Results of a 2023 survey taken by more than 660 dairy farm owners in the state.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison recently published two research briefs highlighting Wisconsin dairy farmers’ views on issues related to natural resources and farm labor. The briefs, which summarize the results of a 2023 survey taken by more than 660 dairy farm owners in the state, were designed to help inform the development of policies in the dairy sector.

“There’s room to improve our policies to better support dairy farmers. But to do this well, we need to understand farmers’ perspectives,” says Adena Rissman, professor in the UW­–Madison Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, who led the development of the two research briefs. “The findings are a crucial part of the conversation as Wisconsin dairies continue to grapple with financial strain and its cascading impact on conservation, water quality, and working conditions.”

“Good policies in these areas are important because they impact everybody,” adds Rissman. “Citizens of the state depend on clean water for drinking, swimming, and fishing. Farmers and society depend on good healthy soils for growing food and storing carbon. And many Wisconsin farms and communities depend on immigrant workers from Latin America.”

The survey was developed in 2022 by a team of social science researchers at UW–Madison and UW-River Falls. 2,000 surveys were mailed from the UW-River Falls Survey Research Center to dairy farm owners between January and March 2023, and 661 were returned, for a 33% response rate. Researchers at UW–Madison analyzed the results and posted the briefs online.

For this project, Rissman worked closely with Ana Fochesatto, a UW–Madison graduate student in the environment and resources program, to develop the survey questions and analyze the data, particularly those related to labor issues.

“Understanding farm owners’ views on policies that impact their livelihoods and those of farm workers, including immigration and social policies, is key to having honest conversations about solutions that best address the needs of Wisconsin’s farming communities,” says Fochesatto.

The natural resources research brief touches on soil health, nutrient runoff, and farmer incentives. The farm labor brief delves into overtime pay, healthcare, and immigration policies. Key findings from the two briefs are bulleted below. For more details, read the natural resources research brief athttps://grasslandag.org/waterqualityperspectives/ and the farm labor research brief athttps://grasslandag.org/policyperspectives/.

Findings in the natural resources research brief include:

• 83% of dairy farm owners surveyed stated it is very-to-extremely important for a good farmer to improve soil health
• 78% stated it is very-to-extremely important for a good farmer to minimize nutrient runoff
• 20% stated it is very-to-extremely important to have the highest milk production
• 14% stated it is very-to-extremely important to have the latest technology
• 53% of respondents supported the idea of paying farmers for improved water quality outcomes, while 14% were opposed (Note: The funding source was not specified)
• 38% supported paying farmers for carbon storage, while 23% were opposed (Note: The funding source was not specified)
• 29% supported tougher enforcement of water quality laws, while 40% were opposed

Findings in the farm labor research brief include:

• 58% of dairy farm owners surveyed stated it is very-to-extremely important to ensure good worker quality of life
• 52% supported universal healthcare coverage, while 25% were opposed
• 36% supported creating a basic income for farmers, while 33% were opposed
• 36% supported funds for worker safety improvements, while 24% were opposed
• 14% supported policy requiring overtime pay for farm workers, while 49% were opposed
• Among farmers with foreign full-time employees:

• • 51% supported granting driver’s licenses to undocumented people, while 27% were opposed
  • 61% supported creating a pathway for citizenship for foreign farmworkers, while 13% were opposed

• Among farmers without foreign full-time employees:

• • 24% supported granting driver’s licenses, while 43% were opposed
  • 41% supported creating a pathway for citizenship for foreign farmworkers, while 17% were opposed

This research project was supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant.

For more information about the survey and research briefs, contact Adena Rissman at adena.rissman@wisc.edu.

— UW–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences