Immigration

The Golden Rule of Advocacy: Why Showing Up Matters in Washington

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:31:09 GMT

In the halls of Congress, silence is often mistaken for satisfaction. This was the sobering message delivered by Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation during a recent panel discussion on the dairy outlook at the High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, Texas last week. Despite the pressing need for agricultural labor reform and immigration solutions, Doud warns the message isn’t reaching the ears that matter most.

The conversation, moderated by Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, highlighted a critical gap between the industry’s needs and Washington’s perception. Despite the pressing need for agricultural labor reform and immigration solutions, Doud warns the message isn’t reaching the ears that matter most.

“I’m talking to dozens of senators about this already,” Doud notes, recounting conversations where lawmakers told him they simply aren’t hearing about ag labor from their constituents. “If that member of Congress doesn’t hear from you, he’s just going to go hang out with the guys he does hear from.”

The panel, which included Michael Dykes, DVM, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, emphasized while national organizations can “raise hell” in D.C., the real power lies in the home district.

Navigate the Roadblocks

Naerebout pressed the leaders on the specific legislative hurdles, particularly in the House where jurisdictional battles can stall progress.

“GT [Thompson] is doing fantastic work in the house,” Naerebout notes, but he asked pointedly how the industry can navigate committees that don’t always see eye-to-eye on dairy’s needs. “How do we get around Jim Jordan and this committee? What’s the pathway there?”

The answer, the panel agreed, depends less on D.C. lobbyists and more on the farmers themselves. Dykes points out when elected officials return home for a week and hear nothing about dairy’s priorities, they assume those issues aren’t important.

The Golden Rule

Naerebout asked what the most effective ways for farmers are to break through the political noise: Is it phone calls to emails? Is it personal visits?

“What’s the golden rule? He who shows up,” Doud says. “You’ve got to put in the time and the effort; you’ve got to develop the relationship.”

The leaders urge producers to move beyond occasional emails and focus on consistent touchpoints:

Monthly Staffer Calls: Get to know the agriculture staffer in the Senator’s office.
On-Farm Invites: Bring regulators and lawmakers to the farm to show them the regulatory apparatus in action.
Unity of Message: Dykes warns the industry must be aligned when a policy train leaves the station.
“You better be together and make sure you want it when you get it in the bill, because you’re going to have one shot,” he says.

As the industry looks toward a volatile political season — including concerns over fringe ballot initiatives like those in Oregon (Petition 28 or the Peace Act) that threaten animal ownership — the message was clear: political organization isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity for survival.

Dairy’s Last Shot: Why Industry Leaders Are Demanding Action on Immigration Reform

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:02:59 GMT

The crisis facing American dairy is not a lack of demand or a failure of technology. It is a crisis of human capital and legislative paralysis. For decades, the dairy industry has functioned on the grit of a workforce that lacks legal status, governed by immigration laws that haven’t seen a significant update since 1986. This isn’t just a political talking point — it is a daily risk for dairy producers who wonder if their teams will show up for the morning milking or if an I-9 audit will suddenly empty their barns.

The Myth of Secrecy

The conversation surrounding agricultural labor has long been muffled by a perceived need for secrecy. However, industry advocates are now pulling back the curtain. The reality is there are no secrets from the federal government. Agencies from Social Security to Homeland Security see the I-9 returns and the tax filings. They know sectors like agriculture, hospitality and construction are the backbone of the economy, and they know the legal status of the people doing the work.

“For the longest time, we thought, ‘Oh, we have this really good secret that we can’t tell anybody,’ and that’s just not true. Homeland Security, Social Security Administration — all these federal agencies know the reality of our workforce and the fact that we struggle to have a workforce that’s got legal status,” Rick Naerbout, CEO of Idaho Dairymen’s Association says.

The “good fight” currently being waged by industry leaders is a battle against public perceptions. There is a profound disconnect between the grocery store shelf and the farm gate. While social media suggests domestic workers or those on social assistance could easily fill these roles, the data tells a different story. In the dairy industry, the work is year-round, physically demanding and essential. It is not a job that can be filled by a temporary or unwilling domestic workforce.

The Dignity Act: A Bridge to Stability

Central to the current push for reform is the Dignity Act. This legislative framework represents a shift away from perfect and toward possible. It acknowledges the industry cannot wait another 40 years for a flawless bill. Instead, it proposes a pragmatic compromise: legal status for existing workers and their families, coupled with a functional visa program to ensure the problem doesn’t replicate itself a decade from now.

“I want us all to say one word that we’re never going to use, and if somebody says it, correct them: This is not amnesty,” says Manuel Cunha Jr., president of the Nisei Farmers League. “These people are going to pay a restitution fee for being here undocumented. We needed them here because Congress has failed to have a guest worker program that works for industries.”

The act introduces the concept of a dignity card — a restitution-based system where workers pay a fee for the right to stay and work legally. It is a rejection of the term “amnesty,” replacing it with a system of earned legal presence. For the worker, it means an end to the fear of racial profiling and the ability to travel home for family emergencies. For the dairy producer, it means the security of a stable, verified workforce that can no longer be dismantled by a single administrative audit.

“We need legal status for the existing workers and their families, so that those who have helped us build our dairies and the industry we have today can stay working in these jobs and keep their families here with them,” Naerbout adds. “And the other is to give us access to a visa program so we don’t end up in the same place ten years from now.”

The Failure of the Domestic Alternative

The argument that American agriculture can be sustained by domestic labor alone has been tested and found wanting. Historical data from California’s “Welfare to Work” initiatives in the late ‘90s showed out of tens of thousands of available domestic workers, only a handful even applied for farm labor, and virtually none stayed past the first few days.

More recent data from the Pacific Northwest reinforces this. Out of 6,000 advertised positions, only two domestic workers were hired, and neither made it to the harvest. The dairy industry is mechanized and modern, but it still requires a level of consistency and dedication the domestic labor market has consistently failed to provide. Automation may be the future, but it is not a solution for the cows that need milking today.

The Political Clock and the One Shot

The window for reform is narrow. With a political landscape heavily influenced by executive action and a doer mentality in the White House, there is a rare, albeit high-stakes, opportunity to move the needle. However, this opportunity is tethered to a ticking clock. If a solution is not reached before the midterm elections, the focus will inevitably shift to the next presidential cycle, where the political appetite for compromise often vanishes.

Advocates are now looking outside the traditional lobbying box, even considering the influence of the sports world — boxing and soccer — to capture the administration’s attention. The goal is to demonstrate immigration reform isn’t just a farmer issue. It is an economic and cultural necessity that touches every restaurant, hotel and household in America.

A Survival Guide for the Modern Dairy

Until the law catches up with reality, dairy producers are forced to navigate a minefield of compliance. The current advice for the industry is strictly pragmatic:

Internal Audits: Producers are being urged to bring in legal counsel to conduct private I-9 audits. Identifying paperwork errors before the government does is the only way to mitigate risk.
Constructive Knowledge: A key piece of advice is to avoid photocopying worker documents. An employer’s obligation is to ensure the documents look real on their face and to record the information. Retaining copies can inadvertently create constructive knowledge of fraud, increasing legal liability.
Warrant Requirements: Farmers must remember that under the 1986 law, authorities must have a federal warrant to enter a farm for cause. Knowing these rights is essential to maintaining order and protecting the workforce from unnecessary panic.

The Path Forward

The struggle for immigration reform in the dairy industry is a long game that has reached a sudden sprint. It requires producers to move beyond their frustration and become politically active, providing cover for representatives to take the difficult votes necessary for change.

“The greatest thing for all of you — growers, men and women and your families — is to protect the workers that are here and give them the dignity they deserve because they made our farms grow. They were there to milk the cows and pick the tomatoes. They were there, and we definitely owe them some type of work authorization,” Cunha Jr. says.

Naerbout adds: “We can’t hold out for our version of perfect. If we hold out for perfect, we’re going to fail. We’re not going to get anything. There has to be that willingness to compromise, and we’re going to have to be willing to accept less than perfect if we actually want a solution to this problem.”

Whether the solution comes through the Dignity Act or an expansion of the H-2A program to include year-round dairy labor, the consensus is clear: the status quo is no longer sustainable. The industry is tired of placeholders. It is time for a statute that recognizes the dignity of the work and the necessity of the worker, ensuring the American dairy industry can continue to milk, move and feed the nation for the next 40 years and beyond.

Operating in the Shadows: Why the Dairy Workforce Crisis is a Threat to National Food Security

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:08:05 GMT

Behind every gallon of milk lies a multi-billion-dollar industry fueled by a workforce that, in the eyes of the law, technically doesn’t exist. This is the ultimate American paradox: a critical sector of the national economy forced to operate in the shadows, where a single enforcement rumor can halt business overnight.

At a recent panel at the IDFA Dairy Forum focused on immigration and the workplace, and industry leaders from across the political and geographic spectrum gathered to dissect a crisis that has moved beyond mere political rhetoric into the realm of business continuity and national food security.

The discussion, featuring Shannon Douglass (California Farm Bureau), Rick Naerebout (Idaho Dairymen’s Association), James O’Neill (American Business Immigration Coalition), and Julie Myers Wood (Guidepost Solutions LLC), revealed an industry caught between shifting federal enforcement agendas and a desperate need for structural legislative reform.

The Geography of Fear: California Versus Idaho

The impact of immigration policy is often dictated by the political makeup of the state in which a farm operates. Douglass, representing the deep-blue state of California, described a fear factor that can paralyze a harvest in hours.

“In June, specifically in the strawberry fields of Southern California, workers were afraid,” Douglass says. “We saw up to 60% of the workforce simply not show up because of rumors of ICE agents in the area.”

This instability doesn’t just affect the workers. It creates a ripple effect throughout the supply chain. In the Los Angeles area, it took nearly two weeks for harvest crews to recover their volume after a single week of enforcement scares. For many farmers, the chaos is more damaging than the enforcement itself, leading to shut-down crews and lost product when the timing of the harvest is most critical.

In contrast, Naerebout describes a different reality in the red state of Idaho. Under the Trump administration, Idaho has benefited from a governor who maintains a solid relationship with federal leadership. Naerebout pointed to a recent “New York Times” interview where President Trump admitted to instructing ICE not to focus enforcement on agricultural sectors.

“We have benefited from being a red state under this administration,” Naerebout notes. “But the risk is that as easily as he tells them not to enforce, he can tell them to start. We can’t be content with the current state of play. We have to keep ringing the bell for a permanent solution.”

The “Quiet” Enforcement and Supply Chain Disruptions

Wood, a former federal prosecutor and head of ICE, warns the absence of a large-scale workplace ICE Raid doesn’t mean enforcement has stalled. Instead, it has become more surgical and administrative.

“ICE is continuing to conduct audits on third-party staffing companies,” Wood explains. “Farmers and processors often find their biggest disruptions come through these secondary sources.”

Furthermore, the enforcement has moved downstream into transportation. Wood highlights aggressive enforcement regarding visa violations among truck drivers crossing borders. While these actions don’t make the headlines like a facility raid, they create significant short-term disruptions and long-term structural questions about how U.S. businesses secure a globally competitive workforce.

The “CEO Pickle” and the Dairy Gap

Perhaps the most significant challenge discussed was the unique position of the dairy industry. Unlike the produce sector, which can use the H-2A seasonal visa program, dairy requires year-round, daily labor.

“Don’t overcomplicate this,” Naerebout urges. “We need two high-level policies: a path to legal status for the current workforce and a viable year-round visa program for the future. That has been the ask for two decades.”

The “CEO Pickle” refers to the underground nature of agricultural labor. Naerebout shares a sobering story of a police chase that ended on a dairy farm, leading to a full-scale raid that decimated the operation’s workforce.

“Our industry is divided,” he says. “Smaller farmers feel like they can’t grow because they are operating in the shadows. We have a whole underground labor market, and we have to come up with answers.”

Linking Labor to the Grocery Bill

O’Neill argues the best opportunity for reform lies in connecting the workforce crisis to the consumer crisis at the grocery store.

“The primary driver of increased food cost is the increased cost of labor, and the primary driver of that is accessibility,” O’Neill says. He notes the political environment is shifting, with a general backlash against current enforcement styles — particularly among Hispanic voters — and a growing recognition that food inflation cannot be solved without stabilizing the farm workforce.

O’Neill highlightes that while legislative efforts like the Dignity Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act have been reintroduced, they require a bipartisan environmental shift to move forward. The goal is to move immigration from a fiery border security debate to a pragmatic discussion about economic stability.

The Path Forward

The consensus among the panelists was one of urgent optimism. The American public’s view on agricultural labor is softening as the link between labor availability and food prices becomes clearer. However, the industry remains at the mercy of executive whims and congressional inaction.

As Douglass concludes, the goal isn’t just about numbers or data; it’s about the “personal stories of the farmers”, and the resilience of the communities they support. Whether in a blue or a red state, the message to Washington is the same: the U.S. dairy and agricultural sectors cannot remain globally competitive while their workforce remains in the shadows.

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Overnight Exodus: How An ICE Raid Cut This Dairy’s Workforce By More Than Half

How An ICE Raid Cut This Dairy's Workforce By More Than Half

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:53:18 GMT

Like many of their fellow dairy farmers, Rodney and Dorothy Elliott, owners of Drumgoon Dairy, grapple with securing reliable labor. Nestled in the small town of Lake Norden, S.D., their labor headaches intensified this past spring when their 6,500-cow dairy operation experienced a federal Department of Homeland Security audit that led to the immediate termination of 38 employees. The Elliotts were left with 16 workers.

“We didn’t just lose employees — we lost years of experience, skills, knowledge and a team culture that we had built over the past 10 years or more,” Dorothy says.

The audit findings revealed several workers had inaccurate, outdated or incomplete documentation regarding their U.S. citizenship status or work permits. For the Elliotts, the raid brought to light a critical issue that many farms and ag businesses face today: The complexities of immigration policy impact workforce availability.

The Elliotts fear for the future, not only for their own dairy, but for the industry at large. Immigrant workers are critical to dairy operations, representing over half of all dairy farm labor and contributing to 79% of the U.S. milk supply, according to the National Milk Producers Federation.

“Basically, we’ve turned off the tap, but we’ve done nothing to create a solution to find employees for the dairy industry,” Dorothy says.

