Tag: farm labor

Bipartisan Amendment Approved with NMPF Support Addresses Dairy Labor Challenges

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The House Appropriations Committee in June adopted a bipartisan amendment to its Fiscal Year 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations bill that takes a step in the right direction to address dairy’s unique workforce needs. The amendment, offered by Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA), would permit dairy farmers and other farm employers to use the H-2A visa program to hire year-round workers, not just those who are doing temporary or seasonal work.

NMPF and its Immigration Task Force have worked carefully on this proposal, which Rep. Newhouse has offered in the past with support from Rep. Cuellar, so that dairy farmers can use the H-2A visa program to meet their labor needs for year-round workers.  Up to this point, the dairy industry has largely not been able to use the H-2A program because it is restricted to temporary and seasonal workers.

The full House is likely to consider the Homeland Security Appropriations measure later this summer, and the Senate will craft its own version of the bill.  NMPF looks forward to working to maintain the amendment in any final House-Senate negotiated measure to be sent to the president later this year.

NMPF also continues to work with members of Congress to build momentum for comprehensive ag labor legislation that meets dairy’s workforce needs by providing a pathway to legal status for current farm workers and creating a workable guest worker program on a permanent basis. The Cuellar-Newhouse amendment is an important foot in the door to meeting the needs of an industry that ‘harvests’ its product multiple times a day, every day.

FARM Program Announces New Educational Resources

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program announced two new manuals and other materials as part of its FARM Workforce Development program area.

The FARM Safety Reference Manual provides straightforward, relevant and useful information on workplace safety and health meant to help dairy owners and employees develop and implement a robust and practical safety program. The FARM Safety Reference Manual is a collaboration between the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, the Idaho Milk Processors Association, and National Milk Producers Federation.

The FARM Human Resources (HR) Reference Manual helps dairy farm owners, managers and other relevant staff develop an on-farm HR program. An effective HR program supports a positive and safe work environment that helps attract and retain a professional, high-quality, and engaged workforce. A downloaded, customizable set of HR templates and a sample Employee Handbook accompany the FARM HR Manual.  The manuals can be found here. Spanish-language versions of the manuals and templates will be available soon.

The National Dairy FARM Program launched its newest component last year, gathering expert and stakeholder input from the entire dairy value chain, including farmers, cooperative staff, academics, and other subject matter experts. This input ensures the Workforce Development materials are technically robust and relevant to today’s dairy industry.

FARM Workforce Development demonstrates that the U.S. dairy industry is proactive and passionate about providing safe and thriving work environments.

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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce more than two-thirds of all U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers in Washington. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.

Created by NMPF in partnership with Dairy Management Inc, the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) works with all U.S. dairy farmers, co-ops and processors, to demonstrate to dairy customers and consumers that the dairy industry is taking the very best care of cows and the environment, producing safe, wholesome milk and adhering to the highest standards of workforce development.

NMPF Applauds Appropriations Subcommittee Passage of H-2A Amendment Aiding Dairy Farmers

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

ARLINGTON, Va. – From National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern:

“We greatly appreciate the work of Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) on behalf of America’s dairy producers to include year-round employees on farms in the H-2A farm worker visa program.

“The Cuellar-Newhouse amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill would allow farm employers to use the H-2A visa program to hire foreign workers, regardless of whether those employees are engaged in temporary or seasonal work. NMPF and members of its Immigration Task Force have worked on this proposal, which is similar to language offered in the past by Rep. Newhouse and supported by Rep. Cuellar, so that dairy farmers can better use the H-2A visa program to fill year-round needs for year-round workers.

“Dairy farmers have largely have not been able to use H-2A visas because the current program restricts them only to the temporary and seasonal labor needs of agricultural employers. The current H-2A program simply isn’t an option for a commodity that ‘harvests’ its product multiple times a day, every day.

“Creating an additional legal pathway for workers to connect with farm employers deserves bipartisan support, and the history of this legislation shows such support is readily available. It is critical that the government creates a system that provides secure, legal employment. We thank lawmakers for their efforts toward achieving this goal.

