Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative joined with other leading dairy organizations and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin) to call for reforms to current immigration policies to allow dairy farmers and processors programs that fit their day to day operations.
The event led by the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) was held on Oct 2 during the World Dairy Expo. The dairy representatives including farmers and industry spokespeople shared their concerns stemming from a broken immigration program that does not fit the needs of today’s dairy industry.
Edge Board member Christina Zuiderveen, spoke on behalf of the co-ops members calling for long-over due changes in immigration reform.
“For decades, dairy farmers have been raising the issue of an inadequate agricultural visa system for dairy employees and asking for reform, only to be lost in the partisan divide that grows deeper with each election cycle,” Zuiderveen said. “Dairy’s need for immigration reform is not a partisan issue, it is a food security issue that ultimately is a national security issue.”
Other farmers shared Zuiderveen’s concerns pointing to a long-term problem that needs to be addressed.
“The current U.S. agriculture economy is at risk from a persistent and deepening labor shortage that has reached a critical point,” said Brian Rexing, an Indiana dairy farmer and farmer-leader for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA).
He continued, “A century ago, nearly one-third of Americans lived on farms located in rural communities that offered abundant labor. Today, less than 2 percent of us operate farms that produce the food and nutrition that sustain our families. This dramatic shift has put a strain on our food system and now relies heavily on foreign labor to assist with many responsibilities it takes on farms.”
Immigration and workforce reform is a top policy priority for Edge. Chief Policy Office Karen Gefvert notes that the recent attention on securing the borders has led to increased awareness on our broken immigration system.
“Our dairy farmers are in a dire situation because of a broken immigration system,” Gefvert says. “We have been working closely with our Congressional leaders to bring awareness of this situation and to offer a pathway forward to solve this situation.”