(Drumgoon Dairy)

The urgency for immigration reform is exacerbated by the fact Americans are typically unwilling to undertake these demanding jobs, says Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association.

“This is bigger than just a dairy issue, this is a feeding America issue, which is national security. Roughly half of all on-farm labor in America is unauthorized. We cannot feed ourselves as a country without these workers,” Naerebout says. “One of the lessons we learned from WWII is that a country that cannot feed itself without imports is at greater risk from their enemies.”

(Drumgoon Dairy)

A Sustainable Future Requires a Sustainable Workforce

The Elliotts’ journey began in northern Ireland, where they managed a small dairy farm restricted by stringent government regulations. Frustrated by the limitations and lured by an enticing marketing campaign from the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, the family took a leap of faith. They left Ireland, aspiring to transform their modest 140-head operation into a modern, sustainable dairy farm.

Their vision extended beyond business growth — they also set their sights on building an operation that offered future generations a chance to return to farming.

“We’ve achieved our goals that we set out for ourselves: Build a dairy, milk cows and grow the dairy industry in South Dakota,” Dorothy says. “Is it a sustainable goal if there’s nobody to work on these dairies? No. All the time, money, effort, investment and hard work that has gone into it will be null and void if there isn’t a workforce.”

With firsthand experience, Elliott empathizes with her workforce, many of whom are Hispanic immigrants. Elliott gained citizenship shortly after relocating to the U.S., and her husband followed suit, becoming a citizen eight years after they moved.

“We’re facing a reality where all our employees are doing is working. They’re filling positions that are, at present, not being claimed by American workers,” Dorothy reflects.

Her statement sheds light on the essential roles immigrant laborers play across the agricultural landscape, highlighting the gap between workforce demands and available labor supply.

“I want people to understand that dairy farms don’t choose to hire undocumented workers. We all have to hire following state and federal guidelines,” Dorothy says. “Everyone who was hired on our farm had to have a state or federally issued ID card and a Social Security number. Some of these employees had been working without any flags being raised for over 10 years. They were paying all the state and federal taxes we are required to collect.”

(Drumgoon Dairy)

Automation Still Requires Human Touch

Despite adversity, the Elliotts push forward. Nearby farms offered temporary assistance following the raid, and they continue to heavily invest in both local and international workforce recruitment. Although automation seemed a promising alternative at one point, the prohibitive costs and disappointing results led to the sale of some equipment.

Drumgoon Dairy installed 20 robots in 2020. They hoped to recruit students and graduates from Lake Area Technical College’s robotics program to maintain the equipment. They’ve advertised maintenance positions, but the response has been disheartening. As of now, “no one,” according to Dorothy, has stepped forward to fill these roles.

Given the high costs associated with running and servicing the robots, the family decided to remove them.

(Drumgoon Dairy)

A National Security Crisis

Drumgoon Dairy’s challenges are not isolated. Since President Trump’s crackdown on immigration started a year ago, ICE Raids have happened all across the U.S. While numbers specific to the agriculture industry aren’t available, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , the number of people in immigration detention in the U.S. hit an all-time high as of Dec. 14, 2025, at 68,400 people.

It’s been nine months since the ICE raid at Drumgoon Dairy. While the Elliotts now have a full workforce, they’re not operating with the same level of experience, skills and knowledge.

“I feel that the Republican Party has run on this promise of immigration reform and encouraging new businesses to come and set up businesses in the U.S.,” she says. “Since we started dairy farming in 2006, the only people coming to work on dairy farms have been from the Hispanic community. I now see local construction businesses, factories, landscaping businesses and other ag businesses all using Hispanic workers. Where is the reform? What has been done to facilitate a sustainable workforce?”

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Dairy's Breaking Point: No Workers, No Milk

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:59:03 GMT

When it comes to challenges, dairy producers from coast to coast agree their biggest challenge facing their farm is labor and the need for comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue. This topic resonates deeply, as more than two-thirds of the 9.36 million dairy cows in the U.S. are being milked by immigrant laborers, as noted by the National Milk Producers Federation.

At the 2025 MILK Business Conference in Las Vegas, Rick Naerbout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, emphasized the significance of this issue. He addressed labor and immigration, focusing on the need for pragmatic solutions.

A Call for Realistic Solutions
Naerbout stresses the importance of accepting that a perfect solution is unlikely. Instead, progress can be made through administrative changes, which, although not a “silver bullet,” could act as a catalyst. This, in turn, might encourage Congress to take meaningful action.

According to Naerbout, for dairy producers, political engagement at the local level is crucial.

“Dairymen need to be more politically active back home, particularly in conservative states given where the power dynamic currently is in D.C., to help encourage and support their members of congress to take the tough vote on this, if given the opportunity,” he says. “If they don’t have cover back home, they are much less likely to vote the right way on an immigration fix.”

Idaho Dairymen’s Association has demonstrated success in this arena by fostering relationships with Hispanic community groups and the Catholic Church.

“Even some in law enforcement have stepped forward to say that we need to focus on the violent criminals and national security threats rather than those who are here working, paying taxes, etc.,” he says. “And don’t forget homebuilders. If they lose their workers, the push to build houses that people can afford evaporates.”

Impact Beyond Dairy
Immigration reform transcends the dairy sector. Non-family farm labor across the agricultural spectrum predominantly consists of foreign-born workers. Losing these workers poses a severe threat to operations, whether at a small 100-cow dairy or a large 10,000-cow dairy.

“This isn’t only a big dairy problem,” Naerbout says. “Nine times out of 10, non-family labor on farms is foreign-born. Whether you are a 100-cow dairy with one employee or a 10,000-cow dairy with 100 employees, if you lose your worker(s), you’re in the same boat. There is no one to take care of the cows.”

Preparing for Audits and Legislation
Dairy producers are advised to prepare for potential I-9 audits or other enforcement actions. Additionally, conservative states are urged to pause on enforcing legislation like E-Verify, allowing the administration time to address the broader system issues.

The need for immigration reform is pressing and pivotal for the sustainability of the dairy industry. Policymakers, business leaders and community groups must collaborate to forge a path forward that acknowledges and supports the critical role of immigrant workers in agriculture. This is a pertinent topic the Trump administration acknowledges they are working on.

Earlier this year, at the Joint Annual Dairy Meetings in Arlington, Texas, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins shared with Dairy Herd Management that:

“Everyone understands the dynamics of an open border, and the millions and millions, we’re unable to count how many, that crossed during the last administration. The president’s No. 1 promise as a candidate in 2022 through 2024 was sealing the border and mass deportations. Looking at this challenge through the lens of understanding labor is absolute when we can’t feed ourselves, combined with where we are in terms of immigration, those are the nuances.”

The pervasive challenge of labor and the urgent call for comprehensive immigration reform resonate as a defining issue for the U.S. dairy industry. As highlighted at MILK Business Conference and reinforced by the sheer reliance on immigrant labor, the sustainability of dairy, from the smallest family farm to the largest operation, hinges on pragmatic, bipartisan solutions. The dialogue from the MILK Business Conference, coupled with acknowledgments from the Trump administration on the complexities of labor and border dynamics, underscores that this is not merely an agricultural concern, but a national imperative. Moving forward, sustained political engagement at the local level, combined with collaborative efforts across policymakers, business leaders and community groups, will be essential to forge a path that ensures both secure borders and a stable, skilled workforce vital for feeding the nation.

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New Research Exposes Stagnant Biosecurity Efforts in the U.S. Dairy Industry

A Conversation With Ag Secretary Rollins on Labor, Disease and MAHA

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:59:29 GMT

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stuck to streamlining the federal government labor rules to alleviate dairy’s worker crisis and said more aggressive measures are coming to prevent and contain disease, in an interview with Dairy Herd Management. Rollins this week was at the joint annual meeting hosted by National Milk Producers Federation, the United Dairy Board and the United Dairy Industry Association in Arlington, Texas.

While there, she said the H-2A visa program is particularly broken for dairy, which requires year-round support instead of seasonal workers. She also said measures, such as mandatory testing for lactating dairy cattle prior to interstate movement, are not aggressive enough to address modern biosecurity threats.

Below is a summary of Dairy Herd’s 20-minute conversation with Rollins, who discussed labor, disease prevention as well as her feelings on the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

What Federal Efforts Are in the Works to Ensure Adequate Labor for U.S. Dairies?

One of the central concerns among dairy producers, and the entire industry, is comprehensive immigration reform. To put it in perspective, more than two-thirds of today’s 9.36 million dairy cows are milked by immigrant laborers in the U.S., according to the National Milk Producers Federation.

Currently, 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 don’t pause between seasons. This mismatch leaves dairy farmers and processors nationwide without a legal means to fulfill their guestworker needs.

In addition to the need for year-round help, Secretary Rollins notes farmers must interact with three different federal agencies to use the H-2A program. Moreover, the costs associated with securing labor have significantly increased, with reports from farmers in south Texas indicating average hourly costs, including transportation and housing, reaching $30 to $35 per hour. Comparatively, similar labor across the border is $2 per hour, Rollins says, illustrating a system that is both unsustainable and inherently unfair.

Ideally, any H-2A program changes will reduce costs and red tape, but comprehensive solutions ultimately require congressional action.

In addition to visa programs, Secretary Rollins says the current administration remains focused on sealing borders and mass deportations.

“Everyone understands the dynamics of an open border, and the millions and millions, we’re unable to count how many, that crossed during the last administration. The President’s No. 1 promise as a candidate in 2022 through 2024 was sealing the border and mass deportations,” she says. “Looking at this challenge through the lens of understanding labor is absolute when we can’t feed ourselves, combined with where we are in terms of immigration, those are the nuances.”

How is the Administration Addressing Threats to Animal Ag?
On day 1, after being sworn in as Secretary of Ag, Rollins was briefed on HPAI . She made it clear that while some measures, such as mandatory testing for lactating dairy cattle prior to interstate movement , had been enacted, a broader and more aggressive approach is necessary. Recognizing that maintaining the status quo was insufficient, a comprehensive strategy was essential — not just from USDA but across the entire federal government.

“I realize there are lots of opinions on my boss, President Trump, but I think the one thing that most people would agree on is that he leaves it all in the field. And, that we have to do everything we can for this moment that we were given to fix a very broken system, whatever that system may look like, in this case, which is animal disease,” Rollins says.

In February 2025, the Trump administration set forth a five-point plan to combat HPAI . Rollins notes the dairy sector, in particular, showcased remarkable adaptability to HPAI threats, demonstrating industry resilience and proactive measures.

Significant investments, such as a $100 million innovation grant , have been allocated to explore vaccines and therapeutic solutions. However, the complexities of viral mutations necessitate caution, especially regarding vaccination strategies, to prevent potentially more dangerous strains from emerging.

“I think we’re going to make more progress than perhaps has been made. Having said that, it’s a virus and the virus always wins,” she says, noting they are worried about New World screwworm and took aggressive actions to combat that by closing several ports.

“We’ve not imported new animals, which is one of the reasons beef prices are up, but we are looking now to figure out how to start reopening ports. I think we’ve gotten our arms around exactly what the problem is,” she says. “We’re building out new sterile fly facilities, which is the only way we eradicated it 30 to 40 years ago, but we have a really good system in place.”

Rollins shares collaborations with international counterparts are stronger, creating an unprecedented partnership with Mexican authorities to manage and preempt future animal agriculture outbreaks effectively. Enhanced border protocols, including disinfection and ivermectin treatments for imports, underscore a commitment to protecting livestock health.

“I feel confident that we are aggressively attacking all pieces of NWS,” she says.

What Does the MAHA Movement’s Mean for Dairy?
The “Make America Healthy Again” movement aims to revamp the nation’s food system, and Rollins offers reassurance dairy products at the forefront.

“Health care costs too much. We’re not getting the care we need, especially to vulnerable populations. How do we fix that?” she asks. “Over the last year, it is completely flipped to, what are Americans eating? What are we serving in our schools? What are we serving in our SNAP program, which 42 million Americans are on the food stamp program.”

While the current economic situation is troubling, Rollins is confident in the long-term potential for profitability and sustainability in the dairy industry.

“What milk, cheese and other dairy products mean as we completely and fundamentally shift our entire food system is our dairy industry is at the very front tip of the spear,” she says, noting the response markets are answering and the dairy industry, too, with the $11 billion in new processing plants, U.S. dairy is riding a wave of momentum that is fueled by consumer demand.

“In the long term, I’m not sure there is an agriculture industry that has more to gain and that will see more of a pivot toward real profitability and real sustainability than this [dairy] industry. I could not be more excited to help lead on that,” she says.

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The Backbone of New Zealand Dairy: Understanding the Role of Immigration

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:37:23 GMT

The New Zealand dairy industry stands as a pillar of strength in the country’s economy, contributing 45% of the $27 billion in export earnings annually. This sector thrives in part due to the hard work of a diverse workforce, much of which comprises international workers who play an indispensable role. Jane Muir, people team leader from New Zealand Dairy highlighted at the 2025 IDF World Dairy Summit in Santiago, Chile: “New Zealand dairy survives and thrives because of our efforts and immigration.”

A Growing Workforce Challenge
New Zealand has a total on-farm workforce of 41,000 people, Muir says, with 60% of those being employees and business owners.

“Importantly, 36% of the total want to continue to grow,” she says.

New Zealand’s dairy sector faces a pressing workforce challenge. Primarily located in rural areas, where population growth lags even further behind, it becomes essential to rely heavily on immigration to fill the gap.

“Most working-age people want to live in the cities,” Muir says, which leaves rural sectors with limited domestic options.

Immigration as a Key Ingredient
Immigration has been a critical pathway for sustaining and propelling the industry forward. Without it, farms might struggle to maintain operations due to a shortage of manpower. The talk emphasized the goal is not just to fill roles temporarily but to create workplaces and jobs that are desirable to locals equally.

“The birth rates in rural New Zealand are even lower, and there’s so many career choices available to our young people today,” Muir says. “So, the role of immigration in New Zealand dairy industry is important, critical even, to keep our farms running. Without immigration, we would be struggling.”

New Zealand Dairy and its partners are investing in initiatives to attract, grow and retain talent. They aim to reach a point where the dairy industry can thrive with local workers. Meanwhile, immigration provides essential support, allowing the dairy industry to continue growing and evolving.

