WASHINGTON — Dairy farmers from across the country traveled to Capitol Hill this week to urge lawmakers to advance agricultural labor reform and other priorities they say are critical to the future of the U.S. dairy industry.
More than three dozen dairy advocates participated in the National Milk Producers Federation's State Dairy Association Summit, where they held approximately 50 meetings with members of Congress and their staffs.
A key focus of the discussions was the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act, legislation introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson. Supporters say the bill would address long-standing labor shortages affecting dairy farms and other year-round agricultural operations.
The proposal would expand access to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program by removing its current seasonal work requirement for industries such as dairy. It would also allow contracts of up to 350 days and establish a pathway for the existing agricultural workforce to transition into a legal visa program.
"Ag labor is one of the most important issues of any in agriculture right now," said North Carolina dairy farmer Doug Holland, president of the North Carolina Dairy Producers Association.
In addition to labor reform, summit participants encouraged lawmakers to pass a new federal farm bill, which has remained stalled in Congress, and to expand the availability of milk choices in school meal programs.
The National Milk Producers Federation said the meetings were intended to ensure dairy producers' concerns remain a priority as Congress considers agricultural and nutrition legislation in the months ahead.