“The amendment was added to the House’s version of the Fiscal Year 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations measure. Once the House Appropriations Committee moves to adopt the bill later today, the measure will be considered on the House floor likely this month. The Senate will craft its own version of the bill. NMPF looks forward to working to preserve the amendment in any final House-Senate negotiated measure to be sent to the President.”

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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.

NMPF Welcomes California Dairies Inc., Second-Largest U.S. Dairy Cooperative, Into Membership

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Milk Producers Federation today welcomed California Dairies Inc. into its membership, as the addition of the largest dairy cooperative in the biggest dairy-producing state significantly bolsters the strength of dairy producers in speaking with a unified voice on national and international issues of concern to farmers.

“We are very pleased to have CDI’s voice among our already strong and active membership,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, which is the largest U.S. dairy-farmer organization. “CDI bolsters the nationwide reach and diversity of our organization and strengthens our ability as farmer-owned cooperatives to tackle a wide array of challenges in marketing, farm labor and trade, food safety, nutrition and product labeling.”

CDI, based in Visalia, produces 40 percent of California’s milk and about 8 percent of all milk in the U.S. By volume, it is the second-largest dairy cooperative in the United States. Co-owned by more than 370 dairy producers who ship 16 billion pounds of milk annually, CDI makes high-quality butter, fluid milk products and milk powders. It produces two leading brands of butter – Challenge and Danish Creamery — and its products are available in all 50 states and more than 50 foreign countries.

“California Dairies, Inc. is excited to begin our membership with the National Milk Producers Federation as we work toward a stronger U.S. dairy industry,” said Simon Vander Woude, Chairman of the CDI Board of Directors.  “Both CDI and NMPF are active and respected organizations in Washington, DC, advocating on behalf of our respective memberships. However, we believe by combining our efforts, we can be an even stronger and more effective coalition, advocating pro-dairy policies that fundamentally strengthen our farmers and our industry as a whole.”

CDI officially joined National Milk today by a unanimous vote of its board of directors at NMPF’s June meeting. The cooperative will have five seats on that board of 53 members. In addition to approving CDI’s membership, NMPF also created a 14-member executive committee, which will include one member from CDI, to serve as a core leadership body, supplementing the work of its officers and board. The members of the executive committee include:

Jay Bryant, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Operation (Reston, VA)

Beth Ford, Land O’Lakes Inc. (Arden Hills, MN)

Tony Graves, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. (Edwardsville, IL)

Mike McCloskey, Select Milk Producers Inc. (Dallas, TX)

Randy Mooney, Dairy Farmers of America (Kansas City, KS)

Keith Murfield, United Dairymen of Arizona (Tempe, AZ)

Ken Nobis, MMPA (Novi, MI)

Doug Nuttelman, DFA

Leroy Plagerman, Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold (Seattle, WA)

Neal Rea, Agri-Mark, Inc. (Andover, MA)

David Scheevel, Foremost Farms USA (Baraboo, WI)

Steve Schlangen, Associated Milk Producers Inc. (New Ulm, MN)

Simon Vander Woude, CDI

John Wilson, DFA

“The addition of the new executive committee will be helpful in gaining additional member input on often fast-developing policy issues, and it reflects the strong interest of our membership in united dairy community action,” said Randy Mooney, NMPF’s chairman and dairy farmer from Rogersville, MO.

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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.

Cooperative Members, Dairy Experts Testify in Agriculture Subcommittee’s First Hearing

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

In its first hearing of the 116th Congress the House Agriculture Committee’s subcommittee on livestock and foreign agriculture focused on dairy’s improved safety net and the need for expanded exports, with farmers from NMPF cooperatives and industry leaders bringing national attention to industry concerns.

The hearing, called by Subcommittee Chairman Jim Costa (D-CA), spotlighted the low prices and trade concerns the sector faces while discussing the opportunities offered for producers through the new Dairy Margin Coverage program, calling solutions to dairy’s struggles one of the subcommittee’s highest priorities.