“Our focus is very clearly on ensuring we have great jobs and great workplaces so that we can attract and retain great people; great jobs and great workplaces will be there for all people no matter where they originated,” she says. “It benefits everyone, and it is also the right thing to do. Dairy New Zealand and our partners focus our energy into a large range of initiatives to attract, grow and retain people.”

Pathways to Prosperity
The New Zealand dairy workforce benefits from an inclusive immigration policy with multiple visa types facilitating this influx. Muir explains how most international workers start at the farm assistant level, gradually progressing to roles like herd manager, assistant manager or even farm manager, depending on their skills and attitudes. These pathways ensure workers are not just fillers of temporary gaps but active participants in the growth and innovation of New Zealand dairy farms.

“Almost everyone on a New Zealand dairy farm starts their career as a farm assistant, and how far people progress depends on their skills and attitude,” she says, noting that to be a business owner, this green New Zealand pathway requires being a New Zealand resident.

Success Stories
Muir shares personal stories of Karolina and Marcelo, and Summit and Manoj who epitomize the opportunities available in New Zealand’s dairy industry. They arrived on short-term visas and progressed through hard work, eventually owning their farms. Such narratives emphasize what’s possible with dedication and the right opportunities, showcasing the value of maintaining open pathways for both immigrants and locals.

Challenges and Opportunities
Every opportunity comes with its set of challenges. Immigration policies often shift with political changes, creating uncertainty. Nonetheless, diversity within the workforce brings innovation and resilience to the dairy sector. Muir also highlighted communication challenges, noting the importance of supporting international workers’ English proficiency.

“Once people start working on a New Zealand dairy farm, they experience a great job and a great workplace. Those are the things that we’re committed to,” she says. “Because while immigration is not our focus, the New Zealand dairy sector is better and brighter because of our international team.”

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Join the Dairy Industry's Premier Event: The Annual Milk Business Conference

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:56:07 GMT

In the fast-paced world of dairy production, staying informed and connected is crucial. Once again, the Annual Milk Business Conference will open its doors at the magnificent Paris Casino & Hotel Dec. 2–3 in Las Vegas. This unparalleled networking event is crafted to empower both producers and businesses with invaluable insights and connections that will propel their dairy ventures forward.

Why Attend?
The MILK Business Conference stands out as a beacon of knowledge in the ever-evolving economic landscape of the dairy industry. Tailored to provide essential business information, the conference covers every facet of the sector. It features an impressive roster of speakers and sessions designed to help producers harness their strengths and seize emerging opportunities.

2025 Confirmed Sessions Include:
· Examining the Long-Term Impact of Farmer’s Investments
Presenters: Oral “Jug” Capps Jr., Texas A&M University and Barb O’Brien, Dairy Management Inc.
· Transform Your Future: Insider Strategy Tips From Top Performing Producers
Presenters: Greg Bethard, High Plains Dairy, Kansas; TJ Tuls, Tuls Dairy, Nebraska and Hank Hafliger, Cedar Ridge Dairy, Idaho
· A Layered Attack: What’s the Next Threat to Animal Ag
Presenter: Andrew Rose, ag futurist, BIO-ISAC
· Update from U.S. Dairy Export Council
Presenter: Krysta Harden, president and CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council
· Navigate Uncertainty, Dairy Industry’s Path Forward
Presenters: Stephen Cain, National Milk Producers Federation and John Newton, American Farm Bureau
· Data Ownership is the New Source of Power
Presenter: Paul Windermuller, Dream Winds Dairy, Michigan
· Boost Your Farm’s Potential: Insights from Top Dairy Managers
Presenters: Jason Anderson, Double A Dairy, Idaho and Brandon Beavers, Full Circle Jerseys, Texas
· Exploring Labor Opportunities and Challenges
Presenter: Rick Naerbout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association
· Live Taping of “U.S. Farm Report”
Host: Tyne Morgan
Panel: Phil Plourd, Ever.Ag Insights, and Rick Naerbout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association

Additional Highlights
Attendees are in for more than just sessions. The Annual Milk Business Conference also emphasizes strengthening processor and producer relationships and optimizing beef on dairy calves. Notably, Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths will delight the audience with a live podcast recording of “Unscripted” alongside special guest Mark Inkrott, a former NFL athlete and founding partner of UpField Group. With a focus on sports, agriculture and sustainability, Inkrott will bring a unique perspective on strategic growth through partnerships and commercialization.

And of course, what’s a dairy conference without a bit of fun? Don’t miss out on the lively dairy “Darty,” sure to leave you with great memories and new friends.

Finally, the opening night of the National Finals Rodeo is Dec. 4.

Take advantage of this golden opportunity to learn, network and grow your dairy business. To learn more and secure your spot, visit MILK Business Conference 2025 today.

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Addressing the Workforce Crisis in the American Dairy Industry

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:28:01 GMT

The ongoing conversation around mass deportation has sparked a significant debate across various sectors of the American economy. Among the most affected is the dairy industry, which is heavily reliant on immigrant labor to meet its production demands. According to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), dairies using immigrant laborers are responsible for contributing to 79% of the U.S. milk supply. This statistic underscores the essential role immigrant workers play in maintaining the stability and productivity of this industry.

For nearly four decades, dairy farm organizations have consistently called for the creation of effective and sustainable pathways for immigrant farm workers to obtain legal worker status in the United States.

Organizations like Edge Dairy Coop outline a practical solution. Here are some of the components:

1. Certification & Accountability: Establish a framework where dairy farms undergo inspection, vetting and training to become certified legal workers.

2. Criminal Background Checks: Ensure each hired worker is documented, legal and free of criminal records.

3. Visa Coordination: Develop a streamlined, farmer-led visa category specifically tailored to the needs of dairy farms, whether seasonal or year-round, with oversight by USDA.

Karen Gefvert, chief policy officer at Edge, expresses the sentiment that the U.S. immigration system is broken — a reality acutely felt by American dairy farmers.

“For decades, dairy farmers have been raising the issue of an inadequate agricultural visa system for dairy employees and asking for reform, only to be lost in the partisan divide that grows deeper with each election cycle,” she says.

With the current legislative focus on border security, Gefvert sees a unique opportunity to reform agricultural worker visas. Dairy farmers require access to an entry-level workforce that is reliable, responsible and safe. A system that is streamlined, cost-effective, timely and reliable is of utmost importance.

“In order to establish a proposal that meets all of these needs, we need to determine a few of the must-have requirements. There must be an opportunity for employees coming into this country to be verified as safe and trustworthy,” she says. “They must have all of the appropriate legal documents, background checks and verifications to ensure they are approved for hire. “

Gefvert also notes visas establishing a year-round, multi-year accreditation for employees working on dairy and other livestock farms ensures farms can train employees and maintain them in the most appropriate and efficient manner for animal livestock operations that need a workforce 365 days a year.

Highlighting the labor challenges, Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, notes American citizens are generally unwilling to take on these arduous jobs.

“Americans don’t want these jobs,” he says.

Naerebout will further discuss labor opportunities and challenges at the upcoming 2025 Milk Business Conference, scheduled for Dec. 2-3 in Las Vegas. To see the full agenda and register for this conference, go to: milkbusinessconference.com

The ongoing discussions and potential reforms represent a pivotal moment for the American dairy industry. Addressing labor deficiencies through thoughtful policy could pave the way for a more robust and sustainable future for the sector.

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America's Farm Labor Crisis: Can Immigration Reform Save Agriculture?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 19:24:02 GMT

Walking orchards in the Central Valley, is something Scott Peters’ family has done for four generations. With his great grandfather settling in the fertile valley in 1933, the family has been immersed with changes. From regulations and battles over water, to the fight for labor and immigration, Peters Fruit Farms is not only working to preserve the past, but also fighting for their future.

“Today, we primarily grow stone fruit. We’ve gone a little bit into the citrus just to diversify. We have the packing house, so we want to keep it running year round. Citrus is the winter commodity, and stone fruit is the summer commodity,” Peters says.

The Peters are unique. They don’t just grow and pick the fruit. They’re also packers and shippers — an operation that relies on hundreds of employees throughout the year.

“Labor prices are really difficult for us,” says the California peach grower. “As an example, our minimum wage is $16.50. When we compete against Georgia (known as the ‘Peach State’), their minimum wage $7.25. It’s just under half of what we have to pay people, which means we just don’t have a margin of error. If there’s something wrong with the crop — if we have a weather event — it stings us a lot harder.”

California’s Farm Labor is Skilled and Difficult to Replace

That’s the reality for farmers across California. Not only are regulations and water becoming expensive for growers across the state, but labor costs are also on the rise. And considering labor is the highest cost for fruit growers, it’s putting a severe strain on producers.

And while it’s expensive, labor is one of Peters’ most critical resources.

“They’re a very talented labor force. We can’t just go and get somebody off the street,” he says. “We can’t get an H-2A worker from another country who doesn’t know the industry. They can’t do the same job.”

From Arizona to California, to meat processing plants that span across the U.S. Peters says that’s one of the biggest misconceptions about migrant labor. People may think they aren’t talented or skilled, but Peters argues they’re both.

“The supervisors have these rings, and we’ll open them up to the size of fruit we want picked. They will pick a few samples off the tree, show them what sits on the ring and what goes through the ring. And the labor we have picking in the orchard, they will know — just by looking at the rings — which fruit to pick,” Peters explains. “They’ll just go from limb to limb, tree to tree, and they’ll pick the size that we’re requesting by the rings.”

Scott Peters shows U.S. Farm Report host Tyne Morgan rings they use to show individuals who are picking the fruit just what size of fruit they need to pick that day. With barely any difference in the size, it shows just how skilled the labor that works in Peters’ orchards are today.

(Matt Mormann, Farm Journal )

Peters says, to the untrained eye, the difference in the size of the rings is unnoticeable — making the labor this orchard employs irreplaceable.

“That’s how skilled they are,” he says. “So when people say they’re replaceable and you can get H-2A people or other people off the street, no, it doesn’t work that way. Those people will have no idea that small of a difference when we’re asking them to pick a certain size.”

The Broken U.S. Immigration System

The individuals Peters employs aren’t part of the H-2A system. Instead, his workers have been in California for generations, doing manual labor many Americans either don’t want to do, or physically can’t do, at a speed that’s needed today.

“The immigration system in the U.S. is absolutely broken today,” Peters tells U.S. Farm Report. “Why? Because they don’t have a simple, easy way to make immigrants legal. It’s complicated. It’s not very easily accessible for the people. If they find a way to do it, it takes them a long time. We have employees that have gone through the process and are legal. At the time, we did not know they were not. We had no idea. When they come to us, they show us a valid ID, and they show a valid social security card. As far as we’re concerned, we are hiring legal people. And then they come back to us down the road and they show other cards and say, ‘Well, now i need to change.’ Then we have to abide by the new name because of the standards.”

Results from Farm Journal’s Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor

(Lindsey Pound )

Agricultural economists from across the U.S. agree. In the latest Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor , 87% of economists said the U.S. immigration system is broken for agriculture. But on the flip side, 87% of economists also said there will be no movement on immigration reform in 2025.

Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers Leagu e, has been fighting for a fix to the current immigration system for decades. He says the current 40-year-old immigration system doesn’t work for agriculture. He argues it’s dramatically impacting California’s agricultural landscape.

“It’s horribly broken, and you can’t band-aid it together anymore,” Cunha tells U.S. Farm Report.

H-2A Program Doesn’t Work for California Agriculture

The H-2A guest worker program may work for some sectors of agriculture, but it’s not a comprehensive “fix” for agriculture — especially industries that rely on a large number of seasonal labor.

While the program is vital for addressing domestic labor shortages, for labor-intensive specialty crops like fruits and vegetables, the H-2A program is designed to provide a cortical legal source of labor where domestic workers are often unwilling or unavailable.

However, Cunha says what the H-2A guest worker program is designed to do, and how it actually works, are two different things.

“The cost is prohibitive. It’s a broken program. A guest worker program should be what it is. You go to the border, get a card and come into California or Arizona or wherever, work for 10 months and then leave,” Cunha says. “The system today requires people to through a process in the countries where you have recruiters that control the workers. They, in turn, kind of manipulate those workers where to go and how much you’re going to pay me, then the person comes here. On top of that, to provide required housing, transportation and meals is very costly. In this state, at $23 an hour, no farmer can afford that.”

Cunha says these are all reasons why the H-2A program must be reformed.

“We also must have a guest worker program for hotels, restaurants and construction to where those workers can come in here, they work for 10 months in a rotation, they go back and then they come back again,” Cunha says. “But it’s a guest worker program and not allowing the country to select and choose who you want. There has to be a great working relationship on a guest worker program that works for my industry and agriculture and the other industries as well.”

40-Year-Old Program

The last major immigration reform in the United States was the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), which granted legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants and increased penalties for employers hiring them.

The legislation, now 40 years old, is something Cunha argues is out of date.

Efforts to pass new immigration legislation have frequently failed due to partisan disagreements and an inability to find common ground between parties and administrations.

“They use it so they can get re-elected every time. And it’s so sad that our legislators have that type of mentality. Let’s not fix it, because if we say we’re going fix it, that’s how we’ll get elected. That’s how we’ll get re-elected,” Cunha says. “It’s been broken, and it’s been a facade.”

Dignity Act of 2025

Cunha says the only solution on the table that would work today is the Dignity Act of 2025. The bill was introduced on July 15 by Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX).

The bill not only focuses on securing the border, but it provides legal status to qualifying undocumented immigrants. It also imposes higher penalties for illegal border crossings and human and child sex trafficking. Not only would it address America’s farm labor crisis, but Cunha says it could help save agricultural industries that rely heavily on migrant labor across the U.S.

“This is the first real immigration bill that has addressed industries. The Farm Worker Modernization Act was just ag, and it really didn’t do all of ag. It only did the field and not the packing houses or the processing,” Cunha explains. “But being that we’re in the year 2025, many industries like agriculture have the same problem. Those workers have been there for years. And so somehow, we need to give them that opportunity to have a legal means to work here and to travel home.

Cunha says the U.S. has to do something new when it comes to immigration reform, and the Dignity Act of 2025 gives that life.

