Arizona dairy farmer Jim Boyle leads the call for comprehensive labor policy, stressing the vital role of skilled immigrants for year-round milk production and food security.
The U.S. dairy industry is grappling with a severe and persistent labor shortage, a challenge that threatens the continuous, year-round operation of dairy farms across the nation. Historically reliant on skilled immigrant workers, the sector faces heightened anxiety amidst renewed national attention on border security and immigration enforcement. This critical issue directly impacts the ability of farmers to care for their herds, get milk to market, and ensure the well-being of their cows, ultimately affecting the reliability of the national food supply.
Jim Boyle, an Arizona dairy farmer and co-owner of Casa Grande Dairy Co., is a prominent voice advocating for comprehensive agricultural labor reform. As Chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Immigration Task Force, Boyle emphasizes that any enforcement actions on immigration must be coupled with a viable labor reform package. He asserts that while securing the border is a valid concern, it cannot be at the expense of meeting the essential workforce needs of agriculture.
A significant hurdle for dairy farmers is the lack of adequate access to suitable visa programs for their year-round labor requirements. The most common existing program, the H-2A farmworker program, primarily caters to seasonal labor, which is fundamentally incompatible with the continuous, 365-day demands of dairy farming. This mismatch leaves dairy producers in a precarious position, struggling to find and retain the specialized workforce needed to maintain operations.
Boyle highlights the severe consequences of this labor shortfall. Dairy farmworkers caught up in immigration enforcement actions in states like New York and Vermont have already garnered national attention, underscoring the urgent need for practical ag labor policies. He stresses that losing current workers without a viable replacement threatens not only the individual farm and its cows but also poses a significant negative impact on the rural economy and national food security.
Having been involved in federal policy since 2011, Boyle has witnessed numerous immigration reform attempts. Despite past setbacks, he remains confident that a “fair and workable solution” is achievable, one that would provide for both seasonal and, crucially, long-term agricultural workers. Such a solution, possibly involving a new type of visa tailored for dairy’s unique needs, is deemed essential for the industry’s stability and future prosperity.
Source: Morning Ag Clips: NMPF Dairy Farmer Provides Ag Labor Perspective
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