Agricultural leaders are sounding the alarm that the struggle to secure reliable labor has shifted from a hurdle to a threat. As the domestic labor pool in rural communities dries up, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and other stakeholders are racing to modernize immigration programs.
The industry has relied on the H-2A visa program, which currently allows for 10-month seasonal contracts. However, dairy farming, a year-round operation, is often excluded from the program’s benefits. WFBF Director of National Affairs Tyler Wenzlaff argues that without a transition to 12-month visa access and a broader rethink of immigration enforcement, America’s Dairyland is at risk.
“The number one issue that whenever I talk to farmers has always been labor,” says Wenzlaff. “We’re not going to be able to survive if we do not have labor needs met.”
He explains that economic pressure or lack of interest from younger generations has upended the traditional model of family-run operations. This has the industry looking toward federal reform as the only path forward.
“The labor pool has changed over the years. It’s no longer mom, dad, and three kids working the farm,” he says.
Relief may be on the horizon. The House Agriculture Committee recently identified 15 key provisions to support a comprehensive labor package, and Wisconsin representatives are reportedly working on legislation.
