Far from the beltway of Washington, another influential group is being adversely affected by a lack of immigration reform: American farmers. 

Farmers, who rely mostly on immigrant workers to tend to the land, are feeling the effects of a high deportation rate and Congress' reluctance to pass immigration reform. 

While some opponents of immigration reform claim that undocumented immigrants are taking the jobs of citizens, most farmers disagree. 

Jake Haward, a farmer from Springville, Utah, told The Salt Lake Tribune that he is having a tough time finding people to plant and harvest his crops, which is especially troubling at the beginning of the summer season. 

"The argument that we're taking jobs away from others just doesn't fly in my mind," Harward told the Tribune. 

He claims that U.S. citizens are not interested in working on farms and tending to fields of corn, pumpkin and other cash crops. 

Farmers complain that the H-2A Visa Program for farm and ranch workers is costly and mired in red tape. 

According to a survey by the National Council of Agricultural Employers, immigrant farm workers arrive at their jobs an average of 22 days late because of bureaucratic delays in the visa program, which costs farmers $320 million in revenue each year. 

Melva Sine, president of the Utah Restaurant Association, said the regulatory issues increases costs of farming and limits crop production, which in turn hurts the restaurant industry, which relies on local farms for fresh ingredients. 

"Immigrants flock to the restaurant industry because it represents a uniquely powerful option for economic advancement," Sine told The Tribune. "But without meaningful immigration reform, this industry -- and many others -- simply can't continue to contribute to the economy as it does today."

Many restaurateurs feel the E-Verify system, which they use to hire legal immigrants, has failed. Businesses that have used E-Verify have later been raided by federal authorities who are looking for undocumented immigrants.  

Dave Davis of the Utah Food Industry Association and the Utah Retail Merchants Association told The Daily Herald that businesses should be given legal protection from the federal government if they use E-Verify.  

The issue was discussed Monday at a meeting in Provo, Utah with farmers and lawmakers, which included Reps. Jason Chaffetz and Chris Stewart, both Republicans. 

According to The Daily Herald, the meeting was convened to discuss the issues facing farmers and businesses in the face of stalled immigration reform. 

"It is costing Utah's ranchers tens of millions," said Sterling Brown, vice president of public policy for the Utah Farm Bureau, according to The Daily Herald. "This needs to be resolved. Whether it is in one bite at a time or comprehensive, we'll take it." 

Steve Osguthrope, who hires immigrant workers to herd sheep for his company, said Washington's intransigence on immigration reform is adversely affecting his business. 

He said he has posted job openings for sheep herders in fives states for 16 years, and has never had an American citizen apply for the job. He said his business depends on immigrant workers, and his business will suffer if immigration reform is not passed so undocumented immigrants can stay in the country -- with less red tape -- and pursue a pathway to citizenship. 

According to the Utah Manufacturers Association, 1.6 million hired farmworkers in the United States, the majority of whom are immigrant workers, support up to three full-time jobs in processing, agriculture equipment, transportation, marketing, retail and other sectors. 

The passage of immigration reform will allow immigrants to continue to work on America's farms, as well as revitalize cities that rely on physically taxing manufacturing jobs. 

Immigration reform has been stalled since the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill last June. The Republican-led House is mostly opposed to the passage of the bill, which would strengthen border security, open up more visas for high-skilled workers and provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. 

A representative for Rep. Chaffetz urged businesses, restaurants and farmers to take their personal stories to Congress to demand progress on immigration reform.