Testimony included:

  • Minnesota dairy farmer Sadie Frericks, a member of Land O’Lakes, spoke of the importance of the new Dairy Margin Coverage program as a risk management tool as her family weathers economic challenges;
  • California Dairies, Inc. President and CEO Andrei Mikhalevsky provided an overview of dairy’s trade issues, a rising concern as exports are crucial to increasing dairy demand;
  • Pennsylvania dairy farmer Dave Smith, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, discussed additional challenges including the importance of milk consumption in schools and the need to combat mislabeled fake milks in the marketplace;
  • New York dairy farmer Michael McMahon gave voice to the dairy industry’s unique workforce challenges, including the lack of a viable guest worker program that covers year-round workers;
  • and Dr. Scott Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, provided economic insight.

NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern thanked the participating farmers and industry leaders for bringing their crucial dairy perspectives to a national level and applauded the subcommittee for putting dairy first on its 2019 agenda, noting that the sector’s “challenges reverberate through the U.S. economy.” Mulhern also thanked lawmakers including Costa, subcommittee ranking member Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Congressman GT Thompson (R-PA) for their helpful opening and closing statements at the hearing.

NMPF Applauds House Subcommittee for Putting Dairy First; DMC Decision Tool Now Online

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

ARLINGTON, Va. – As key milestones are being met in offering much-needed financial relief for dairy producers, the National Milk Producers Federation today thanked the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture for choosing dairy as the subject of its first hearing this year.

Lawmakers heard a diverse array of witnesses who provided important perspectives on the state of U.S. dairy, which is in its fifth year of low prices and its second year of trade-related hardships. In their opening statements:

  • Minnesota dairy farmer Sadie Frericks spoke of the importance of the new Dairy Margin Coverage program as a risk management tool as her family weathers economic challenges;
  • California Dairies, Inc. President and CEO Andrei Mikhalevsky provided an overview of dairy’s trade issues, a rising concern as exports are crucial to increasing dairy demand;
  • Pennsylvania dairy farmer Dave Smith, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, discussed additional challenges, including the importance of milk consumption in schools and the need to combat mislabeled fake milks in the marketplace.
  • New York dairy farmer Michael McMahon gave voice to the dairy industry’s unique workforce challenges, including the lack of a viable guest worker program that covers year-round workers
  • and Dr. Scott Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, provided economic insight.

“Dairy’s challenges reverberate through the U.S. economy, and it’s appropriate that lawmakers put dairy first on its 2019 agenda,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “We thank all of the farmers and industry leaders who spoke out. We also commend subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) and ranking member Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), as well as Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson, (D-MN), who made helpful opening statements at the hearing, for their attention to dairy’s urgent needs.”

The NMPF continues to encourage farmers to prepare for Dairy Margin Coverage signup, scheduled to begin June 17. The USDA’s decision tool, designed to help farmers determine their appropriate coverage level, is now online here. Later this week, letters will be sent to producers informing them of their premium refunds under the previous Margin Protection Program.

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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.

FARM Releases Human Resource Materials for Dairy Producers

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program in April released additional materials as part of its new Workforce Development initiative.

FARM Workforce Development focuses on the people who work year-round to provide excellent cow care and produce wholesome milk: dairy farm families and their employees. The program’s resources offer guidance and best management practices around human resources and health and safety.

The new FARM Human Resources (HR) Reference Manual is designed to help dairy farm owners, managers and other relevant staff develop a consistent and compliant human resources programs on their farms. It guides farm owners and managers in handling a variety of human resources activities. The manual also helps address employee-related challenges that owners and managers might face in their day-to-day farming operations.

A set of HR templates and a sample Employee Handbook accompany the FARM HR Manual. These resources can be downloaded and tailored by owners and managers to fit the needs of their operation. The manual can be found here.

Spanish-language versions of the manual and templates will be available soon.