vulnerable populations. For this reason, they are lifted up time and again for special care and consideration along with the other most vulnerable groups, the widows and the orphans. Throughout the Old Testament law, there is provision for the immigrants, in leaving gleanings for them, allowing them Sabbath rest, protecting their rights in legal disputes, paying them a fair wage, and not exploiting their labor. The people of Israel were constantly reminded by God that they had been slaves and immigrants, and should therefore care for and protect this vulnerable class of people in the land. Interestingly, many prominent people in the Bible were also immigrants or foreigners. How many can you name? (See Leader's Notes at www.bread.org/go/hunger2012 for a list.) Clearly, immigrants are near and dear to the heart of God!

Reflection Questions

1. Decent wages and protections for workers, native-born or immigrant, is important within the biblical vision of justice and right relationship among people. What might that mean for us today within our society?

2. Unauthorized immigrant workers are among the most marginalized and vulnerable populations in the United States, due primarily to their legal status. How does a biblical vision of justice instruct our perception and treatment of unauthorized immigrants? How might such a vision guide us to respond to the legalization debates in our country?

Hunger Report Theme Summary

One of the values this Hunger Report lifts up is the need for a food system that supports sustainable livelihoods for all farmers and farm workers. For farmers, the report lifts up revenue insurance as an important way to manage the risks of farming. Since specialty crops are heavily dependent on immigrant labor and many of the workers are unauthorized to work in the United States, an important policy change would be for Congress to legalize immigrant workers, giving them greater protection under the law. Reforming our agricultural guest worker program so that it benefits U.S. growers and poor small farmers in Mexico is also an important part of making our agricultural labor system beneficial to farm communities on both sides of the border.

Discussion Questions

1. How should those who work the land (farmers, farmworkers, migrant laborers) be protected from having the fruit of their labor “swept away by injustice”?

2. How would you define a sustainable livelihood for farmers and farm workers?

Activities

1. On newsprint, make a list of potential risks that a farmer might face. Now look for the article on risk management (pages 41-45). Read the introductory paragraphs, the first two paragraphs in the section titled “Revenue Insurance for the Whole Farm,” and the first two paragraphs under the section called “Shared Responsibility and Fairness.” Also, review the definition for “commodity payments” in the Glossary on page 144.

Discuss the following questions in small groups. How will revenue insurance create some protections in the face of these risks? Evaluate revenue insurance and commodity payments in light of the principles of sustainable livelihoods for farmers and fairness overall. How do they compare?

2. Read “Maria’s Story” (page 72). On newsprint, make two lists. In the first, note the factors contributing to Maria's coming to the United States. In the second, note both the challenges she faces here and the reasons she stays. Read the two sections under the AgJOBS heading (pages 84 and 86). How might Maria’s life improve and become more sustainable through the AgJOBS legislation? What challenges would not be addressed by AgJOBS?

3. Review Figure 3.2 (page 76). In small groups, create a budget based on the crop farm worker wage. Make sure to include rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, insurance, toiletries, cleaning supplies, entertainment, and clothing, etc. In the full group, discuss the following questions: What was the most difficult thing to give up? What was essential? How did you prioritize the essentials?

4. As you conclude, pray for efforts to transform our nation’s food and farm system, and consider if there is something God might be calling you to do as a result of this conversation.

Extra activity for session 5:

In small groups, think about what you ate today. What immigrant labor might have been involved in getting it to you? (Field to table, and in between). For assistance in thinking about the roles that immigrant labor might play within the food system, review the pictures in Chapter 3 as well as Figure 3.1 (page X) & Table 3.1  (page X).

The AgJOBS Bill: A Step in the Right Direction

One of the most promising options for Congress to better support all farmers and farmworkers is the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security bill (AgJOBS). The bill contains two main components: The first would provide a path to earned legalization for unauthorized farm workers. This part of the bill addresses agricultural workers already living and working in the United States. The second part addresses the future flow of farm workers by reforming the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. This part of the bill makes it easier for farmers to recruit agricultural guest workers and provides the workers with additional protections.