New workers’ compensation ruling could cost local farmers

State Senator Pat Woods

The New Mexico Court of Appeal’s ruling that farmers and ranchers are not excluded from the Workers’ Compensation Act may cost those in the Curry and Roosevelt county area up to 40 percent in wages. Caren Cowan, executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association, said that the appeal was approved with the understanding that it would only cost 1 percent in wages to farmers and ranchers. “That just isn’t true at all,” Cowan said. Cowan said farm and ranch employers in the Albuquerque area are seeing up to 25 percent for every $100 in wages being spent on insurance. Pat Woods, a state senator from Curry County, said that ranch owners who have gotten workers’ compensation for their employees in this area have seen their rates sky rocket up to 40 percent. “Salesmen say that it happens because we aren’t controlling our accidents, but it is because we are so far away,” Woods said. According to Woods, the policies can get expensive due to the long wait for medical attention in the country. Between that and the policies being based on frequency rather than severity, Woods said the policies could close down small producers. “This is just another reason for people to get out of agriculture,” Woods said. These costs have the potential to scare away the heirs of ranches and farms, Woods said. When new owners face the idea of keeping the business alive or selling for profit, Woods said he fears more people will run because of this cost...more