Washington Dairy Industry Trying To Adapt To Challenges Of 2022
The dairy industry in Washington is adjusting to the overtime requirements that took effect January 1st of this year. Washington State Dairy Federation president, Henry Benthem, said some workers are having to pick up second jobs because dairy farmers can't swing the overtime costs.
"A lot of dairies are looking for automation and more technology because it becomes more affordable the higher the labor goes up.”
Benthem added the salary option was also revoked which leaves a lot of workers without flexibility. In case adjusting to the new overtime requirements was not enough, Benthem, said milk prices are keeping up with costs right now. He added where the supply chain is going into the future remains up in the air.
"If any of these go way out of whack," Benthem said. "If we have breakdowns while we're chopping corn or when we're harvesting hay, we can't get parts, we can't get diesel then we're dead in the water. If the milk price drops and everything else goes way, we'll be out of business. Everyone is very nervous."
Benthem said the input costs increases are all over the board, including fuel, labor, transportation, feel and commodity costs.
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