“The president continually gives off positive vibes: ‘I want the workers to stay here. They are important for the industries, agriculture, the restaurants, the hotels, the construction.’ So, those people need to be here. The bill absolutely deals with that. It makes them have dignity, respect and the fear of not being apprehended any part of the day, going to church or going to the hospital or whatever. They would have a legal card, and the bill’s doing that,” Cunha says.

For now, there’s a nervousness among workers in California — essential labor that supports California’s multi-billion-dollar farming community.

“The workers that are here are more than any H-2A worker that could ever come into the unit. We have 1.6 million. The Department of Labor couldn’t even handle that number if they wanted to bring in H-2A people. The system would blow up,” Cunha says.

California Farmers Are Hopeful

In June, President Donald Trump said he would issue an order soon to address the effects of his immigration crackdown on the country’s farm and hotel industries, which rely heavily on migrant labor.

Trump continues to send mixed signals on immigration policies — even with his hints of a fix for agriculture. According to preliminary Census Bureau data, analyzed by the Pew Research Center , the number of immigrant workers in the U.S. has declined by 1.2 million from January through the end of July. That figure includes people who are in the country illegally, as well as legal residents.

Peters says, considering the Trump administration continues to focus on agriculture, he is hanging onto hope. The hope is that Washington will finally find a long-term fix that helps farmers and protects the precious labor they can’t do without.

“They’re very talented workers,” Peters says. “They have skills, and they’re very hard to replace. You have to train the new person, and it’s how fast they pick up on the training. We’ve looked at robots that do pick fruit. The technology is coming, but it’s not there yet. It’s got a ways to go.”

Americans’ View on Immigration

Americans seem to be growing more positive toward immigration over the past year. According to a Gallup poll released in June, a record-high 79% of U.S. adults say immigration is a good thing for the country.

According to Gallup, these shifts reverse a four-year trend of rising concern about immigration that began in 2021. And with illegal border crossings down sharply this year, the Gallup poll found fewer Americans back hard-line border enforcement measures, while more favor offering pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.

How a Wisconsin Cheese Plant Strike Highlights National Immigration Challenges

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:47:09 GMT

In the heart of Monroe, Wis., a significant event is unfolding as workers at a local cheesemaker plant take a stand against new employment policies. The transition to new ownership by Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) cooperative has ignited a strike, driven by concerns over employment and immigration verification processes.

The shift began on August 1, when DFA officially acquired W&W Dairy. As part of this transition, DFA implemented E-Verify, a federal system designed to verify employees’ immigration status. This move triggered protests due to fears that some immigrant workers might lose their jobs. Employees, many having dedicated years — even decades — to W&W Dairy, feared the changes and voiced their demand for severance pay as recognition for their longstanding commitment to the W&W Dairy.

“I think it’s really great that people stood up for themselves simply out of the dignity that, ‘we’re not new employees, we’ve been here 10, 15, 20 years, and we should be recognized as such,” Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of immigration advocacy group Voces de la Frontera, said in a statement.

Neumann-Ortiz took part in a rally that was outside of the dairy plant on Tuesday.

“Obviously, there was a great sense of betrayal that they kind of were told ‘nothing’s going to change,’” she said. “And then it did.”

DFA’s Commitment to Compliance
DFA responded with a statement affirming their commitment to retaining 100% of the W&W workforce while complying with federal employment eligibility requirements. The company’s spokesperson, Kim O’Brien, noted DFA did not initiate a new policy — they are simply adhering to federal law that requires proper documentation.

“With the intention to retain 100% of the W&W workforce, as part of the hiring process to become DFA employees, all W&W workers and other applicants were notified of the need to provide documents to complete both an I-9 form and the E-Verify process. In the event any applicant chose not to provide the required documentation, or the E-Verify process was not successfully completed, DFA’s ability to offer employment was impacted,” the DFA statement said, adding that some media outlets have incorrectly reported that a new company policy is to blame for workers not having a job.

“This is not a new DFA policy; we take compliance with state and federal labor laws very seriously and are committed to complying with federal employment eligibility requirements. As a federal contractor, DFA uses E-Verify across our national network of 80+ manufacturing plants,” the statement said.

The Bigger Picture: Immigration and Food Security
This situation in Monroe reflects broader challenges within the U.S. dairy industry. In fact, DFA has been active in the national conversation about the need for pragmatic solutions to address our nation’s broken immigration policy.

The recent DFA statement read, “This is another example of the significant challenges facing those producing this country’s food. We are advocating for the urgent focus required to develop a solution to sustain the U.S. food supply.”

On July 23, Dennis Rodenbaugh, president and chief executive officer of DFA, shared an open letter on LinkedIn that was published as a full-page ad in the New York Post and Wall Street Journal, emphasizing the critical need for agricultural labor reform in the U.S. dairy industry. Other food industry associations have also issued statements on immigration in the U.S.

Rodenbaugh, who once dairied in western Kansas, highlighted the unique year-round demands of the dairy sector, which are not addressed by current immigration policies like the H-2A program.

“The only agricultural visa available, the H-2A program, is limited to seasonal or temporary work, which is inadequate for dairy operations that require skilled labor every day of the year. These jobs cannot be automated; they demand experience, expertise, and hands-on performance. What’s urgently needed is an immigration policy that addresses the unique challenges of the dairy industry and ensures a sustainable U.S. food supply,” wrote Rodenbaugh, who has been employed with DFA for 18 years and served as CEO since May 2022.

Rodenbaugh’s letter serves as a call to action, advocating for immigration policies that support the dairy industry’s sustainability. He argues that food security is a national priority, intertwined with the economic stability and future of American agriculture.

Rodenbaugh wrote that America’s food security is a matter of national security, as is the U.S. agricultural system — which contributes over $1 trillion to the economy. He wrote the labor shortage has reached “a critical inflection point.”

“Failures of the past are not corrected by creating even greater problems in the present, or worse, by using rhetoric intended to eliminate any path forward,” he wrote. “Doing so risks food access and affordability, disrupts communities and leaves U.S. farms and hardworking families with an uncertain future.”

Moving Forward
The strike at Monroe’s cheesemaker plant sheds light on the complexity of labor and immigration issues within the dairy sector. As the situation unfolds, it underscores the need for thoughtful immigration reform that considers the unique demands and contributions of agricultural workers to America’s economy and food security.

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The Labor Conundrum: Navigating Workforce Shortages in the U.S.

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:05:37 GMT

In recent years, discussions around the slowing growth rate of the U.S. labor force have intensified. Rob Fox from CoBank highlights a pressing issue in the company’s latest quarterly report: the potential drag on economic growth due to labor supply constraint.

While the urgency of the problem seemed to subside temporarily, recent developments have brought it back into focus.

Demographic Challenges
Eighteen years ago, the U.S. boasted a fertility rate of 2.12 children per woman, surpassing the level necessary for a stable population. However, the economic upheaval caused by the Great Financial Crisis led to a significant decline in births, a trend that continues to this day. The fertility rate as of 2023 has dropped to 1.62 children per woman. The impact of these “missing births” is now becoming evident as this age cohort begins entering adulthood, coinciding with the retirement of the baby boomer generation. This demographic shift presents a dual blow to the labor market.

Fox says adopting technology — most obviously AI and robotics — will likely be at the core of any strategy to address oncoming labor shortages.

Participation Rates
Another pressing issue is the downward trend in labor force participation rates since 2000. Currently at 62%, a stark decline from the peak of 67%, this translates to approximately 9.7 million potential workers lost.

“Worryingly, this trend may be accelerating: 2.4 million working-aged people have dropped out of the labor force in the past eight months alone,” Fox says, noting some reasons include increased caregiving responsibilities, job skill obsolescence, mental health challenges and rising disability rates.

Immigration as a Balancing Act
For a brief period, immigration helped offset the labor shortage. Humanitarian crises, less restrictive immigration policies, and strong labor demand attracted nearly 9 million immigrants to the U.S. between 2022 and 2024. However, since late 2024, immigration levels have sharply declined. Additionally, the Trump administration’s plan to deport 1 million undocumented immigrants further complicates the scenario. Without a reversal in participation rates or policy changes, the worker pool will continue to shrink.

Agricultural Implication
These labor issues are particularly acute in rural areas, affecting industries like agriculture. Richard Stup from Cornell Cooperative Extension underscores the diminishing labor pool available for farm work. Countries like Mexico — historically a source of agricultural labor — are experiencing similar demographic changes. Economic improvements in these countries reduce the impetus for migration, further tightening labor availability.

“[The population in] Mexico, going forward, will begin to actually shrink,” he says. “It’s not just Mexico. There are a lot of countries in this situation.”

In addition to a smaller pool of workers willing to fill on-farm vacancies, economic opportunities in these countries — such as an increase in Mexico’s inflation-adjusted dollars — are reducing the push factor for migration.

“It means there’s more economic activity, there’s more job opportunity and there’s less push to leave Mexico and go to the U.S. for dollars,” he says. “There’s still a lot of push to come up here, but it’s not what it used to be.”

When looking at the data, Stup notes fewer young people are looking for work.

“The average age of foreign-born employees is about 42 years,” he says. For comparison, the average age of U.S. born employees on farms is 36 years old.

Stup says technology will be used in places where the work is repetitive and heavy manual labor. He also underscores the need for retention programs and attracting a diverse pool of workers. Skills such as critical and systems thinking, data savviness and comfort with animals will be essential for future dairy workers. Education, whether formal or through on-the-job training, is equally important.

The decreasing labor supply poses significant challenges that could hinder U.S. economic growth if not addressed. Without strategic interventions in demographic policies, a shift in immigration approaches, or incentives to boost labor participation, the labor market’s stability remains at risk.

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The Vital Role of Immigrant Labor in the U.S. Dairy Industry

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:50:22 GMT

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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Increased I-9 Audits Forcing Dairies to Fire Employees, Exposing Immigration Flaws; There is a Short-Term Fix

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:08:31 GMT

Nervousness and frustrations are spreading across the dairy industry. It’s not U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) raids causing the uneasiness. There’s now an increase in I-9 audits targeting dairies.

At least nine dairies were targeted with I-9 audits over the weekend, according a source in the dairy industry. That follows a South Dakota dairy who was surprised by an audit earlier this month. With reported flaws in the E-Verify system, the audits are resulting in dairies being forced to fire employees who are found to have illegal documents and only given 10 days to do so.

“I’ve heard it from both Texas and South Dakota dairy producers that they are having I-9 audits,” says Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. “Uncertain as to the timing if these audits were triggered before Trump came out and said he was going to pause enforcement on farms. Really, we haven’t seen the same level of enforcement on farms since he came out a few weeks ago and made those public statements. You’ve had some other public statements that have somewhat conflicted that, but it does feel like there’s a different posture from this administration right now.”

There have been reports of ICE raids in other areas, but the increase in I-9 audits is isolated to mainly two states: South Dakota and Texas so far.

“Honestly, what’s a little bit curious about that is those are both red states, and there seems to have been a focus more on blue states and red states. And you, one of those states seems to be the [Secretary Noem’s] home state,” he adds. “So, there’s some curiousness to it all. I’m really not sure what’s triggering these I-9 audits. Typically, our experience in Idaho when we’ve had a dairy producer go through an I-9, it’s usually triggered by a former employee complaining after they’ve been let go. That’s been kind of the trigger is somebody complaining and then DHS coming in and and conducting an I-9 audit after there’s been an accusation of employment of unauthorized individuals, but really not sure, you know, what triggered these in those two states.”

What the Dairy Industry is Pushing to Change

Even though it seems to be isolated to South Dakota and Texas, it’s creating a nervousness on dairies across the country. And that’s because of the increased issues it’s causing with labor.

The dairy industry seems to be on an island when it comes to finding a legal workforce. Dairies aren’t seasonal, therefore they can’t utilize H-2A , and that’s something the dairy industry is pushing to change.

John Boelts, an Arizona farmer who’s also president of Arizona Farm Bureau, says the farther you get from the border, the more challenging it is to find enough labor within agriculture.

“We need programs that really address what we need in agriculture as far as on a labor basis,” Boelts says. “Many will point to H-2A and say, ‘Well, you have an uncapped H-2A guest worker program,’ and that’s a valid point. However, I’d like to point out that H-2A was designed very keenly not to work very well, to be cumbersome, challenging, expensive, all of the things that don’t fit very well into an agricultural model. That said, it’s the lifeline that American agriculture has today.”

H-2A is a program widely used in agriculture, but one that has drawn criticism for not only the rising cost, but also how complex it is. Those in agriculture argue the system, as it exists today, doesn’t do enough to cover the vastness of American agriculture. That includes dairy farms, dairy processors and produce processors.

And while H-2A is far from perfect, the dairy industry can’t use H-2A today, the one guest worker program that does exist, according to Donald Grady, the senior director of legislative affairs at the international dairy foods association.

“The H-2A program, while it works for large swaths of agriculture doesn’t work for dairy. And because of the fact that dairy is a 365-day-a-year operation, it doesn’t matter — Christmas, New Year’s, your birthday — cows must get milked. And that milk needs to get processed for Americans to safely consume it,” Grady says. “So we are looking to be able to expand the H-2A program so that dairy operations on-farm and in the plant can have another tool in their toolbox to meet their labor needs.”

Changes Are Needed to H-2A to Include Dairies

Grady says for dairy to be able to use the H-2A program in the U.S., the seasonality requirements in the program would need to change to year round. That’s one fix.

“But for processors, we need another specific change, and that is a change to the definition of agriculture, labor and services,” Grady says. “Right now, it does not include processing that does not happen on the farm. So, if you’re on a farm like a packing house for a fruit and vegetable operation, you can still use H-2A workers in that packing plant. But if that packing plan were just across the street and not on the farm, you couldn’t use those workers there. Dairy, obviously, the processing is largely located away from the farm. And so for us to be able to access H-2A, we need to change the definition of ag labor and services so that processing can be included.”

It’s a short-term fix, for what the dairy industry calls a long-term problem. Labor issues have plagued the dairy industry for decades, and it’s a situation that’s only getting worse.

“We need to figure out how we can simply improve our labor pool so that we can meet the needs that we have,” Grady says. “I think as we hear from our IDFA members across the board, we are down about 10% on our labor needs. That accounts to thousands and thousands and thousands of workers. When you look at the fact that we are over 3 million in the dairy manufacturing, retail and marketing side. So when you’re looking at just in the plant, that’s thousands of workers that we need. And this is a tool that would be able to help us in the immediacy.”

