Dairy Labor News
Legal expert Chris Schulte breaks down why a judge rejected the Department of Labor’s proposed wage percentiles and housing adjustments, as well as how the department could respond.
When employees come and go, keeping everyone trained can get tricky. But having the right tools can make it easier to keep training on track.
Hiring help is never easy, but waiting too long can cost more than the paycheck.
Agricultural leaders welcome the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act while warning that severe consular delays could undermine grower gains.
From holding surplus heifers to double-cropping in a desert, Jason Sheehan’s contrarian approach is keeping J&K Dairy alive amid punishing drought and high labor costs.
House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson argues that replacing seasonal requirements with a 350-day temporary status offers year-round producers H-2A program access and workers a guaranteed “two-week vacation” for family time.
Between a new DHS clarification and G.T. Thompson’s transformative 350-day contract bill, dairy leaders Gregg Doud and Rick Naerebout weigh in on the path to workforce stability.
With 400 groups in lockstep, Chairman G.T. Thompson’s labor bill moves to the House Judiciary Committee. The goal: Open year-round H-2A access for the first time since the program’s creation in 1986 and cap mandatory wage hikes.
You can no longer just outbid town jobs for talent. Here’s why 57% of dairy producers are trading cash for work-life balance to attract and retain the next generation of farm labor.
After decades in a legislative blind spot, new federal guidance finally opens the H-2A visa program to dairy farmers, offering critical relief amid rising border enforcement.
As dairy farms look for new ways to hire skilled managers, some are turning to TN visas to bring in trained talent and strengthen leadership across their teams.
With school out and more youth heading into summer farm work, now is the time to put safety checks in place before kids take on responsibilities on the farm.
Strong employees are not always strong managers, and the difference often comes down to whether they’ve been prepared to lead people, not just do the job.
From 100 cows to 10,000, the dairy industry is a house divided. It’s time to look past the labor debate and rediscover the common bond that unites every family-owned operation.
From conferences to a quick word of appreciation, dairy producers are finding that investing in employees helps keep good people and strengthen teams.
As rural housing becomes harder to find, one Wisconsin dairy is building more than a workforce by providing homes for nearly all of its employees and helping families put down roots in the community.
Securing the “Made in the USA” label requires more than technology; it demands a stable, legal workforce and a national policy that recognizes dairy’s 365-day harvest reality.
As the gap between federal policy and dairy’s year-round reality widens, leaders in Texas and Idaho warn that a structural labor deficiency is pushing the industry toward a breaking point.
As dairy farms collect more data than ever, the real challenge is helping the next generation cut through the noise and focus on the signals that drive better decisions.
Nominate the innovators and advocates redefining dairy. Apply by August 1 for a chance to win an all-paid trip to the 2026 Milk Business Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.
When a good employee’s behavior changes, knowing how to respond can be challenging, especially when the right answer is not clear.
Keeping good employees is not always about pay. Trust, communication and everyday interactions play a bigger role in whether employees stay engaged and committed to their work.
As state mandates dismantle century-old overtime exemptions, dairy producers face a squeeze play between rising labor costs, workforce shortages and the high-stakes push for automation.
Shift from managing tasks to leading people: Experts reveal the blueprint for building an elite dairy team through behavioral science, organizational development and disciplined accountability.
Facing a critical labor crisis, dairy leaders are backing the Dignity Act to secure a stable workforce and end 40 years of legislative paralysis before the political window closes.
Winter’s the perfect time to hit pause, gather your team and turn last season’s frustrations into actionable improvements for the year ahead.
Putting off letting go of the wrong employee often makes problems harder to fix later.