In today’s rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, immigration is a key topic of discussion, prominently affecting industries like dairy farming. Labor from immigrant workers proves critical, especially for dairy farmers who face unrelenting workforce challenges. A report from the National Milk Producers Federation emphasizes that immigrant workers are integral, constituting 51% of all dairy labor. With these workers, dairy farms contribute to an impressive 79% of the U.S. milk supply. Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University believes that the real percentage might be even higher, as the data from the NMPF dates back to 2015.
“Dairy herd sizes have grown considerably and so have the number of employees on the farm,” he says.
Labor shortages have long been a hurdle for the dairy industry, exacerbated further by the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts highlight a pressing need for dairy farms to rethink their workforce strategies for attracting and retaining quality employees.
Here are three pivotal strategies for achieving a robust dairy workforce:
1. Offer More Flexibility: Adapting to flexible work hours could lead to more administrative tasks, such as issuing additional W-2s, but it’s essential for attracting great coworkers.
2. Improve People Management Skills: Developing strong management skills is critical to engaging with and maintaining a stable workforce.
3. Track Productivity: Monitoring productivity metrics, such as production per hour of labor, is crucial. Engaging workers in conversations about efficiency can also drive competitive advantages.
Jorge Delgado, an on-farm specialist with Alltech, stresses the importance of motivating employees, noting that labor-intensive tasks such as milking exacerbate motivation issues, which are prevalent in the larger agricultural sector. Jennifer Bentley, a dairy field specialist, agrees and points out the growing distance from farming in more recent generations, intensifying labor shortages.
Delgado further estimates that around 60% of the milk supply in the U.S. depends on immigrant labor, underscoring the substantial reliance on these workers.
In the 2025 Farm Journal State of the Dairy survey, respondents echoed the same sentiments regarding labor. Escalating labor expenses compound the difficulties faced by dairy farmers. One survey respondent observed: “Labor expenses continue rising, and our state isn’t allowing us to remain competitive with farmers in other states.”
To mitigate these issues, many farms have introduced incentives to bolster retention, including employee housing, flexible work schedules and wages surpassing the industry average. Over half of the survey participants provide housing for workforce stability and motivation.
To further aid in retaining employees, consider these tips:
1. Education is Crucial: Through education, workers can view the dairy industry as supportive and inclusive.
2. Visual and Hands-on Training: Many immigrant workers come from countries with lower reading comprehension levels, so visual aids and hands-on training are invaluable.
3. Address Language Barriers: Many workers might not speak Spanish as their first language; thus, visuals are essential for effective communication.
4. Implement Online Training: Offering online training tools, developed through partnerships with educational institutions, can help employees understand their roles more thoroughly, boosting efficiency.
5. Prioritize Employee Well-Being: Providing well-maintained equipment, comfortable working conditions and celebrating milestones such as birthdays or Christmas can bolster morale.
Delgado says a culture of appreciation fosters a sense of belonging and elicits valuable employee feedback, leading to workplace improvements.
The success and productivity of the U.S. dairy industry are deeply tied to immigrant labor. By implementing progressive employee management and retention strategies, dairy farms can sustain and improve their operations, ensuring continued contributions to the nation’s milk supply.
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