More Needs To Be Done To Meet Dairy Worker Needs

The Department of Labor recently announced it would continue processing H-2A applications during the government shutdown, which is good news for commodities that utilize the program, such as tree fruit.  But, despite its strengths, H-2A doesn’t work for all Northwest producers.

Bryce Chambers, Director of Industry Relations at Dairy West, said because of the 24/7, 365 nature of dairy operations, the current H-2A visa just doesn’t work.

“I think that's going to be a bigger and bigger challenge for our farmers until we have a better plan with immigration and seasonal workers, which don't really apply to the dairy industry, we need to have a more streamlined process on how we're getting the workforce to our farmers. and making sure that those workers feel like that they're safe.”

Chambers noted that many dairy workers have expressed concerns about what’s going to happen to them on a nearly daily basis, with many worrying that they will be deported.

He added that members in Idaho and Utah are very fortunate, since those states understand the complexity of the industry’s labor needs.

“We have a pretty good representation within the legislature that is lobbying on our behalf and is doing a great job in making sure that those legislatures and those people that are making those decisions from a state level are very well informed as to what's happening on dairies, what the needs are," Chambers said.  "And so I think we're teed up very well to have those conversations and really highlighting what the workforce on dairies look like and what the needs are.”

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