Dairy groups are focused on labor solutions this year. It is a problem they say has plagued the industry for years and warns is getting worse.
“It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking row crop agriculture or animal agriculture. For decades now, these are not jobs filled by Americans or a domestic workforce. These are jobs that immigrants typically fill, and largely that’s due to the fact that we have an economy that creates more jobs than we have for a domestic workforce,” said Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association.
Naerebout adds a lack of adequate labor is a big reason kids are leaving the farm and not coming back, and he says he has been pushing for what he calls a simple solution for years.
“We’re asking for access to a visa program. We’re asking the existing workers who are here without authorization, do a background check on them, have them pay a penalty, and then give them legal status. If they can pay the penalty and pass a background check and they don’t have a criminal record or even legal status, let them continue to fill the jobs that they’re filling and support our economy.”
The E-Verify system is largely used by employers to check immigration status, and groups say they would happily adopt it once an immigration fix has been found. Representative Dan Newhouse agrees, saying E-Verify would be welcomed, but says there needs to be a legal source of workers to begin with.
Tight feeder supplies and lower placements indicate continued support for the cattle market, with regional impacts heightened in Texas by reduced feeder imports.
December 22, 2025 10:10 AM
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National Land Realty’s Jeramy Stephens shares his outlook on farmland market trends, which remain under close watch as new federal assistance programs roll out — with experts analyzing potential impacts on land values, buying, and stability.
December 19, 2025 02:15 PM
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Jeff Johnston with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange explains the growing role of Rural America in supporting the nation’s digital infrastructure.
December 19, 2025 01:43 PM
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NRECA CEO Jim Matheson reacts to the U.S. House’s passage of the SPEED Act, which aims to streamline federal permitting for energy and infrastructure projects, and discusses its potential impact on rural communities.
December 19, 2025 01:14 PM
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Lower milk prices may pressure margins, but strong cattle values could soften near-term financial impacts.
December 19, 2025 12:50 PM
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Callahan is no stranger to agricultural trade and has been with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office since 2016.
December 19, 2025 11:53 AM
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The Pet and Livestock Protection Act now moves to the Senate for consideration.
December 19, 2025 11:49 AM
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December 17, 2025 11:38 AM
A new maritime biofuels coalition aims to position ocean shipping as a significant growth market for U.S. crops and waste-derived fuels.
December 17, 2025 07:00 AM
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