America’s food system relies on a foreign-born workforce to produce, process, and deliver the food that feeds our nation. President Trump just last week highlighted this reality, correctly noting how agricultural guestworkers are nearly impossible to replace. Nowhere is this truer than in the dairy sector, which operates around the clock, year-round, and where more than half of all workers are foreign-born. These workers help power an industry that supports thousands of rural communities, drives billions in economic activity and keeps our food supply safe, affordable and reliable. They deserve recognition and a legal, stable way to contribute to the economy. Yet despite their critical role, our immigration laws offer no viable, legal pathway for them to work in the industry.
Currently, the only agricultural guestworker program available — the H-2A visa — applies strictly to seasonal or temporary labor. Dairy operations, however, require consistent, skilled workers every day of the year. Milking and caring for cows, managing processing facilities and ensuring food safety are daily tasks that cannot pause between seasons. This mismatch leaves dairy farmers and processors nationwide without a legal means to fulfill their guestworker needs.
Labor Department data shows a growing labor challenge for America’s farmers, indicating demand for H-2A guestworkers reached record highs last year — increasing by nearly 10%. Yet the U.S. Government Accountability Office reports over half of all H-2A positions remain concentrated in just five states:
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Washington
With the limited geographic and seasonal reach of current visa programs, policymakers on both sides of the aisle have signaled strong interest in pursuing legislative solutions.
The bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced again this Congress after passing the House in two previous sessions, would directly address many critical needs. The bill provides a clear pathway to legal status for long-serving agricultural workers, modernizes the H-2A program and recognizes the need for year-round workers — such as those employed by dairy operations.
The House Agriculture Committee’s Bipartisan Agriculture Labor Working Group has recommended explicitly including initial processing and manufacturing within the definition of agricultural labor, ensuring comprehensive support for the entire agricultural sector, including processors.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) strongly supports efforts to secure the border and remove violent criminals, but also says law-abiding immigrants employed on dairy farms and processing facilities should be provided a path for legal status.
“Additionally, dairy employers must be provided with clear guidance regarding the relevant rules and regulations governing deportation efforts,” IDFA says.
Importantly, public support is strong and bipartisan. A recent American Business Immigration Coalition poll found nearly 80% of voters favor a legal pathway for long-serving, essential workers in agriculture and food processing. Americans understand a secure border and a stable agricultural workforce are mutually reinforcing goals critical to our nation’s economic and food security.
With illegal border crossings at historic lows and immigration enforcement refocused on securing the border and removing violent criminals, now is the most opportune time for Congress and the Administration to address the agricultural labor shortage in a meaningful and lasting way. A permanent, legal pathway enabling essential, law-abiding workers to remain employed and allowing dairy employers to responsibly meet labor demands is imperative. IDFA says it stands ready to work with lawmakers and policymakers to get it done.
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