US farmers fret over Trump's promise to deport immigrants

Lifelong farmer Joe Del Bosque knows that America cannot live without immigrants, but he worries many of his countrymen think it cannot live with them either.

Lifelong farmer Joe Del Bosque knows that America cannot live without immigrants, but he worries many of his countrymen think it cannot live with them either.

"When they're needed, they welcome them. When they don't need them, they want to kick them out," the 75-year-old told AFP.

"Well, right now the country doesn't know that they do need some of these workers."

Farmers like Mr Del Bosque, who grows cantaloupes and almonds in California, fear they could be at the sharp end of President-elect Donald Trump's promise to deport millions of non-citizens.

Economists agree that a mass expulsion could leave him and others like him without enough workers to harvest crops - causing shortages and sending prices skyrocketing.

"He's talked about deportations. We don't know yet what that means," said Mr Del Bosque.

"Does that mean everyone? We certainly hope that doesn't mean he's going to raid our farms, because without our people, our farms will come to a stop."

And it is not just arable farmers who are worried.

Mr Rick Naerebout, executive director of the Idaho Dairy Producers Association, warns that the sudden disappearance of skilled laborers could be devastating to the dairy industry.