House backs plan to help Georgia farmers get guest workers

Georgia farmers would get some help navigating the federal guest-worker program under the amended budget the House approved Friday.

The spending plan calls for the Department of Agriculture to use $75,000 to hire specialists to guide farmers through the federal process, said Rep. Terry England, R-Auburn, who is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. These positions would likely be needed for just a year or two, he said.

Lawmakers said some farmers have struggled to hire enough field workers since the state passed last year's illegal immigration law.