Background:

Immigrant labor plays a very important role in contributing to the success of America’s dairy industry; a large percentage of the hired workers on dairy farms are immigrants. This is true for a great number of dairy farmers across this country, both large and small.

Talking Points:

• Large numbers of dairy farms in every state are dependent on immigrant labor.
• Dairy producers are well familiar with delays. Over the past ten years, many times we have been told “it is not a good time, next year will be better.”  The one thing we know for certain is the longer agriculture waits for reform, the bigger the problem of not having a legal workforce becomes. 
• Enforcement only, without a workable program for agriculture, will devastate our industry, hurt business and hurt the economy.
• Dairy farmers share the concerns of all Americans about protecting our country and are not willing to sacrifice its security. However failing to provide for orderly flows of greatly needed workers will create enormous economic consequences for our industry and do very little to enhance our border protection.