There is Momentum for Change

Even though there’s an increase in I-9 audits on dairies, leaders within the dairy industry say for the first time in nearly two decades, there does seem to be momentum for changes to the H-2A program and address the pain points with the current immigration system.

“You do hear some really good things coming from the administration right now about trying to solve the farm labor crisis, and it’s never had this amount of focus from any president, serious amount of focus, and it feels like there’s a serious amount of focus and an earnest desire to try and do something to solve our problem for us, which is a blessing,” Naerebout says. “We’ve been rebuffed by both Republican and Democrat presidencies in the past. We’ve been rebuffed by Republican and Democratic controlled Congresses, and to have a president take this issue on and begin to try and address it, and he and some of his secretaries have taken some pretty strong heat for for trying to solve this problem from his base, but he seems to be really, you know, earnest in trying to find a solution for us.”

E-Verify System is Also Exposing Flaws

One dairy operation was forced to fire nearly 40 employees, as they still scramble to find employees to back fill those jobs. That’s creating a new concern: Are the labor shortages a matter of animal welfare?

“I don’t think we’re quite there,” Naerebout says. “That’s always a concern, especially if you have a number of these audits that happen in a given area, and if you see a response like we saw in New Mexico a month or two ago where the response to that I-9 audit seemed to be DHS showing up and, you know, hauling workers away. That’s new.”

It’s not like these dairies are knowingly hiring individuals with false records. All dairy farms are required to use the E-Verify system, but the recent focus on finding illegal immigrants has exposed another issue: The E-Verify system is also flawed.

It’s a system that’s been used for more than two decades. For employers to make sure they are hiring legal immigrants, they use E-Verify, which is a government program that verifies those employees are authorized to work in the U.S.

In other words, these dairy operations are hiring employees who have been vetted through the E-Verify system. Yet, once an I-9 audit happens, it’s exposing that some of those employees submitted either illegal paperwork, or forms that weren’t theirs. And there’s no way for a dairy to know. That’s what the E-Verify system is meant to do.

It’s a long-standing frustration for dairies who’ve always been exposed to I-9 audits. It’s just until recently, the I-9 audits haven’t been as frequent.

“I definitely feel it’s flawed,” Naerebout says. “We also feel very strongly that it should not be on the employer to determine legal status of people in the country. That should be the job of the federal government. They shouldn’t be putting that on any employer, whether it’s agriculture or any other sector of the economy. That’s an unfair burden to put on the employer.”

What Needs to Happen Long-Term to Fix the Immigration System for Agriculture?

What needs to happen in the long-term? That solution lies with Congress. In order for the U.S. to address immigration laws that were written in 1986, it will take an act of Congress.

“We need to figure out how we can create a system that benefits our farmers by giving them access to workers and benefits the workers so that they can be able to cross the border legally and safely without having to feel like they’re going to get trapped in their home country and not be able to come back and work or feel as though they have to use different means to try and get into this country,” Grady says.

“We need a system that would benefit workers just as much as employers, but it’s the employers who need the workers for sure,” Boelts says.

The reality for growers like Boelts is no matter how high of wages producers pay, they are having more trouble finding the labor needed to fuel the U.S. with fresh produce and food.

“The challenge is for the American consumers, they need to look at it from a fairness standpoint,” Boelts says. “A worker working in Mexico harvesting broccoli or lettuce that then is shipped into the United States, might make $20 a day. Where we’re often offering around $20 plus an hour to work here in the United States. So it just doesn’t make sense. There’s really no reason why we shouldn’t be producing for the U.S. market right here in the U.S.”

Agriculture argues Congress needs to step in. Boelts says he is appreciative for an administration that is listening to farmers. So, what would Boelts tell the Trump administration when it comes to immigration? It’s this:

“I would ask the president and Secretary Rollins to take on a position of leadership, speak to both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate, and say, ‘Look, you’ve been hearing about this for years from farmers and ranchers all over the country. We all know what needs to happen. We need to reform agricultural workers, the public policy governing folks coming into the country, both temporarily and permanently. We need options for agricultural producers.’”

Boelts says the solution can’t just be the argument that there is a temporary guest worker program that exists today, because that system is been broken.

“We have cows that need to be milked, livestock that needs to be tended day in and day out, sometimes year round, sometimes temporarily. We needed a program that’s designed to work for American agriculture, period,” Boelts says.

Naerebout agrees that even with the headlines focused on ICE raids, and now increased audits, President Donald Trump is listening to farmers and fixing what many argue is a broken immigration system, and we might finally see some solutions.

“We’ve not had this kind of traction with an administration ever on this issue,” he says. “Maybe Reagan, but I was 7 years old when Ronald Reagan worked on this issue back in 1986, so I can’t really speak to what the mood was then, but we’re cautiously optimistic here in Idaho. We’re watching what the president’s saying, we’re continuing to stay in close contact with our Senate and congressional offices to continue to make sure that when they get the opportunities to put a bug in the president’s ear, and anybody in the administration’s ear about our needs, that that’s happening.”

Naerebout says after 20 plus years, he thinks agriculture finally has a legitimate chance on solving a problem that’s been plaguing the industry. And that solution needs to not only come from the White House, but the long-term fix needs to be addressed by Congress.

Agriculture in the Bull's-Eye: Raids Reportedly Resume on Farms, Meatpacking Plants

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 18:40:23 GMT

After President Donald Trump reportedly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) to pause raids on farms and meatpacking plants last week, new reports say the administration is reversing course again. The on-again, off-again reports regarding ICE raids is sowing confusion for those who rely on immigrant labor and already causing labor shortages due to employees not showing up for work.

There was an update again late Friday, with President Trump saying he’s looking at new immigration policy steps that would allow farms to take responsibility for people they hire.

The Washington Post first reported Monday that ICE officials told leaders representing field offices across the country they must continue to conduct raids at worksite locations, which is a reversal from guidance issued just days earlier.

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wouldn’t confirm the Washington Post’s report, but an agricultural association told Farm Journal the article is accurate based on their discussions with the administration.

Instead, DHS told us this:

“The president has been incredibly clear. There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts,” says DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safe guard public safety, national security and economic stability. These operations target illegal employment networks that undermine American workers, destabilize labor markets and expose critical infrastructure to exploitation.”

By Friday, there was another update. Reuters reported President Trump said he was looking at immigration policy steps that would allow farms to take responsibility for people they hire.

“We’re looking at doing something where, in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire and let them have responsibility, because we can’t put the farms out of business,” Trump told reporters. “And at the same time we don’t want to hurt people that aren’t criminals.”

According to Farm Journal’s Michelle Rook, the recent ICE raids are already creating absenteeism and labor shortages that could severally disrupt the U.S. food supply. Ag groups are again calling for immigration reform with hopes the issue will finally come to a head.

Ripple Effect of Immigration Crackdown

Joe Del Bosque, owner of Del Bosque Farms in Firebaugh, Calif., is experiencing the rollercoaster with labor, saying the shifting policy strikes fear in farmers and workers.

“There’s so much uncertainty as to what the administration’s going to do,” Del Bosque told Rook on AgriTalk this week.

Del Bosque says the raids on California produce farms are disrupting the harvest of perishable produce.

“They haven’t been really huge sweeps. They’re usually picking up a few people. But it creates a lot of fear, and people don’t show up to work. That’s just as bad as if they were taken away,” he says.

According to an exclusive report by Farm Journal’s The Packer , the ripple effect of Trump’s immigration crackdown on agriculture could be far-reaching — if the administration revives its focus on ag.

Kevin Kelly is the CEO of Emerald Packaging — the largest flexible packaging supplier to the leafy greens industry. Based in Union City, Calif., the company has been in the packaging business for 62 years. Kelly says the immigrant workforce in California is feeling uncertain and afraid.

“We’ve certainly heard folks aren’t turning up to work in the fields, and we’ve seen it in our facility. We verify everybody, so we know everybody in our facility is documented and can legally work in the United States,” Kelly tells Jennifer Strailey, editor of The Packer. “In our case, it’s brothers and sisters being deported, and other family members being afraid. Our employees are staying home to help their family members move, to take care of them or to take them to see an attorney — that kind of thing.”

Dairy operations in several states have also been raided recently. Dairy producers say they rely on immigrant labor to provide a stable year-round work force and to keep the U.S. food supply stable.

“We need these people to take care of our animals so we can produce food. Without animal care, we won’t have milk, cheese, butter — nothing,” Greg Moes, MoDak Dairy in Goodwin, S.D., told Rook.

The recent ICE arrests at Glenn Valley Foods of Omaha, Neb. have also led to absenteeism at meat processing plants.

“At the beginning of the Trump administration, we had this same worry with the crackdown — whether this was going to impact absenteeism and things like that,” says Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek in Sioux Center, Iowa. “So, hopefully we can put that in our rearview mirror.”

By the Numbers: A Heavy Reliance on Immigrant Labor
The news this week of the Trump administration putting a pause on raids of farms and meat processors is welcome news for those in agriculture. From dairies and produce farms, to meatpacking plants across the U.S., these sectors rely heavily on immigrant labor.

Immigrant labor makes up a substantial portion of the meat processing workforce, with estimates ranging from 37% to over 50%. However, states like South Dakota and Nebraska have even higher concentrations of immigrant workers in meat processing — reaching 58% and 66%, according to the nonprofit Migration Policy Institute.

And a large portion of U.S. dairy farms rely on immigrant labor, with estimates indicating that over half of all dairy workers are immigrants. Specifically, these workers account for 51% of the total dairy workforce and are responsible for producing 79% of the U.S. milk supply.

Farmworker Justice estimates 70% of the produce industry’s farmworkers are immigrants. USDA’s estimates are lower — closer to 60%.

Op-Ed: A Legal Pathway for Dairy Workers Is Critical to America’s Food Security

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:49:57 GMT

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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Worries Mount as ICE Raids Ramp Up On Dairy Farms

Arizona Dairy Farmer Provides Ag Labor Perspective

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:17:09 GMT

The dairy industry has historically relied on skilled immigrants to make up for labor shortages in rural America. Getting milk to market and caring for the daily needs and health and well-being of our cows is hard work that never stops.

With renewed national attention on border security and immigration enforcement, farmers nationwide are wondering if they could be affected. Arizona dairy farmer Jim Boyle says solving illegal immigration needs to be paired with meeting agriculture’s workforce needs. 

“The president is right about securing the border, but any enforcement action needs to go hand-in-hand with a labor reform package,” says Boyle, co-owner of Casa Grande Dairy Co., a 3,600-cow operation in Casa Grande, and chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation Immigration Task Force. 

Boyle first got involved with federal policy in 2011. He has seen many iterations of immigration reform come and go, but he is confident there is a fair and workable solution that will allow for both seasonal and long-term agricultural workers.  In the short term, President Donald Trump’s direction last week for federal law enforcement to put a hold on actions at farms, meatpackers, restaurants and hotels, since reversed, was a positive step, Boyle says. Longer term, agriculture still needs a solution that lessens anxieties not only for the farmer and the worker but also for the future reliability of the food supply that the administration is trying to protect.

Regional Variation
Regional variation is one of the many challenges farmers currently face in understanding how to react to workforce concerns, Boyle says. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, is a federal agency, but regional discrepancies exist in enforcement, he says.  

“Every state has a slightly different focus,” he says.  

Frequent communication among producer associations helps keep track of regional differences and gives context for state associations as they talk to their own state legislators, says Boyle, president of the Western States Dairy Producers Association and vice chair of his cooperative, United Dairymen of Arizona.  

“It does help to have relationships with state legislators, for all the lobbying happening at the state level” he says.

But all these state and regional differences could also be helped with better federal laws.  

Workforce Uncertainty
“Everyone’s documented. Everybody,” Boyle says when asked about undocumented workers on dairy farms. “I don’t like to use the term ‘undocumented’ because we collect all the required documents from all our workers, and so do all the other dairy farmers I know.”

But a certain percentage of agriculture workers on farms all over the country might use documentation that’s inaccurate, yet still can appear authentic enough to pass extra verification measures, like E-Verify. And that adds risk for both dairy owners and their employees, he says.

Aggressive immigration enforcement has had dairy farmers concerned about their ability to milk cows 365 days a year without interruption. And even if worksite enforcement operations ceased, dairy farmworkers could still get involved in investigations elsewhere. Dairy farmworkers caught up in immigration enforcement actions in   New York   and  Vermont   this spring have garnered national attention and highlighted the need for ag labor policies that are practical for dairy.

Dairy farmers cannot lose their current workers without the threat of first and foremost causing severe distress for the lactating cow. If the cows cannot be milked, the end result is the loss of the cow, the farm, and soon after a significant negative impact on the rural economy. With the current uncertainty in immigration policy, that risk is a real anxiety for farmers, Boyle says.

One example: Dairy farmers do not have adequate access to any viable visa to bring workers. The most common existing program, the H-2A farmworker program, only provides for seasonal labor rather than the year-round workers dairy needs. NMPF has advocated for improvements or alternatives to the H-2A program so dairy can have a reliable workforce.

Any solution to this problem must allow workers to stay longer than the seasonal H-2A currently allows for, and it must also have a pathway for existing workers to stay in their current job while they legalize their work status, Boyle says.

Boyle supports creating a new type of visa for dairy, but he also recognizes that some of the details would still need to be worked out, like whether the visas would include spouses or families. Because of dairy’s unique skill set and the lack of domestic labor force that has that skill set, Boyle says a three-year (or other long-term) visa must be a part of the solution.

“You can’t just get someone trained to your specific facility in six months and then they’re gone and you start the process over again,” he says. “That kind of short-term system doesn’t work for dairy.”

A Sigh of Relief? Trump Orders Pause on ICE Raids of Farms, Meatpacking Plants

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:58:51 GMT

President Donald Trump is reportedly ordering Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ) to pause raids on farms and meatpacking plants, softening the potential blow to industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor. The news comes after a week of ICE seemingly targeting dairy farms, California produce farms and a meat packing plant in Nebraska.

New York Times first reported on Thursday Trump said he would issue an order soon to address the effects of his immigration crackdown on the country’s farm and hotel industries, which rely heavily on immigrant labor. According to reports, the new directive still allows for investigations into serious crimes such as human trafficking.

“We will follow the president’s direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told “U.S. Farm Report” in a statement.

The Department of Homeland Security and top White House officials continue to say that ICE is targeting “criminals” and “criminal illegal aliens.” However, as more dairy farms and a meat production plant were targeted, that called into question if it’s just criminals ICE was targeting.

Recent Raids on Farms and Meatpacking Plants

The raid on Glenn Valley Foods, a meat production plant in Omaha, Neb., drew national attention. That raid is what the Department of Homeland Security called the “largest worksite enforcement operation” in the state during the Trump presidency.

Glenn Valley Foods was founded in 2009 by Gary Rohwer, and according to their website they sell steak, chicken and corned beef products to restaurants and grocery stores. Rohwer said he was surprised by the raid and had followed the rules regarding immigration status. The plant used E-Verify, a federal database used for checking employees’ immigration status. But the warrant by ICE officials that said they had identified 107-people who they believed were using fraudulent documents.

Congressman Don Bacon, R-Neb., told local media 75 to 80 people were detained, but four people were also arrested for assaulting ICE agents during the operation. Officials say an investigation is ongoing and additional arrests could be forthcoming, authorities said.

“While carrying out an enforcement operation in Omaha, Nebraska an illegal alien from Honduras threatened federal officers and agents with a box cutter. These are the type of threats and assaults our brave law enforcement face every day as they put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens,” McLauglin also said in a statement to Farm Journal. “Our ICE enforcement officers and agents are facing a 413% increase in assaults against them. Thankfully, no ICE law enforcement was hurt in this operation. The operation was successful and resulted in the arrest of 76 illegal aliens. This was the largest worksite enforcement operation in Nebraska under the Trump administration.”

It’s not just meatpacking plants that saw increased ICE presence last week. Immigration officials also continue to visit dairy farms across the country. There were reports of raids from South Dakota to New Mexico.

@HSIElPaso executed a search warrant at Outlook Dairy Farms in NM & arrested 11 illegal aliens for violations of fraud & misuse of visas, permits & other documents. 1 was previously removed from the US, 9 banned from the US. LeaCountySO HSILasCruces HSI Roswell #EROElPaso #WSE pic.twitter.com/PzLKBJIdQE
— HSI El Paso (@HSIElPaso) June 4, 2025

ICE shared a photo on X saying it executed a search warrant at “Outlook Dairy Farms” in Lovington, N.M. Officials say they arrested 11 people for violations of fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents, including nine who investigators say were already banned from the U.S.

The owner of the dairy farm told the Albuquerque Journal that the people arrested supplied him with false paperwork and that following an audit before the raid he’d been required to fire 24 other workers on the farm.

Worries were starting to mount as ICE raids ramped up on dairy farms, according to DairyHerd.com .

By the Numbers: A Heavy Reliance on Immigrant Labor

The news this week of the Trump administration putting a pause on raids of farms and meat processors is welcome news for those in agriculture. From dairies and produce farms, to meatpacking plants across the U.S., those are sectors that rely heavily on immigrant labor.

Immigrant labor makes up a substantial portion of the meat processing workforce, with estimates ranging from 37% to over 50%; however, states like South Dakota and Nebraska have even higher concentrations of immigrant workers in meat processing, reaching 58% and 66%, according to the nonprofit Migration Policy Institute

And a large portion of U.S. dairy farms rely on immigrant labor, with estimates indicating that over half of all dairy workers are immigrants. Specifically, these workers account for 51% of the total dairy workforce and are responsible for producing 79% of the U.S. milk supply.

Farmworker Justice estimates 70% of the produce industry’s farmworkers are immigrants. USDA’s estimates are lower, estimating that number is closer to 60%.

Ripple Effect of Immigration Crackdown

No matter the exact number, it’s clear agriculture- and the produce industry- relies on an immigrant workforce. According to an exclusive report by Farm Journal’s The Packer , the ripple effect of Trump’s immigration crackdown on agriculture could be far-reaching, if the administration revives its focus on ag.

Kevin Kelly is CEO of Emerald Packaging, which is the largest flexible packaging supplier to the leafy greens industry and based in Union City, Calif. The company has been in the packaging business for 62 years, and says the immigrant workforce in California is feeling uncertain and afraid.

“We’ve certainly heard that folks aren’t turning up to work in the fields, and we’ve seen it in our facility. And we verify everybody, so we know everybody in our facility is documented and can legally work in the United States,” Kelly tells Jennifer Strailey, editor of The Packer. “In our case, it’s brothers and sisters being deported, and other family members being afraid, and our employees staying home to help their family members move, to take care of them or to take them to see an attorney, that kind of thing.”

In an early morning raid, ICE agents are seen chasing farmworkers through an Oxnard field. The raids coming as the federal gov't ramps up immigration enforcement in SoCal. Continuing coverage of the ICE raids, protests and unrest - Tonight at 11 from ABC7. https://t.co/bSJpCk8byb pic.twitter.com/oQQismAu2j
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 11, 2025

He says there’s an irony taking place, as some of their employees voted for the current administration with the assumption only criminals would be targeted in an immigration crackdown. But he says “that’s clearly not what’s happening.” He says harvesting lettuce is back-breaking work, and it’s work that they can only find immigrant labor to do.

“We should be handing them gold stars, not throwing them out of the country,” Kelly says.

Kelly adds that half of the nation’s farm labor is undocumented. That includes electricians, plumbers and welders that the U.S. all relies on.

“And now it’s suddenly occurring to us that we rely on them?” he says.

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), a national association focusing on agricultural labor issues from the employer’s viewpoint, recently sent a letter to the Trump administratio n.

“The Council and our members are encouraged by President Trump’s recent comments recognizing the critical importance of the agricultural workforce. His comments are spot on. After years of being subjected to pejorative policies that ignored the realities of rural America and often demonized those living and working in those communities, the President’s comments are a welcome change of pace: we must protect our Farmers,” NCAE stated in the letter.

NCAE also said “he success or failure of America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers largely depends upon their ability to find ready, willing, able, and qualified labor to help them complete the countless tasks it takes to grow food to feed the nation and the world.”

Why Can’t Congress Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform

It’s evident immigration reform is a major issue for agriculture. No matter who you talk to in agriculture, if they use any part of the immigration system, they will tell you it’s broken.

With an inadequate immigration system in the U.S., why can’t it be fixed? According to agricultural economists surveyed in Farm Journal’s Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor , it’s too political.

One economist said, “Immigration reform is a huge issue for the U.S. economy and must be addressed. However, it is so politically sensitive that very few Senators or Congressmen are willing to push the issue.”

“Congress has a vested interest in keeping this issue unresolved in the current partisan environment,” said another economist.

“Getting anything started and passed in an election year will be tough, let alone something as confrontational as immigration,” was another economists’ response.

Greater border enforcement and mass deportations were two major pledges made by Trump as he campaigned to reclaim the White House. But as Congress continues to debate Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” immigration reform doesn’t seem to be on Congress’ near-term agenda.

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Bracing for Significant Disruption: Q&A with Emerald Packaging CEO Kevin Kelly in Wake of ICE Raids

Worries Mount as ICE Raids Ramp Up On Dairy Farms

Worries Mount as ICE Raids Ramp Up On Dairy Farms

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:07:13 GMT

The landscape of immigration enforcement is significantly impacting the agricultural sector, particularly out West. Recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified operations, with a spotlight on produce farms in Ventura County, Calif. Earlier this week, farm workers in Oxnard reported the presence of ICE agents arriving as early as 6 a.m. The number of detainees following these operations remains unclear, but the implications on the workforce loom large.

Government and Organizational Voices Unite
This crackdown has sparked reactions from congressional representatives and industry leaders. Notably, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers used social media to express concern about the potential void left in essential agricultural roles, emphasizing the integral role of these immigrant workers.

“If suddenly those people disappear, I don’t know who the hell is going to milk the cows,” he told Wisconsin news outlet WLUK.

In parallel, Matt Herrick, executive vice president with International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) emphasizes the crucial necessity for stable employment throughout the dairy supply chain. He told Dairy Herd Management he cannot speak to the situation in California specifically, but IDFA believes strongly stable employment across the dairy supply chain, including for farm employees, is a matter of economic security and food security for our nation.

“We value all employees, and we are grateful for their incredible work ethic that brings nutritious food to millions of tables every day. Food and agriculture must have workforce stability, and we need policies that offer real solutions for farms and food manufacturing facilities alike,” he says. “That is why IDFA will continue to urge Congress to enact commonsense legislation to reform the food and agricultural guest worker program that protects our dairy industry’s productivity and ensures the reliable flow of milk and dairy products to American consumers.”

During a bill signing on June 12, President Donald Trump was asked about his stance on immigrant workers in farms and the hospitality industry.

“Our farmers are being hurt badly, they have good workers that have worked for them for 20 years. They are not citizens, but turned out to be great. We will do something about that,” he said.

The president claimed he would have an order on the farm workers “soon.”

Reports from National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) underscore the importance of immigrant workers, noting they contribute to an astounding 79% of the U.S. milk supply.

Dependence on Immigrant Labor
Experts like Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University have pointed out the increasing reliance on immigrant labor. He suggests the current figures may, in fact, underestimate the industry’s dependence, particularly as dairy herd sizes and farm employment continue to grow.

“Dairy herd sizes have grown considerably and so have the number of employees on the farm,” he says.

With approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., dairy producers are urged to stay organized and prepared. Jaime Castaneda, executive vice president of policy development and strategy for NMPF, advises farm owners to maintain thorough documentation, such as I-9 forms and social security copies, to ensure compliance with legal standards amidst potential ICE inspections.

Communication and preparation are key. Castaneda encourages open dialogue between farm owners and their employees, advising on behaviors that might inadvertently attract legal scrutiny. Furthermore, he suggests farmers engage with their local communities to foster a supportive network for those relying on immigrant labor.

Urgency for Immigration Reform
The urgency for immigration reform is encapsulated by Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, who asserts American citizens are typically unwilling to undertake these demanding jobs.

“Americans don’t want these jobs,” he says.

As ICE operations amplify, the need to address immigration policies becomes increasingly critical for the sustainability and ethics of the U.S. dairy industry.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, last week eleven people were arrested during an ICE raid near Lovington, N.M. Federal statements articulate concerns regarding illegal hiring practices that exploit workers and undercut competition, further complicating the agricultural workforce landscape.

“Criminal employers who hire illegal workers put other employees and our communities at risk,” ICE wrote in a social media post. “Plus, they undercut their competition by exploiting illegal alien labor, making it harder for legitimate American businesses to stay afloat.”

Naerebout continues sharing dairy producers are getting very concerned as they are observing what is going on in the Southwest.

“We know one dairy in New Mexico had an ICE raid, and we are hearing stories of a number of other dairymen going thru I-9 audits,” he says. “We do continue to hear Secretary Rollins openly share the administration is aware of the difficulties around ag labor, which is positive. We need the Big Beautiful Bill to pass with its border security funding provisions so there will be space with Republicans to discuss reforms to the immigration system.”

The heightened ICE operations in the agricultural sector triggers an urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform.

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Rethink Language Learning: The Shortcomings of AI Tools in Agriculture

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:14:55 GMT

With the evolving landscape of U.S. dairy farms, where 97% are family-owned and operated, the reliance on immigrant labor has grown significantly. Today, more than two-thirds of the 9.36 million dairy cows are milked by immigrant laborers, making communication in Spanish more pertinent than ever. But as Katie Dotterer, also known as AgvoKate, points out, relying on AI language tools like Duolingo may not be the most effective solution.

The Importance of Communication
Dotterer emphasizes the limitations of AI tools in language acquisition, suggesting they can’t replace the nuances and depth of human interaction and learning.

“While AI tools and apps like Duolingo have their place, I believe they’re not enough for truly effective language learning,” she says.

AI in Language Learning: A Limited Tool
While these tools can play a role in learning a new language, Dotterer says they fall short in providing a comprehensive language education. As language learning company Duolingo transitions to an “AI-first” approach — reprioritizing creative work over basic tasks handled by AI — it’s essential to acknowledge the limitations and potential repercussions. Dotterer points out AI can inadvertently damage students’ confidence and often doesn’t always capture the intricate cultural and contextual elements of a language.

The Human Factor: An Essential Component
She highlights some of the critical aspects where AI fails to deliver. For instance, there are six different ways to say “piglet” in Spanish, a detail these tools are unlikely to teach or incorporate into agricultural-specific phrases.

“Duolingo is never going to teach you that or any applicable phrases using ag-specific terms,” Dotterer says.

This gap underscores the necessity of a human-centered approach in language learning, one that acknowledges context, culture and specific industry needs.

Dotterer shares her motivation for challenging the growing dependence on AI tools, emphasizing the need for personalized learning experiences that better meet the needs of students.

As AI continues to permeate various facets of our lives, it’s essential to strike a balance. AI langauge tools can complement — but not replace — the rich, contextual learning that human interactions facilitate. As we navigate the future, acknowledging the importance of the human element remains crucial for effective language education, particularly in fields as diverse as agriculture.

To learn more or to sign up for ag-focused Spanish classes, go to: Spanish for Agriculture | Mysite

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What To Do If ICE Comes Knocking On Your Door

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 16:05:14 GMT

Immigration issues continue to be a significant concern for farmers nationwide, which means proactive measures and informed strategies are essential to minimize potential disruptions on the farm.

Understand the Immigration Enforcement Landscape
Due to resource constraints, comprehensive workforce roundups or enforcement actions are unlikely, with a primary focus on individuals engaged in criminal activities. In Idaho, for example, fewer than 20 field agents cover the state, and there are only 10 detention beds available, according to Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho’s Dairymen Association.

Individuals who lack a criminal record are often released after undergoing background checks while in custody, returning to their positions soon after detention, he adds. However, employing individuals with criminal backgrounds comes with the increased likelihood of an I-9 audit.

Proactive Strategies for Workplace Preparedness
To safeguard farms against unexpected ICE visits, Naerebout suggests the following proactive measures:

Designate private areas on your farm with clear signage, and ensure doors are locked to prevent unauthorized access.
Train employees to refrain from allowing ICE agents to enter or answering their questions. Instead, direct them to respond with, “I cannot give you permission. You must ask my employer.”
If an agent seeks entry into a private area during an ICE visit, farmers should verify a judicial warrant is in place and review its details closely for scope limitations.

