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NMPF’s new chair says reliable workforce is critical for dairy farms

The new chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation says having a stable and secure workforce is one of the top challenges facing producers.

Fourth-generation dairy farmer Brian Rexing tells Brownfield, “Dairy farming is seven days a week, 24 hours a day, it’s not seasonal, it’s every season.”

Rexing was elected to lead during the organization’s recent joint annual meeting. He says immigration raids on farms this past year have caused nervousness in the countryside.

“Figuring out how we can get that workforce on our farms safely is a tough issue, and we’re going to be working on this diligently until we can get something resolved,” he shares.

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined the Trump administration’s milk action plan as part of her remarks during the meeting, which Rexing says he hopes will make progress soon.

Rollins promised to seek federal changes to rules and regulations in coordination with the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security, saying USDA is acutely aware of the dairy industry’s labor needs.

Rollins outlined priorities, including incentivizing dairy consumption through changes to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, reducing input costs, facilitating investments in American milk processing, and expanding markets to support milk producers.

Rexing operates New Generation Dairy, near Owensville, Indiana, milking 1,200 cows and farming 3,500 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa with his family.