IDFA believes a well-crafted agricultural guest-worker program is an essential piece of an adequate and legal workforce, including non-seasonal, skilled immigrant workers. The program must cover dairy manufacturing jobs and allow longer-term visas in recognition of the industry’s significant investment of time and money for training employees.
Right now, the U.S. Senate is developing their version of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bill that would create a new year-round visa program to help address dairy’s labor needs, representing a positive step forward for the industry.
The “ask”:
Please email your U.S. Representatives and Senators to encourage them to support the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with the inclusion of dairy manufacturing jobs as eligible positions.
What would the bill do?
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would:
- Allow agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contributions to the U.S. agricultural economy;
- Provide more flexibility for employers with year-round labor needs, while ensuring critical protections for workers; and
- Establish a phased-in, mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system with a structured phase-in that allows companies to confirm employees are eligible to work; and
- Guarantee due process for authorized workers who are incorrectly rejected by the system.
Take just two minutes to send a short note to your member of Congress asking them to support the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with the inclusion of dairy manufacturing jobs.
If you have any questions about IDFA’s advocacy on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, please contact our staff expert Donald Grady.
Thank you for your support!
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