Acting Secretary Shown Labor Crisis via NM Dairy
September 1, 2026
NMPF joined Western Growers in New Mexico on Aug. 14 to host Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling and provide a firsthand look at the labor challenges facing U.S. agriculture.
Sonderling toured DFA member John DeRuyter’s dairy farm near Las Cruces, then joined an ag labor roundtable with farmers and agricultural leaders from across the state.
NMPF underscored dairy’s acute and ongoing labor needs during the visit and pressed Sonderling to collaborate with the president and Congress to deliver real ag labor reform. Sonderling has led key roles at the Department of Labor and was nominated for Secretary in June.
This visit is part of NMPF’s sustained, on the ground push to keep dairy’s workforce crisis front and center in Washington. NMPF also is making passage of the Securing America’s Workforce Act (SAWA) a top legislative priority. The legislation would modernize the outdated H-2A program to finally work for dairy’s year-round labor needs, providing a stable, legal workforce that farms depend on every single day.
NMPF is working every angle, administrative and legislative, to get this done. To get involved, visit nmpf.org/take-action.
