The Trump Administration is opening a new door for dairy producers struggling to find enough workers. New guidance from the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor clarifies that dairy operations may now qualify to use the H-2A guest worker program if they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need.
Until now, most dairy farms were effectively shut out of the program because milking cows is a year-round operation. Under the new policy, dairy employers can submit H-2A petitions that meet the same temporary or seasonal standards already required of other agricultural employers, with each application reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Brian Rexing, Chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation says, “It will allow our workers to be here on a longer basis, but not without check ins, to give us an opportunity to obtain a workforce that we can educate and teach how to work on these dairies. Dairying is not just a routine every day, it’s a learning process and it takes time. This program will give us a chance to really train and educate a workforce that we can secure.”
However, the change does not create a year-round visa category, meaning many dairy farms will still be looking to Congress for broader agricultural labor reform.
Rexing calls the move a positive first step toward addressing the industry’s ongoing labor shortage, “This has been a long time problem, so let’s don’t try to fix it with one swipe at it. Let’s (make it) something that we can introduce and we can start working with. Then hopefully we can change and adapt as things go on. I don’t know that this will fix it, but this is a really, really good start.”
For Indiana dairy producers, the guidance could provide greater flexibility during seasonal peaks such as calving, breeding, or other periods of increased labor demand, while stopping short of solving the industry’s long-term workforce challenges.
