[rgbrenner]

most farmers would prefer a phased approach to reform so that crops aren't rotting in the fields.

I think everyone would prefer that.. but this is a problem the farmers created themselves. They've been using migrants for so long, that they've created a substantial difference in pay between themselves and the rest of the labor market. And with a sudden change in the supply of migrants, they're now trying to figure out what that difference is--what the true cost of labor is for their industry.

If they never relied on migrants, they would already know the answer to this question.