Idaho’s dairy industry, like many across the nation, relies heavily on immigrant labor for its daily execution. The scope of this dependence became particularly visible during the Trump administration, when immigration reforms and policies led to heightened fear across the entire agricultural sector. It’s important to note that this isn’t a case of immigrants taking jobs that local people desperately want – in fact, the reality is quite different. In fact, studies have repeatedly shown that local residents are rarely interested in applying for, or maintaining, many of the jobs within dairy farming.
Tina Hinchley, a dairy farmer from Wisconsin, speaks openly about the demanding lifestyle that comes with her occupation. The work is especially demanding in larger dairy farms that are home to hundreds or even thousands of cows. A snapshot of the American dairy industry shows us that large-scale farms dominate the scene. Only about 2.5% of dairies, those that house more than 2,500 cows, contribute to nearly 45% of American raw milk production, according to Farm Action.
Richard Stup, director of agricultural workforce development at Cornell University, elaborates on this shift towards large-scale dairy farming. He points out how familiar faces may be absent on these expansive dairy farms, those with at least 500 cows. A large majority of individuals carrying out essential tasks such as milking the cows are likely to be Hispanic laborers. Support crews and outside teams also largely come from this demographic.
The extent of foreign labor in Idaho’s dairy industry is quite significant. Rick Naerebout, who presides as the CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, asserts that approximately 90% of workers come from other nations. This pattern is not exclusive to Idaho: nationwide, a significant proportion of dairy farmers do not hold legal work permits in the U.S. – though many have documents, genuine or otherwise, to show to their employers.
This labor position is not due to a lack of competitive wages, assures Jaime Castaneda, the Executive Vice President of Policy Development and Strategy for the National Milk Producers Federation. In fact, the lack of interest amongst domestic workers in the dairy farming industry is due to reasons far beyond the monetary aspect. The often harsh working conditions and demanding hours can be less attractive to local workforce members. However, figures seem to corroborate Castaneda’s claims.
In 2013, the Partnership for a New American Economy and the Center for Global Development, proponents of immigration reform, carried out an enlightening study on labor supply. They worked with data from the North Carolina Growers Association, which uses a joint resource approach to recruit temporary, seasonal workers via the H-2A visa system. One of the prerequisites of the H-2A visa system emphasizes hiring domestic workers first, and the findings from this backward-looking study were far from encouraging.
Illustrating the point, in 2011, the Growers Association made available some 6,500 job vacancies. A meager pool of 268 domestic applicants emerged, of which 245 were hired. Only a fraction reported for the first day, and by the end of the first month, more than half of them had already quit. The entire season witnessed only seven domestic workers making it through.
Wisconsin-based dairy farmer Tina Hinchley sums up her profession as a ‘grueling, grueling lifestyle’. Dairy farming faces a unique combination of challenges, as stated by Brian Reisinger, who has analyzed the history of farm economics in his book, ‘Land Rich and Cash Poor: My Family’s Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer’.
The concept of automated labor has, understandably, received interest in the dairy farming sector. Technological advancements such as robotic milking machines promise to alleviate the labor shortage to a certain extent. However, experts, including David Anderson, a professor at Texas A&M, caution that this technology is not yet foolproof. Rick Naerebout acknowledges this, explaining that while appealing, it is not currently a complete solution.
Of course, labor issues represent just one challenge facing today’s dairy farmers. On top of these problems, many producers struggle with financial instability, adding to the continual stresses of their profession. Amid all this, conversations about potential solutions and what could be done to alleviate the situation are often politically charged and frustrated by barriers in policy reform.
Despite the fiercely heated political climate, many within the dairy industry are in agreement about the urgency of achieving immigration reform. The Idaho Dairy Association is advocating for broader legal channels for the current immigrant workforce and their families. CEO Rick Naerebout echoes their call, advocating for a multi-year visa system that would offer more stability to foreign workers.
The conversation also needs to extend beyond the current, dominant ‘Enforcement only’ approach. According to Jaime Castaneda of the National Milk Producers Federation, what the industry truly needs is a stable workforce. The ideal would be to provide immigrant workers with annual visas which they could renew, should they chose to return after a year.
Pennsylvania farmer Rob Barley, who operates multiple dairy farms, also calls for a more reasonable approach to immigration issues. Barley argues that the current dichotomy – between those who want no immigrants and those who argue for unrestricted immigration – is an oversimplification of a complex issue and is counterproductive. In his view, it is crucial to strike a balance by allowing hardworking immigrants entry while also maintaining strong border security.
Despite the wide array of differing political views within the farming community, there is a shared recognition of the need for a more long-term visa system. Tina Hinchley, a farmer from Wisconsin and vice president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, falls into this camp. She is a passionate supporter of immigrant rights and publicly criticized the approach taken by the Trump administration.
Hinchley shares what many in the dairy industry feel – an acute respect and appreciation for their immigrant workforce. She states emphatically, ‘I don’t know what we’d do without them, and I think they need to be respected.’ In her eyes, and in the eyes of many who depend on these workers, there is a clear need to better recognize and respect the invaluable contributions made by immigrants in the US dairy industry.
The post Idaho’s Dairy Sector Relying Heavily on Immigrant Workforce appeared first on Real News Now.
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