Southern Michigan dairy farmers are joining those from across the country in pushing Congress to pass new legislation to help solve severe labor shortages on local operations.
Up to 20% of dairy farms across the Great Lakes region have faced worker shortages since 2020, according to recent Michigan State University research.
Supporters hope lawmakers will pass the bipartisan Securing Ag Workforce Act before the end of the year. Introduced by U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., the bill would allow farms to hire temporary foreign workers using H-2A visas for up to 350 days a year. It would also streamline the application process and create predictable wage guidelines.
Sherry Bunting, a policy advisor for the American Dairy Coalition, told Brownfield Ag News that current federal laws fail year-round agriculture because traditional seasonal guest-worker programs do not fit daily milking schedules.
Bunting said “Cows don’t have a season.” She emphasized that farmers need access to reliable employees when local hiring efforts fall short.
More than 550 agricultural organizations support the legislation, which continues to gain co-sponsors in the House.