“The administrative warrant is going to be issued by Homeland Security,” Naerebout shares. “The whole goal in this visit is to limit the amount of exposure to your facility, so limit the amount of exposure to your employees. You want to try and keep them as constrained and give them as little exposure to your facility as possible.”

Implement Effective Employee Communication and Record-Keeping
Jennifer Uranga from Mountain West Ag Consulting underscores the importance of clear communication and meticulous documentation. Often when ICE visits a farm, it’s to audit I-9s, search for specific individuals or conduct a raid with a warrant. Ensuring employees are aware of these procedures can alleviate stress and prevent absenteeism prompted by fears of ICE action.

Maintain an updated list of authorized personnel and contact information to share with employees, Uranga advises, thereby preparing them for regulatory visits without cultivating undue anxiety.

“Make employees comfortable with the fact ICE could show up on your farm. Any regulatory agency visit could make those workers nervous,” she says. “I think it’s so important to have a plan, talk to your employees and really be proactive in any of the I-9 employment paperwork process.”

I-9 forms must be complete and accurate given the legal obligation to retain the documents for each employee until a specified period of post-employment or hire date.

“Retain them until an employee is no longer working for the employer or three years after the date of hire or one year after the employee leaves, whichever is later,” she shares.

Farmers must remain vigilant and informed as they navigate the complexities of immigration enforcement. Developing comprehensive strategies can reduce risk and ensure farm operations proceed smoothly even amid potential ICE actions. As this landscape evolves, continued education and preparation are key to mitigate risks and maintain a stable workforce.

For further resources on the I-9 process, visit USCIS.gov/I-9 .

For more details on immigration, check out this State of the Pork Industry report:

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Trump Suggests Farmers Could Petition to Keep Workers Without Legal Status

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:28:28 GMT

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that farmers will be able to petition the federal government to retain some farmworkers in the U.S. illegally, provided the workers leave the country and return with legal status.

Trump’s comments during his Cabinet meeting are, though vague, the most detail the administration has provided on the fate of the nation’s farmworkers without legal status — who make up half the farm sector’s workforce — under his plan for mass deportations.

Farm industry groups have warned that deporting large numbers of agricultural workers would grind the food system to a halt. In addition to farming, many workers without legal status are also employed in the meat and dairy industries.

“We’re going to work with farmers that, if they have strong recommendations for their farms, for certain people, that we’re going to let them stay in for a while and work with the farmers and then come back and go through a process, a legal process. We have to take care of our farmers and hotels and various places where they need the people,” Trump said.

“A farmer will come in with a letter concerning certain people saying, they’re great, they’re working hard, we’re going to slow it down a little bit for them and then we’re going to ultimately bring them back. They’ll go out, they’re going to come back as legal workers,” he said.

The White House and the Department of Agriculture did not respond to requests to clarify the policy or when it will be implemented.

During his first administration, Trump promised the farm sector that deportations would not affect agricultural workers, but has made no such promise in this term.

Immigrant farmworkers prepared for the Trump administration by assigning guardians to their children in the case of their detention and taking other precautions.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

Where Will Farmworkers Come From in the Future?

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:23:03 GMT

As the dynamics of the global workforce continue to evolve, so too must the strategies to hire and retain an adequate on-farm labor force in the U.S.

The shrinking pool of workers in rural areas is a real concern for farmers, says Richard Stup, senior Extension associate and agricultural workforce specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension. One striking example is the declining birth rate in countries, such as Mexico, that historically have been sources of agricultural labor for the U.S.

“[The population in] Mexico, going forward, will begin to actually shrink,” he shared at the 2025 Western Dairy Management Conference. “It’s not just Mexico. There are a lot of countries in this situation.”

In addition to a smaller pool of workers willing to fill on-farm vacancies, economic opportunities in these countries, such as an increase in Mexico’s inflation-adjusted dollars, are reducing the push factor for migration.

“It means there’s more economic activity, there’s more job opportunity and there’s less push to leave Mexico and go to the U.S. for dollars,” he says. “There’s still a lot of push to come up here, but it’s not what it used to be.”

When looking at the data, Stup notes fewer young people are looking for work.

“The average age of foreign-born employees is about 42 years,” he says. For comparison, the average age of U.S. born employees on farms is 36 years old.

Two Employment Solutions
Despite these dynamics, immigration will still play a significant role in sustaining the on-farm workforce. To address workforce challenges, Stup says a couple programs exist:

One is the H-2A visa program, which allows an unlimited number of agricultural workers to enter the U.S., provided the work is temporary or seasonal.
Another viable option is the TN Visa, born from agreements such as NAFTA, enabling skilled professionals from Canada and Mexico to enter the U.S. for professional endeavors.

Navigating these pathways requires producers to have their paperwork, such as I-9 forms, in order, especially with current enforcement trends focusing on individuals with criminal backgrounds.

“It seems pretty consistent that most of the enforcement from ICE is in pursuit of individuals that have some kind of criminal background,” he shares.

With an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., producers are advised to stay vigilant and prepared. It’s important to keep necessary documentation, such as I-9 forms, social security copies and identification such as driver’s licenses, well-organized and readily accessible, encourages Jamie Castaneda, executive vice president of policy development and strategy for the National Milk Producers Federation. Ensuring all paperwork is in compliance with federal and state laws is paramount if faced with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement inspection.

Embrace Technology and Workforce Development
Technology offers solutions to improve on-farm efficiency. Artificial intelligence (AI), for instance, can optimize tasks, allowing human workers to focus on animals requiring attention.

“Technology is going to be used in places where the work is repetitive and where it’s kind of heavy manual labor,” Stup says.

Workforce development is crucial as well. Supup underscores the need for retention programs and attracting a diverse pool of workers. Skills such as critical and systems thinking, data savviness and comfort with animals will be essential for future dairy workers. Education, whether formal or through on-the-job training, is equally important.

Build a Supportive Work Environment
To attract and maintain a robust workforce, it’s essential to create a positive work environment. Stup highlights the role of supervisors in leading effectively by setting clear expectations, providing necessary training and development, and giving constructive feedback on performance.

“We need to do what we can to retain and create a great place to work,” he says, noting supervisors need to lead effectively.

Supervisors need to spell out three main factors for employees:
1. Expectations. Clearly communicate what is expected of employees, including job descriptions, SOPs and onboarding.

2. Training and Development. Train, coach and use other efforts to teach knowledge, skills and attitudes.

3. Feedback. Give employees information about their performance to help them improve.

The future of the on-farm workforce will be diverse, comprising immigrants and individuals from various backgrounds, including those from urban environments new to agriculture. Balancing the need for manual and mental labor remains appealing, drawing in those uninterested in traditional office roles. The key is to retain and foster talent in the agriculture sector, giving rise to a dynamic and inclusive workforce that will carry the industry forward.

By adopting these strategies, farms can adapt to the shifting landscape, ensuring productivity and sustainability in the face of workforce changes.

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30 Minutes With Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins In Her First Week On the Job

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:01 GMT

Since Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 , Brooke Rollins has been focused on how to build the teams and the plans that impact the trajectory of agriculture and rural America. On that day, while en route with her husband and four teenagers in their motor home to Auburn, Ala., for the Texas A&M football game, she got a call from now President Donald Trump. The purpose of his call: She was his top choice to fill his final significant cabinet position, Secretary of Agriculture.

Obviously, she had to wait for confirmation, which came last week on Feb.13 when the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed her as the 33^rd Secretary of Agriculture , but since that Saturday before Thanksgiving, she’s been on the go with an accelerated enthusiasm to understand the significant challenges facing rural communities that lost 147,000 family farms between 2017 and 2022 and why the cost of inputs are up 30% as exports are down $37 billion this year and likely to fall further in the months to come.

“This is a crisis, and this is something that I understand inherently,” Rollins said to kick off Top Producer Summit in Kansas City on Tuesday. “My promise to you is this, and my commitment will never waver, that every minute of every day for the next four years I will do everything within my power, with hopefully God’s hand on all of us and our work, to ensure we are not just entering the golden age for America, as my boss, President Trump, likes to say, but we are entering the golden age for agriculture.”

What Has Rollins Been Up to the Past Four Years?
Secretary Rollins and President Trump have worked together for almost eight years. She was in the West Wing with him for years two, three and four of his first term running his domestic policy agenda.

“This real estate guy from New York City brought that vision to life, and then in the last term, was able to really do some remarkable things,” Rollins said in regard to President Trump returning power to the people who just want a chance at the American dream. “I call it the great pause, the four years in between term one and term two. But I think the great pause allowed very intentional planning. It allowed a courageous and bold leader in President Trump to become a fearless leader and to do everything he can to bring America back to greatness.”

In the “dark days of January 2021,” as she described, Secretary Rollins helped launch the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump officials to promote conservative policies. The idea was that those policies that made America great in Trump’s first term would continue indefinitely, not just for a second term, but for four years, eight years or 36 years, Rollins described.

First Week On the Job
Since being confirmed last week, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington, D.C., USDA office for a few hours, but most of her time has been spent in Kentucky at National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville and Gallrein Farms and in Kansas visiting Finney’s County Feeder, High Plains Ponderosa Dairy and the National Beef Packing Plant .

Describing herself as “a reader and a studier,” Rollins seems adamant to hear firsthand from farmers and ranchers. She referenced her visits to the dairy farm and National Beef facility as inspiring, in a good way but also in a way that helps her understand the real challenges at hand.

Speaking to the crowd at Top Producer Summit, she shared her appreciation for the “entrepreneurial American game changers” who are doing their part to feed the world.

“It is so inspiring and a reminder of the very beginning of our country.” Rollins said. “Our revolution was fought by farmers, our Founding Fathers, like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. The backbone of the great American experiment is this community.”

Thank you @topproducermag for hosting @RogerMarshallMD and me in Kansas City, Missouri, with 1,000 of the Top Producers from across the US to talk about issues like expanding trade access and cutting regulatory red tape for farmers.

Biden’s ZERO trade deals and inflationary… pic.twitter.com/ejMxKxkRMG
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) February 19, 2025

Farmer Q&A
Watch and listen to what Secretary Rollins, as well as Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, had to say on stage at Top Producer Summit about these 7 topics:

Trade and tariffs — “ Let’s go barnstorm the world , and let’s go find some more trade partners and access [to market opportunities],” Rollins said.
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts and modernizing USDA — “DOGE is a very valid and important effort across all government. The stories of waste and abuse were really just, not USDA specific but across government, beginning,” Rollins said.
Federal programs, such as CSP and EQIP — “Our commitment is that if there have been commitments made, those will be honored. Getting our arms around all of that right now is really, really, important. Again, going back to the President’s heart and commitment to our farmers, I feel confident we will be able to solve any issues that are in front of our ag community, that are potentially being compromised by the DOGE effort, while at the same time recognizing how very, very important it is,” Rollins said.
Future of USDA — “There’s no question USDA needs some modernization. I’m just beginning to lean into that as well,” Rollins said. USDA has 106,000 employees and 29 departments. “The Secretary is taking over a department where only 6% of the [D.C.] people work in the office,” Marshall added.
Renewable fuels — Prior to President Trump’s first term, he was “the first major candidate to support biofuels, and I think that carried him through Iowa in many ways. … We’ve got E15 year-round. I think that gives us some certainty as well. … The President is supporting that. I think we’re trying to figure out how to save 45Z, but we can’t let China benefit from it. Right now, China is benefiting more from [45Z] than my farmers and ranchers are, so we’ve got to fix that,” Marshall says.
Immigration policies and availability of long-term labor — “I have a full-bodied understanding of the challenges within the labor market, and I believe the President does too. … I believe that we will very soon be talking about it again. Clearly, the H-2A program needs significant reform, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer, she’s going through the [confirmation] process right now. … Hopefully she’ll get her vote very soon. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Rollins said.
Trump’s cabinet members — “Our cabinet is comprised of people that have been working together and have been friends and colleagues for years, with a few exceptions. Bobby Kennedy is a new friend, but Lee Zeldin and I worked together in America First Works and America First Policy Institute for the last almost four years, Linda McMahon in education and John Brooks — these are our people,” Rollins said.

A United Front: The Future of Dairy Industry Innovations

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:34:46 GMT

The 2025 International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Dairy Forum in San Antonio, Texas, set the stage for discussions about the future direction of the dairy industry. Michael Dykes, IDFA president and CEO opened the forum giving tribute to the dedication of dairy farmers who work tirelessly throughout the year, regardless of holidays or weather. This commitment sets the foundation for a thriving industry that delivers nutritious products to our tables.

Reflecting on Current Political Dynamics
Former Speaker of the house Kevin McCarthy spoke highlighting the rapid political shifts orchestrated by President Trump. With tariffs being a major focus, Dykes noted that the dairy industry must work in a bipartisan fashion to be united.

“We’re going to need to know what we want, and we’re going to need to be crystal clear about it,” he said in front of the record-breaking crowd.

Key Drivers for Growth
Dykes referenced a McKinsey survey revealing an optimistic outlook among dairy leaders regarding an $8 billion investment in processing infrastructure.

“Our products are very nutritious,” he says, applauding when Senator Roger Marshall opened a glass of milk during the confirmation hearing for the new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, and encouraged her to be thinking about supporting whole milk in schools.

“It’s that kind of advocacy we need unexpected people saying unexpectedly positive things about dairy in unexpected places,” he said.

Celebrating the Resilience of Dairy Farmers
Underscoring the ingenuity of American dairy farmers, Dykes expressed his unwavering belief in their ability to meet processing needs. He says he is impressed by the increased component levels on the farm and so when others question, ‘Will dairy producers fill the upcoming processing needs,’ he shares, “Never underestimate the American dairy farmer. Dairy Farmers read market signals. If there’s a call for milk, dairy farmers will have milk. So, I am a strong believer in the American farmer. Never underestimate them.”

Discovering Limitless Opportunities
Dykes presented five opportunities to unlock the industry’s limitless potential:

1. Create Value from Disruption: Navigating challenges like inflation and supply chain issues has showcased the resilience of dairy operations. The industry must continue leveraging these skills to innovate and thrive.

“If we lived through anything, we’ve lived through disruption. Milk kept getting processed. Products kept going to the chefs and consumers kept having the products to buy, all because of the great work of this industry,” Dykes says. Although he noted that mass deportations will probably be the next thing that the dairy industry will deal with.

