Proposed Farmworker Labor Reforms Part of Omnibus Bill, Renewed Push for Immigration Reform

Proposed farmworker labor reforms from Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are part of the omnibus spending package, but farm groups are continuing to push for immigration reform.   While the labor shortage is a universal problem for all businesses, it is an especially big challenge for dairy operations, which need year-round workers.  That’s why the industry is renewing its push for the new Congress to pass Immigration reform.  The cost and availability of workers is a hot-button issue for dairy producers. 

“Labor, its labor, labor, labor. We’ve been talking about labor for a long time, and I’m not very hopeful that we’re going to get anything done there,” says Marv Post, South Dakota Dairy Producers Association president.

However, one Washington insider is more optimistic about movement on immigration policy in 2023. 

Jim Wiesemeyer, Farm Journal Washington correspondent, says: "I'm one of the few who thinks we have a six-month window in early 2023 with a new Congress to get a mini-immigration reform through both the House and the Senate, but that begins with border security. The Republicans are insisting they won’t move one iota unless they have border security. Once they get that they can give the Democrats some of the things they want."

The dairy industry is calling for compromise and for Congress to adopt the Farm Worker Modernization Act, which has passed twice in the House.  

"Let's move the ball down the court," says Beth Ford, CEO of Land O’Lakes. "We’ve had productive discussion, but we’re still not quite there, and I’m sure it’s because it’s a fraught political discussion in some regard. I would tell you, industry in general is definitely advocating for immigration reform."

Ford says there’s consensus among lawmakers she talks to in both parties that Immigration reform is needed. So, she says, it's time to get this done because it hurts farmers but it is also critical with the global food crisis.