Immigration IssuesNMPF Study Finds Dairy Farms Rely Heavily on Foreign Workers - June 4, 2009 A comprehensive national survey of the employment practices of America’s dairy farmers found that they rely heavily on foreign-born workers, the loss of which would cripple many farms and create a ripple effect of job losses through the rural economy, according to NMPF, which sponsored the survey.
Working with researchers at Texas AgriLife Research, a component of the Texas A&M University System, NMPF surveyed more than 2,000 dairy farms last fall to assess their hiring practices. The survey found that U.S. dairies employed 138,000 full-time equivalent workers, of which 57,000, or 41%, were foreigners.
Respondents reported that they paid their workers $506 in average weekly wages, while most also reported providing at least one non-wage benefit to employees, such as paid vacation, housing, and/or insurance. Those non-wage benefits brought average dairy workers salaries in 2008 to $31,521, significantly higher than salaries in the landscaping, ranching, and fast food sectors, which employ similar proportions of immigrant workers.
Texas AgriLife Research estimated that if federal labor and immigrant policies were to result in the loss of just half of the 57,000 foreign-born dairy workers, an additional 66,000 workers would also be lost, due to the closure of some dairy farms, and the resulting multiplier effect of fewer jobs in grain and fertilizer production and sales, veterinary services, milk hauling, and related agricultural service jobs. This would produce an economic loss of $11 billion.
The complete press release about NMPF's study is available here. A copy of the survey can be found here.
AgJobs Bill Reintroduced to Congress - May 14, 2009 The Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act (AgJobs) was reintroduced in the Senate (S. 1038) by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and in the House of Representatives (HR 2414) by Rep. Howard Berman (D- 28th CA) on May 14, 2009.
NMPF strongly supported the type of broad immigration reform for the agriculture sector that AgJobs contained, as well as a visa program for the dairy industry. AgJobs would address three critical areas of reform:
Rep. McHugh also reintroduced the Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act (HR 1660) this year after failing to acquire any action on it in the previous Congress. The bill would give dairy workers access to the H-2A program. Currently the dairy industry does not qualify for this program due to the constant nature of the work, thus leaving the dairy industry without a legal option to hire workers. This H-2A bill would allow workers to stay for three years given the year-round nature of the work. Currently, this provision only applies to sheep workers. The dairy industry is seeking a similar provision.
Letter to Members of the House of Representatives - September 19, 2008 When Congressman John McHugh (NY) introduced the Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act of 2008 (H.R. 6885), NMPF sent this letter to other House members praising the effort for immigrant labor reform for the dairy industry and encouraging other representatives to become cosponsors of the bill. Read the full letter here.
NMPF Submits Comments to the General Services Administration - August 11, 2008 After the Federal Register published a proposed E-Verify mandatory enrollment rule in its June 12, 2008 issue, NMPF President and CEO Jerry Kozak sent this letter to the General Services Administration that asked for clarification of the proposed rule and expressed concern about the rule's potential negative impacts on dairy farmers. Read the full letter here.
NMPF Calls on Senate to Pass Immigration Reform Measure for Agricultural Employers, Workers - May 19, 2008 Despite all of the work spent on the 2008 Farm Bill this month, the Senate was expected to address the Emergency Agriculture Relief Act (EARA), which would provide a temporary solution to the farm labor problem. Click here to read NMPF's statement encouraging the Senate to support this immigration reform.
NMPF's Principles for Immigration Reform
For more information on these principles, visit this page.
Other Links Background and Talking Points on Immigration Reform "U.S. Dairy Producers’ Need for Immigration Reform" - NMPF Issues Brief |