Edge applauds Thompson Bill to expand H-2A access for dairy farms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2026

Contact: Laura Hensley
Chief Marketing Officer
(517) 652-4524 | lhensley@voiceofmilk.com

 Edge applauds Thompson Bill to expand H-2A access for dairy farms   

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative applauds the introduction of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act. The bill, introduced by House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, would update the H-2A visa program by expanding access beyond ‘seasonality’, control associated costs and streamline the visa program process.

Currently dairy farms are not eligible to use the H-2A program due to the year-round aspect of the farms. The legislation makes dairying eligible for consideration under the H-2A program updating the definition of “temporary” that decouples it from any seasonality provisions and allows for a broader timeframe.

“This move is an encouraging milestone in creating reliable, timely and streamlined solutions to the decades-old need for workforce reform in agriculture, especially dairy,” said Heidi Fischer, Edge president. “Edge has actively participated in this conversation with lawmakers on behalf of our members for several years, and we plan to continue to engage on this vitally important issue.”

If passed, the changes called for in the bill would create a pathway for foreign workers to access H-2A visas to work on dairy farms in the United States.

“We believe the need for workforce reform is a food security issue and ultimately a national security issue,” Fischer said. “Food security is dependent on a reliable, skilled and safe workforce that harvest crops, care for livestock and process the food to keep American families fed. It is heartening to see this introduction and encourage Congress to continue to come together to support meaningful reforms to address agriculture’s workforce needs.”

Edge urges lawmakers to support the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act and advance practical, bipartisan reforms that give dairy farmers access to a reliable year-round workforce.

Images:

Edge logo

Heidi photo

About Edge:

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wis., is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. Member farms are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Florida and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.edgedairy.com.