Wisconsin Farm Bureau Urges Immigration Reform to Fix Farm Labor Shortage

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau is pressing Congress to pass immigration reform in 2025, arguing that modernized visa rules are the only realistic way to ease the farm labor shortage squeezing the state’s dairy industry. Tyler Wenzlaff, the Bureau’s Director of National Affairs, said in August that the current system is “broken,” making it hard for workers to come legally under today’s rules. The group wants lawmakers to expand the H-2A program to include year-round dairy jobs and to cut red tape that delays hiring.

At the center of the push is a simple fact: undocumented immigrants perform about 70% of the work on Wisconsin dairy farms, according to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and partner advocates. Farmers say that work keeps milk flowing and rural communities steady. When labor is short, barns run understaffed, managers work double shifts, and families postpone upgrades or expansion. Those choices ripple outward, from feed suppliers to local schools.

The state’s challenge is bigger than agriculture. Wisconsin faces a structural labor shortage with nearly twice as many job openings as unemployed workers, leaving an estimated 93,000‑worker shortfall on average each month from 2021 through early 2025. Demographic shifts, caregiving needs, and skill gaps are all part of the picture. For dairy, where cows need care 24/7, a steady workforce is not optional.

Farm Bureau pushes Congress to modernize visas

Wenzlaff and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau argue that year‑round dairy jobs should be eligible for H-2A visas, which mainly cover seasonal crop work today. They also want a single, internet‑based portal that brings together all H-2A steps across federal agencies—the Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department—to cut delays caused by separate systems.

At the state level, the Bureau backs a tax deduction for housing costs tied to H-2A workers, which would help farmers cover required housing expenses.

National context and costs:
– Nationally, farm labor costs topped $53 billion in 2025, according to sector estimates cited by stakeholders.
– Many Wisconsin farms are adding technology—like automated milking and feeding systems—to cope, but these tools still require trained people to operate and maintain them.
– Farmers stress that machines help but do not replace human labor.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) echoes Wisconsin’s stance. AFBF President Zippy Duvall warned that enforcement aimed at farms without reform would have “dreadful” effects on the agricultural economy and the food supply, and urged Congress to create a legal, affordable, year‑round program.

For official program basics, see the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services overview of H-2A temporary agricultural workers: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2a-temporary-agricultural-workers.

Human impact across Wisconsin dairies

Beyond policy, farmers describe daily strain when workers are afraid to move freely. Advocates say stepped‑up enforcement without new legal pathways has led some immigrant workers to:
– skip shifts,
– cancel medical visits,
– avoid travel for family emergencies.

That fear, they say, hurts workers’ health, weakens community ties, and disrupts farm schedules.

Farmers like Rufus Haucke of Keewaydin Farms highlight how constant stress affects both people and operations. Wisconsin producers also point to past enforcement under President Trump, saying it created uncertainty that still lingers. University of Wisconsin–Madison experts have advised farmers to prepare and educate their teams, noting the economic risks if immigrant labor declines further.

“Enforcement without reform increases fear, disrupts schedules, and harms both workers and farm operations.” — consensus view among farm advocates cited by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Dairy Committee recommendations (2024)

The Committee’s 2024 report outlines specific steps lawmakers could take to stabilize the workforce:
– Expand H-2A to dairy and other year‑round farm jobs.
– Build a single, electronic portal for all H-2A steps to reduce paperwork and delays.
– Create a state tax deduction for H-2A housing costs to ease employer expenses.
– Pair reforms with border security so the system is legal, stable, and predictable.

Farm groups say these measures would lower fear, bring workers into legal channels, and let farms plan ahead. Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates growing industry support for year‑round visa access and streamlined processing as labor pressures mount.

Policy mechanics and what would change on the ground

Under current rules, H-2A hiring requires multiple federal steps. The Dairy Committee recommends connecting these steps in one online portal to avoid duplicative filings and slowdowns.

Key procedural steps today:
1. Employers first seek labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor by filing Form ETA‑9142A (Application for Temporary Employment Certification).
– Official form: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/forms
2. After certification, employers file Form I‑129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to request H‑2A classification.
– Official page: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
3. Prospective workers then apply for a visa abroad using the State Department’s Form DS‑160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application).
– Form link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html

Because dairy jobs operate year‑round but H‑2A mainly covers seasonal work, the mismatch has been filled in practice by undocumented workers. Making dairy eligible, advocates say, would allow farms to hire legally for needed roles and let workers hold status that reduces fear and instability.

A unified portal would especially help smaller farms that lack staff to manage complex, repetitive filings across agencies.

Economic consequences and on‑farm responses

The broader labor market explains the urgency: with a 93,000‑worker monthly shortfall statewide in recent years, producers face tough choices:
– scale back herds,
– push current staff harder,
– pay steep overtime,
– delay repairs and investments.

Those choices can weaken margins and push family farms to sell. In rural towns, consequences include fewer customers for local stores and more pressure on school funding as populations shift.

AFBF and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau emphasize that immigration reform is not meant to replace the local workforce, but to fill persistent, unfilled roles. They argue a legal, year‑round channel would:
– support training, safety, and retention,
– reduce turnover,
– improve animal care and worker well‑being.

Farm Bureau recommendations for farm and community action:
– Invest in employee housing and career development to keep teams stable.
– Continue adopting technology for efficiency, while ensuring trained staff manage and maintain systems.
– Prepare contingency plans for power outages or software failures so machines don’t become single points of failure.

Outlook and stakes as Congress considers reforms

As Congress weighs options, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau says it is working with elected officials on bills to update farm labor programs in 2025. The group frames the issue as one of food security as much as workforce policy: without steady labor, milk production can suffer, supply chains may wobble, and consumer prices could rise.

Farm leaders stress enforcement alone has not solved the issue. They point to worker fear—missed shifts, skipped clinics, and canceled trips—as evidence the status quo harms families and operations. By expanding legal pathways, they argue, the labor shortage can ease while rules remain firm and clear.

Whether lawmakers act this year remains uncertain. Dairy owners, workers, and rural towns will watch closely. For many, the stakes are simple: stable teams, safe barns, and a fair process that aligns year‑round farm work with year‑round legal status.