Movement Possible on Addressing Farmer Workforce Needs
We continue to work with lawmakers in Congress, as well as with Trump Administration officials at USDA and the Department of Labor, to find policy solutions that meet dairy’s workforce needs and are in keeping with the White House’s focus on border security. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act included additional funding for enhanced border security and enforcement efforts, and our ongoing concern is how this focus affects agricultural employers whose operations are relying on a foreign-born labor supply to get the work done on farms.
On Wednesday, White House border czar Tom Homan, while talking about the need for stepped-up enforcement, hinted that a program to address farmers’ concerns is in the works, as the President has suggested several times in recent weeks. This issue remains both politically explosive and urgent to our members. I remain hopeful that, given the pressure we are continuing to apply and the amount of attention the issue has been receiving, we will move toward a policy solution that dairy producers can live with.
Trump Nominates Callahan for Chief Ag Negotiator at USTR
The White House has made an excellent choice this week in nominating my former colleague, Julie Callahan, to be the chief agriculture negotiator at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. She and I worked together during the first Trump Administration, where Julie held multiple positions in the Agricultural Affairs office. She knows all of the flash points for various farm commodities in the trade arena, including dairy. As we noted in a statement yesterday supporting Callahan’s nomination, she also has previous experience at USDA and FDA, giving Julie a unique perspective on how to work within our government, as well as with foreign nations, on trade policy.
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