Southwestern Idaho farmers raise pay to keep workers

The southwestern Idaho labor market has tightened to the point agricultural producers are paying significantly more to find and keep farm workers.  “It’s gotten really bad; it’s a tough labor market,” said Meridian farmer Richard Durant. “There just aren’t very many workers out there.” Durant has paid common farm laborers such as pipe movers $10 to $11 an hour in the past but has to pay them $12 to $14 an hour this year. He’s not alone. Other producers, such as Ron Bitner, who owns a vineyard and winery in Caldwell, is paying his workers about $1.50 an hour more this year, which costs him about $800 more a month in labor. He’s also had to keep people employed even when there’s no significant work for them to do just to ensure he has an adequate labor force when he really needs it at harvest time. If he doesn’t keep them employed, “They could easily go out and find something else,” he said. “I just go ahead and hire them and give them other things to do ... so I have a crew available when I need them.”