2. Leverage Technology: Technological advancements, from pasteurization to robotics, are transforming farms and processing plants. These innovations not only improve efficiency but also enhance food safety and product tracking, ensuring a robust supply chain.

“We’re using technology across our industry – such as the cutting and the wrapping process. Robotics are replacing some of the more manual labor so that we can put our human capital at a higher value task where human experience and judgment is critical,” he says, noting that the data collected helps improved food safety.

“Think about cottage cheese and TikTok and what a change that has made. We’re using it to help us with inventories and know when peak demands are,” he says.

Dykes also applauds the innovation and technology that is helping drive many dairies, like the Grotegut family in Wisconsin, the recent recipient of the 2025 IDFA Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award.

3. Elevate Nutrition and Wellness: Dykes emphasized the importance of promoting dairy as a cornerstone of a healthy diet. The narrative must shift towards advocating for the positive health impacts of dairy products, rejecting notions of a broken food system.

“We have a great story in dairy to tell,” Dykes says. “I would tell you that ‘make America healthy again’ is bigger and broader and more ingrained than just RFK Jr. There are many that believe our food systems are broken. I do not subscribe to that.”

4. Enhance a Growth Mindset: Strategic partnerships and innovative market strategies are essential for long-term growth. As the USMCA is reconsidered, maintaining and expanding market access will be crucial, demanding a unified and aggressive industry approach. Dykes also shares that to achieve a growth mindset in 2025, we must come to the table with partners and news ideas.

“Above all, speak with a unified voice. We need to be aggressive when we go after trade. We need to be unified in what we’re asking for and again, educate, educate, educate. We’ve got policymakers that have heard probably mostly negative things about trade. And trade for some unknown reason has a negative connotation today,” he says.

5. Make it About the People: The heart of the dairy industry is its people. Dykes believes in the limitless potential unlocked by fostering inclusivity and creativity within organizations.

“I firmly believe in people. If we unleash the creativity that’s inside each and every person in our organization, make them feel welcome, make them feel valued, make them feel included -I think the potential is unlimited,” he concludes, cheering to reinforce the industry’s collaborative spirit and unyielding commitment to progress.

As the world changes, embracing unity, innovation, and advocacy will be the key to navigating the road ahead for the dairy industry.

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The Impact of Immigration Reform on U.S. Dairy Farms

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:56:49 GMT

The conversation surrounding mass deportation has sparked widespread debate across various sectors of the American economy. Among these, the dairy industry stands out, heavily reliant on immigrant labor to keep up with production demands. Recent reports highlight this dependency, showing that over half of all dairy labor is performed by immigrant workers. In fact, dairies employing immigrant laborers contribute to 79% of the U.S. milk supply. This statistic, brought to attention by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), emphasizes the crucial role of immigrant workers in maintaining this industry.

Growing Reliance on Immigrant Workforce
Dr. Robert Hagevoort of New Mexico State University, in his presentation at the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) Annual Meetings in Arlington, Texas, in mid-November, suggests that the figures from the NMPF report, dating back to 2015, may even underestimate the current reliance on immigrant labor.

“Dairy herd sizes have grown considerably and so have the number of employees on the farm,” he says.

Reflecting on past immigration policies, Jaime Castaneda, executive vice president of policy development and strategy for the NMPF, points out that immigration issues are not new to the industry. He references President Obama’s administration, which saw significant immigration enforcement actions, resulting in the deportation of 2.7 million individuals over eight years. As a result, President Obama was often labeled the “Deporter in Chief.”

Fast forward, and with newly re-elected President Trump’s tenure, there is an anticipation of stricter immigration policies. His campaign’s promise to tighten illegal immigration has started taking shape through a series of executive actions aimed at revamping the U.S. immigration framework. This has put the dairy industry on high alert.

Preparing for Possible Enforcement Actions
With an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, dairy producers are advised to stay vigilant and prepared. Castaneda urges dairy owners to keep necessary documentation, such as I-9 forms, social security copies, and identification like driver’s licenses, well-organized and readily accessible. Ensuring all paperwork is in compliance with federal and state laws is paramount if faced with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspection.

Farm owners are also encouraged to have open dialogues with their employees, advising them against actions that might attract legal attention, such as minor traffic violations. Moreover, Castaneda suggests that dairy farmers communicate with peers in the community who also rely on immigrant workers to foster a supportive network.

The Indispensable Role of Immigrants
Voicing a critical perspective on the ultimate survival of U.S. dairy without immigrant labor, Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho Dairymen’s Association, asserts that American citizens are typically unwilling to undertake these demanding jobs.

“Americans don’t want these jobs,” he says, underscoring the necessity for immigration reforms that are not only fiscally viable but also ethically sound, benefiting Idaho and the broader United States.

The continued viability of the U.S. dairy industry heavily depends on the backbone provided by immigrant labor. As the nation grapples with immigration policy debates, the livelihoods of those within the dairy sector hang in balance, underscoring the urgent need for balanced reform that considers both economic imperatives and humanitarian values.

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From Early Executive Orders to Delaying Tariffs Against China, Here's What to Expect as Trump Takes Office

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:49:42 GMT

This week is mostly about President Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president, with a flurry of executive orders and illegal immigrant deportations expected soon.

President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance were sworn into office inside the Capitol Rotunda, avoiding the dangerously cold temperatures forecast for Washington, D.C. The entire ceremony, including prayers and speeches, will take place indoors, according to Trump’s announcement on Truth Social.

This marks the first indoor inauguration due to weather since Ronald Reagan’s second term in 1985, and the second such event in history, following James Monroe’s indoor inauguration due to a snowstorm.

Mexico’s Slim and Cervantes to Attend Inauguration; Sheinbaum Left Out

Billionaire Carlos Slim, Mexico’s wealthiest man with a net worth nearing $100 billion, will attend Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States in Washington, D.C. He will be joined by Francisco Cervantes, president of Mexico’s influential Business Coordinating Council (CCE), who confirmed plans to begin talks with high-ranking U.S. officials during the event.

Notably absent from the invitation list is Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Mexico will be officially represented by Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma. The Trump administration’s policies, including a planned 25% tariff on Mexican exports and mass deportation operations, are expected to pose significant challenges to Mexico.

Slim expressed confidence that the Mexican economy would navigate these challenges effectively, emphasizing its complementary relationship with the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, Sheinbaum’s government has signaled readiness to implement reciprocal tariffs and address deportation logistics if needed.

World leaders, including Argentina’s Javier Milei and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, are also set to make history by attending a U.S. presidential inauguration.

Early Executive Orders: A Preview

Stephen Miller, Trump’s top domestic policy adviser, briefed Republican lawmakers Sunday on an ambitious slate of executive orders planned for the early days of the administration. These orders, many of which Trump had campaigned on, will focus on government reform, energy policy, and immigration. While details remain fluid, key areas discussed:

Government reform: Streamlining federal hiring and dismissal processes, targeting DEI initiatives, and reforming rules for Schedule F employees.
Energy policy: Halting climate-related spending, accelerating energy infrastructure projects, expanding drilling — including in the Arctic — and repealing electric vehicle mandates. Also: declare a national emergency related to energy.
Immigration: Declaring cartels as terrorist organizations, reinstating strict border policies like “Remain in Mexico,” declare an emergency at the U.S./Mexico border, which will allow Trump to deploy military forces to the border, and ending “catch and release.”

Miller cautioned that these orders are still under development, with specific details yet to be finalized. Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, is expected to play a significant role in shaping and implementing these executive orders. Miller’s involvement suggests a continuation of the hardline approach to immigration that characterized Trump’s first term.

Trump to Delay Tariffs on China, Signals Shift Toward Negotiation

President-elect Donald Trump is not expected to impose China-specific tariffs on his first day in office, signaling a strategic shift toward engagement with Beijing rather than reigniting a trade war.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the decision reflects Trump’s desire to begin his second term in a negotiating mode, with hopes of striking a new deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During his first term, Trump brokered a “Phase 1” trade deal with China, but many of Beijing’s commitments to purchase U.S. goods were not fully realized. While plans are underway for a memorandum directing federal agencies to review trade policies with China, Canada, and Mexico, the approach appears more measured than the aggressive tariff rhetoric from Trump’s campaign.

However, sources caution that Trump’s strategy could shift, given his history of abrupt decisions. His swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for midday Monday in Washington.

Trump to Declare National Energy Emergency to Boost Domestic Production

President-elect Donald Trump will declare a national energy emergency after his inauguration on Monday to lower energy costs, an incoming White House official announced.

The emergency declaration is expected to “unlock a variety of different authorities” to enhance natural resource production, though specific measures were not disclosed.

The official emphasized the importance of energy independence in the context of the U.S./China AI race, highlighting the need for domestic energy to power advanced technology. Additionally, Trump plans to sign an executive order to accelerate energy production in Alaska, citing its geostrategic significance and potential for LNG exports to the Asia-Pacific region.

Focus on Deregulation

President-elect Donald Trump plans to start one of the most sweeping deregulatory drives in U.S. history. Border czar Tom Homan says the incoming administration is assessing plans to launch post-inauguration immigration raids in Chicago after plans leaked in news reports about plans for a large-scale immigration raid in Chicago Tuesday.

Trump has outlined a sweeping array of 31 major policy initiatives for his second term, according to the Washington Post. These include moves on immigration, such as mass deportations, reinstating a travel ban, and ending birthright citizenship. He also plans significant economic shifts, like imposing high tariffs on imports, cutting taxes, and promoting cryptocurrency. The list, according to the WaPo:

1. Immigration

Mass Deportations: Pledges to implement the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, including undocumented workers.
‘Remain in Mexico’ Program: Plans to reinstate policies requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico.
Travel Ban: Intends to reimpose restrictions on travelers from several majority-Muslim countries.
Birthright Citizenship: Proposes ending automatic citizenship for children of noncitizens.
Punish Sanctuary Cities: Plans to cut federal funding to cities refusing to cooperate with deportations.
Death Penalty for Migrants: Advocates for automatic death sentences for migrants who kill U.S. citizens.
Border Wall: Plans to complete construction of the U.S./Mexico border wall.

2. Economy

Tariffs: Proposes imposing tariffs on all imports and higher rates on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada.
Inflation: Vows to lower prices, including energy and gas costs.
Tax Cuts: Promises extensive tax reductions, potentially adding to the national debt.
Eliminate Taxes on Tips and Overtime: Suggests removing taxes on certain income sources.
Cryptocurrency: Aims to make the U.S. a global leader in cryptocurrency by adopting industry-friendly policies.

3. Education

Abolish Education Department: Proposes dismantling the department, redirecting its responsibilities elsewhere.
Punish Schools Over Content: Plans to cut federal funding for schools promoting “critical race theory” or “radical gender ideology.”
Transgender Policies: Seeks to ban trans athletes from women’s sports and revoke inclusive school policies.
School Vouchers: Advocates for taxpayer-funded school-choice programs.

4. Environment

Rollback of Regulations: Plans to remove policies addressing climate change and protecting species.
Oil and Gas Expansion: Proposes increasing domestic production and exports of fossil fuels.
Paris Climate Agreement: Intends to withdraw the U.S. from this global pact.

5. Healthcare

Lower Costs: Pledges to reduce healthcare and prescription drug expenses.
Preserve Social Security and Medicare: Promises to maintain these programs while cutting waste.
Abortion Laws: Plans to leave decisions on abortion to state legislatures.
Free IVF: Proposes covering in vitro fertilization costs.

6. Democracy and Governance

Retaliation Against Rivals: Suggests acting against political enemies and media outlets.
Reshape Federal Workforce: Plans mass job cuts, reduce union power, and make civil servants “at-will” employees.
Voting Requirements: Proposes stricter voter ID and citizenship proof, ending mail-in and early voting.
Pardon Jan. 6 Defendants: Pledges to pardon individuals charged in the Capitol riot.

7. Defense and Foreign Policy

Isolationism: Advocates for “America First” policies, including shutting out imports and withdrawing from international conflicts.
End Wars in Ukraine and Middle East: Claims he would end these conflicts quickly, potentially conceding to adversaries.
Military Diversity Policies: Plans to reverse diversity initiatives and restrict women in combat roles.
Strike Mexican Cartels: Proposes military action against cartels operating in Mexico.

These policies reflect significant shifts across numerous domains and have raised concerns about their feasibility and broader implications.

It’s also key to note Trump will meet with House and Senate GOP leadership at the White House on Tuesday.

Vance, Han Discuss Trade and Fentanyl Ahead of Inauguration

Vice President-elect JD Vance met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Washington to discuss trade and the fentanyl crisis, a day before Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.

The meeting follows a call on Friday between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which addressed similar topics, including TikTok. Han is expected to attend Monday’s inaugural ceremony, relocated indoors due to subfreezing temperatures in the capital. it will be the first time a high-ranking Chinese official attends a U.S. presidential inauguration. The Vance/Han meeting represents the most substantial individual engagement for Vance since securing his election victory alongside Trump last year.

Of note: Han also met billionaire Elon Musk and other U.S. business figures, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to set a positive tone in ties with the US before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office.

TikTok Returns After Brief U.S. Shutdown Amid Uncertainty

TikTok has reappeared in the United States following a temporary shutdown that began late Saturday night, Jan. 18. The app was blocked due to a federal law mandating that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations. Service began to be restored on Sunday, January 19, driven by two key developments: (1) President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention: Trump announced plans to issue an executive order on his inauguration day, Jan.20, to delay the ban’s implementation.

He emphasized the need for negotiations to protect national security and suggested the possibility of a joint venture granting the U.S. a 50% ownership stake in TikTok’s operations. (2) TikTok’s agreement with service providers: TikTok confirmed service restoration through agreements with its service providers.

The company thanked President-elect Trump for providing “necessary clarity and assurance.” While the app is back online, its future remains uncertain, contingent on the Trump administration’s actions and potential negotiations with ByteDance.

Biden Issues Pre-emptive Pardons on Final Day in Office

Outgoing President Joe Biden issued pardons to members and staff of the Jan. 6 select committee. including GOP Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), as well as police officers who testified before it.

The pardons also extended to Gen. Mark Milley, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

In a statement, Biden emphasized that the pardons “should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing.”

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