Thread: Losing immigrant workers would double milk prices

Losing immigrant workers would double milk prices

ILFT file photo

6 hours ago

ARLINGTON, Va. — Half of all workers on U.S. dairy farms are immigrants, and the damage from losing those workers would extend far beyond the farms, nearly doubling retail milk prices and costing the total U.S. economy more than $32 billion, according to a new report commissioned by the National Milk Producers Federation.

The report, which includes the results of a nationwide survey of farms, found that one-third of all U.S. dairy farms employ foreign-born workers, and that those farms produce nearly 80 percent of the nation’s milk according to an NMPF news release. It concluded that a complete loss of immigrant labor could cause the loss of one in six dairy farms and cut U.S. economic output by $32.1 billion, resulting in 208,000 fewer jobs nationwide. Some 77,000 of the lost jobs would be on dairy farms.

Retail milk prices, the report said, would increase 90 percent if all immigrant labor was lost. That would drive the supermarket price of a gallon of milk, which averaged $3.37 in June, to approximately $6.40.

The survey, an update of one done in 2009, was conducted last fall, before immigration became a hot-button issue in the presidential campaign. A comparison of the two surveys shows the number of immigrants working on dairy farms increased by 35 percent, or nearly 20,000, in six years.

The portion of the milk supply coming from farms with immigrant labor increased by 27 percent.

The survey results do not distinguish between documented and undocumented foreign-born workers, but 71 percent of survey respondents said they had either low or medium level of confidence in the employment documents of their immigrant workers.

As a result, the report said, a majority of dairy farmers are very concerned about actions such as immigration raids or employee audits. Despite this, 80 percent of dairy farms surveyed continue to hire immigrants.

“This report reinforces the urgent need for Congress to address this issue,” said NMPF President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mulhern. “Farms that rely on hired foreign workers need their current labor force as well as an effective program to ensure an adequate future workforce. And the way to do that is to enact comprehensive immigration reform.”

“The notion that immigrants are taking these jobs away from American workers is simply not true,” added Randy Mooney, a dairy farmer from Rogersville, Mo., and the chair of NMPF’s board.

“Dairy farmers have tried desperately to get American workers to do these jobs with little success — and that’s despite an average wage that is well above the U.S. minimum wage.”

The report was produced for NMPF by Texas AgriLife Research at Texas A&M University. Researchers estimated 150,418 employees worked on U.S. dairy farms in 2013, and 51 percent of them, or 76,968, were immigrants.

It found the average hourly wage on dairy farms in 2013 was $11.54, 16 percent higher than in 2008. By comparison, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

The report concluded that a total loss of immigrant labor would reduce the size of both the U.S. dairy herd and the nation’s milk production by nearly a quarter. More than 7,000 dairy farms would close, it added.

Through economic modeling, researchers estimated that more than a third of the total economic damage from losing all immigrant labor on dairy farms would be from reduced farm milk sales.

The rest would come from losses in employee compensation, reduced purchases by farm employees and lost sales to businesses that support dairy farms, such as feed and equipment dealers.

Likewise, researchers said, milk sales support many more jobs beyond the farm than on the farm. As a result, a total loss of immigrant labor on dairy farms would mean 76,968 fewer people working on farms.

http://www.illinoisfarmertoday.com/n...af44dd865.html

ARLINGTON, Va. — Half of all workers on U.S. dairy farms are immigrants, and the damage from losing those workers would extend far beyond the farms, nearly doubling retail milk prices and costing the total U.S. economy more than $32 billion, according to a new report commissioned by the National Milk Producers Federation.

The report, which includes the results of a nationwide survey of farms, found that one-third of all U.S. dairy farms employ foreign-born workers, and that those farms produce nearly 80 percent of the nation’s milk according to an NMPF news release. It concluded that a complete loss of immigrant labor could cause the loss of one in six dairy farms and cut U.S. economic output by $32.1 billion, resulting in 208,000 fewer jobs nationwide. Some 77,000 of the lost jobs would be on dairy farms.

Hmmm. Why would they lose their "immigrant" and "foreign-born" workers?

