ADVISORY: Dairy Industry Leaders Call for Passage of Farm Workforce Modernization Act by Senate

Leaders from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) will gather in Washington on Wednesday to advocate on Capitol Hill for passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Members of the media are invited to attend a virtual press briefing hosted by IDFA, where IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., and IDFA member leaders will lay out the urgent business needs facing the dairy processing industry due a chronic shortage of workers on dairy farms, in manufacturing facilities, and throughout the dairy supply chain.   

IDFA will also discuss new polling from Morning Consult demonstrating a significant majority of Americans support passing bipartisan immigration reform to help lower food prices. As noted by IDFA today, polling shows that four-in-five U.S. voters (82%) support Republicans and Democrats in Congress working together to lower food prices through comprehensive immigration reform. The Senate is now considering taking up the Farm Workforce Modernization Act after it twice passed the House of Representatives. IDFA considers the bill a commonsense, bipartisan solution that will help ensure a secure, reliable labor force for our agriculture and food industry. IDFA believes the bill would lower food costs while also supporting our nation’s border security and providing bipartisan solutions for undocumented immigrants working in food and agriculture in the United States. 

Members of the press who are interested in attending the event must RSVP to Matt Herrick at mherrick@idfa.org.  

WHAT: 

Virtual Press Briefing on Need to Pass Farm Workforce Modernization Act  

WHERE: 

Zoom (Virtual) Event – a link will be sent to all registered attendees in advance 

WHEN: 

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. ET  

FEATURED SPEAKERS: 

• Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President & CEO, International Dairy Foods Association 
• David Ahlem, Chair, IDFA Executive Council; CEO & President, Hilmar Cheese Company (Hilmar, Calif.) 
• Heather Draper, Director, IDFA Ice Cream Segment Board; Director, The Ice Cream Club (Boynton Beach, Fla.) 

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.3 million jobs that generate $41.6 billion in direct wages and $753 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent 90 percent of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.