NM ag workers seek compensation

New Mexico is hearing a debate over whether agriculture workers need to be included in the state-run workers compensation system. A group of civil rights organizations is suing to have New Mexico agricultural workers included. On the other side, Roosevelt County wheat and beef producer Matt Rush said most farmers and ranchers provide insurance for employees and don’t need another government mandate. The workers compensation task force the Legislature appointed gave the opinion the current system is working and the state shouldn’t mandate that agriculture participate in workers compensation, Rush said. If producers didn’t offer health coverage or give employees money to buy their own policies, Rush said, workers would go elsewhere. Walter Bradley, government and business affairs director for the Dairy Farmers of America in Clovis, said DFA polled New Mexico dairies. Of the 90 percent who responded, all have health insurance for their employees, mainly through private sources. Bradley said dairies and farms having loans — as most do — are required by the bank to carry such coverage. “The bottom line is that dairies and farms have coverage, and there’s no evidence to show that those costs should be raised,” Bradley said. Joining the state workers compensation system would triple producers’ expenses, Bradley said. Rush said he found estimates the move could increase production costs 50 percent to 60 percent. “It would literally put a large portion of New Mexico agriculture out of business because the profit margins are so slim right now anyway,” he said...PortalesNewsTribune