Oh wait! You mean half of the labor force working in the diary farm business are illegal aliens and if we enforce US immigration law and deport them all, they would lose half of their work force? Then they would replace them with citizens and legal foreign-born workers. What's wrong with that and why would that double milk prices?

Oh, wait! It wouldn't.

So why did the National Milk Producers Association issue a press release claiming it would?

Because they'e LIARS.

Do the math. Math doesn't lie, just liars lie.

3/30/15

http://www.alipac.us/f12/dairy-farme...-sours-318553/

Drink less milk. Watch what happens to prices, then.

Prices rise, people will curtail demand. AND----any doctor will tell them that they should cut out sugary dairy products like ice cream, sweet yoghurt, flavored milk----this is all junk food!! Just as if fast food chains were to go under---so what if they did? It's all junk.

I agree that the dairy farming business does tend to be more labor intensive---and it could be difficult for some of them to stay afloat. We need a federal commission to help dairy farmers adopt new technologies that reduce the demand for labor. There are inventions coming out of traditional dairy regions---like Sweden. Of course instead of having a brain trust that tackles these problems, liberals and some GOP politicians would rather engage in political chicanery. We also need a commission to reform our civil justice system so it works for people, not just the professional litigants.

Don't expect any reforms like this out of the politically jaded Democrat Party, though.

YES! You're right! DRINK AND EAT LESS MILK!

No doubt that there will be some unrest and adjustments that will take place if a plan like Trump's is enforced.

Personally, I think it's worth it. High milk, fruit and meat prices will eventually settle. I really think that Americans would do those jobs, but if I'm wrong there is a solution.

After all the illegals are deported and all Americans that are able to work have jobs, then if the farmers absolutely cannot fill those positions, temporary work visas with no more than a 12 month granted stay may be issued with stringent restrictions. Absolutely no tax funded programs shall be made available to them. If they want health care, then let them bargain health benefits through their employer. Guest workers shall not be protected by the constitutional laws that citizens enjoy. Any temporary worker charged with breaking a single law shall be deported immediately without due process and never allowed to return. They shall be comprised of able bodied men and women over the age of 18 and not be allowed to bring their dependent family members with them. This will give them insensitive to return home. Issued visas must be revoked at anytime any qualified citizen applies for one of these jobs. Visas should be reapplied for upon expiration and any worker who refuses and over stays their visit shall be deported and blacklisted from returning. Once a temporary worker has applied for and been granted a stay 3 or more times, that worker may begin the path to citizenship through our current immigration system that requires the ability to read and write in English, civics knowledge, criminal background checks and a health risk assessment exam. I would also like to establish that any documented guest worker can be charged with treason if they join any such groups as LULAC or La Raza. They shall have no right to vote or participate in any political rallies, contributions or meetings. If the supply and demand rules apply to labor to the point where it is truly necessary to allow temporary hands to enter, then a plan like this would ensure they are of "the good ones".

-Stop the invasion with mass deportation

The problem with guest workers.
On the second day they are here 6 guest workers don't show up for work.
Who goes looking for them and WHERE.
They all got in a van and disappeared after work the first day.
It's a big country.
Good luck finding them.
Once they get into the country they can go where ever they want.
Any of them that come here might go where they have relatives who are here legally, or illegally.

Most of the process is done through machines already. Few actual workers are needed vs what would be needed if not for all the machines. Because of that I don't see if they lose those illegal workers prices doubling. Prices *might* go up 10-15% maybe but hardly double. Also if prices double I'd there are plenty of other options such as allowing imported milk from countries like New Zealand and others as well. Further remember that most of the dairy farms today are corporate farms and very few family dairy farms remain. There are also fed subisidies for these farms as well that most get which for years have been claimed aren't needed and are just extra money in the owners pocket.

Has all commenters considered what happens to milk prices if labor cannot be replaced and herds are disposed of by slaughter? Milk shortages are something to be concerned over. Now, I am not arguing for not deporting, I have promoted it for a quarter century. If cows are not milked regularly they will go "dry." There are no sick days for the herdsman who has no back-up. I always knew where I would be at 5 o'clock, am and pm every day of the year. I do not think that machines are available for veterinary work, medications etc. Feeding? Facilities cleaning? Equipment cleaning?