What’s At Stake for the Dairy Workforce?

For dairy producers, the workforce conversation isn't new. Finding reliable people to care for cows, manage daily operations, and keep a farm moving forward has been a challenge for years.

But as dairy operations become more complex and continue operating around the clock, the need for a dependable agricultural workforce has become increasingly important.

At World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, the Uplevel Dairy Podcast sat down with Congressman G.T. Thompson, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, to talk about the workforce challenges facing agriculture—and the efforts underway to create a system that better reflects the realities of modern dairy farming.

For Thompson, the issue is personal. With family roots in dairy farming in central Pennsylvania, he understands that agriculture doesn't operate on a seasonal schedule. Cows need to be cared for every day, which means dairy farms need people who can work year-round.

Dairy Doesn't Stop at the End of the Season

One of the biggest challenges with the current agricultural workforce system is that much of it was designed around seasonal agriculture.

Dairy doesn't fit that model.

Milk has to be harvested every day. Cows need to be fed and cared for every day. Facilities have to be maintained, calves need attention, and decisions have to be made regardless of the calendar.

That creates a unique workforce challenge for dairy producers who need dependable employees throughout the year.

As Thompson explains, the consequences extend beyond individual farms. Without a reliable agricultural workforce, the challenges can quickly become issues of food security and economic stability.

A Different Approach to the Agricultural Workforce

During the conversation, Thompson discussed the Securing Agricultural Workforce Act, or SAWA, a bipartisan proposal designed to address some of the limitations of the current H-2A seasonal visa system.

One of the key goals is to recognize the workforce needs of year-round agricultural operations, including dairy.

For producers, that distinction matters. A dairy farm can't simply pause operations when a seasonal visa period ends. The work continues, and producers need a workforce structure that reflects that reality.

Creating a more workable system could provide dairy farmers with greater stability as they plan their operations, manage labor costs, and think about the future of their businesses.

Workforce Is About More Than Filling a Position

The labor conversation can sometimes become overly focused on the number of workers available.

But on a dairy farm, the right workforce affects much more than headcount.

People are responsible for animal care, milking, feeding, reproduction, equipment, sanitation, herd health, and countless other details that influence the performance of an operation.

When producers can build a dependable team, they can create consistency across the farm. When staffing is uncertain, it becomes harder to maintain that consistency and harder for owners and managers to focus on long-term decisions.

Workforce stability is ultimately business stability.

The People Behind the Food Matter

The agricultural workforce conversation is also part of a much larger discussion about how food is produced in the United States.

Dairy producers are working to become more efficient, adopt new technology, improve animal care, and build sustainable businesses. But even the most advanced operation still depends on people.

Technology can make a job more efficient. Data can make decisions more informed. Automation can reduce certain labor demands.

But people remain at the center of dairy.

That is why creating a workforce system that recognizes the realities of year-round agriculture is so important to the industry's future.

Producers Have a Voice in the Conversation

Thompson also emphasized the importance of agriculture continuing to advocate for itself.

Policy changes require engagement from the people who understand the challenges firsthand. Producers know what it means to try to staff a dairy, train employees, manage turnover, and keep an operation running when there simply aren't enough people available.

Those experiences matter.

Reaching out to elected officials, sharing what is happening on farms, and staying engaged in the policy process gives lawmakers a clearer picture of what workforce challenges actually look like at the ground level.

The dairy industry has demonstrated the power of collective advocacy before. The workforce conversation is another opportunity for producers and industry leaders to make their voices heard.

Building a Workforce for the Future of Dairy

The future of dairy will continue to depend on innovation, technology, strong management, and resilient businesses.

But none of those things eliminate the need for people.

If dairy farms are going to continue feeding families, supporting rural communities, and creating opportunities for the next generation, they need a workforce system that recognizes how the industry actually operates.

The conversation around agricultural labor is complex, but the need is simple: dairy producers need reliable people to keep doing the work.

And as Congressman Thompson's conversation at World Dairy Expo makes clear, addressing that challenge will require producers, industry leaders, and policymakers working together.

The future of dairy depends on the people who show up every day to make it happen.

Follow the Uplevel Dairy Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the future of dairy. Subscribe at UplevelDairy.com and follow along on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for more stories, insights, and lessons from leaders across the industry.

To hear the complete discussion, stream now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.