Posted: Mar 26, 2012 4:35 PM PDT Updated: Mar 26, 2012 5:13 PM PDT

MADISON COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -

The Alabama Farmers Federation is spreading the word and educating Alabama farmers on the new E-Verify system.

The Alabama Immigration Law states that employers will have to use the computer system when hiring an employee to make sure they are not in the country illegally.

The Federation set up workshops and webinars since the passage of the law. They featured legal experts and companies that help farmers secure employees through the federal H-2A guest worker program.

The guest worker program helps farmers hire the extra labor they need during their peak crop season.

Mac Higginbotham is the director of several divisions of the Farmers Federation. He said the Federation is working with Congress on the guest worker program.

"As Congress considers federal immigration reform, including proposals that would mandate E-verify nationwide, it is critical that we develop an agricultural guest worker program that is flexible enough that farmers can hire the legal workers they need," said Higginbotham.

E-Verify must be used to screen new employees beginning April 1.

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Ala farmers prepare for hiring with E-Verify - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL