Last week, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) sat down with members of the American Dairy Coalition (ADC) to discuss the current and future status of federal policies that impact dairymen, including immigration and water.
Dairy matters to Denham, who represents two of the top 10 milk-producing counties in the country, Stanislaus County (number four) and part of San Joaquin County (number 10), located in California’s 10th District. His interests and experience have landed him in three House committees: agriculture, natural resources and transportation and infrastructure. He addressed ADC’s top federal policy concerns, including immigration.
"Dairy farmers must have a dairy labor policy which guarantees the available labor force they need,” ADC President Laurie Fischer says. "ADC is tired of waiting for something to happen in DC; it’s time we make something materialize, and Rep. Denham is excited to work with us to achieve this."
Where are we with immigration reform?
Denham recognized the need for immigration reform that supports the dairy industry with a reliable labor force, which he sees firsthand in his district and elsewhere in the nation.
Dairy producers are feeling the effects of a labor shortage resulting from a broken immigration system. One ADC member noted that his labor costs have jumped by 25 percent in just three years as he raises wages to compete for workers. There is also word of some dairies dropping their third milking shift because they cannot find reliable help.
Denham believes there are triggers that will elevate the issue while Obama is still in office, including the expiration of E-Verify, an Internet-based system that allows businesses to verify employee eligibility. Part of the battle for the dairy industry, he added, will be coming up with a year-round solution, not just a seasonal guest worker program.
However, Denham doesn’t foresee action within the next year.
“Getting real reform done while this president is still in office I think is going to be a challenge,” he said.
What about water?
Water resources and rights are also a top political concern for dairy producers across the country. Though Denham chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, it gives him insight to the type of regulations that may be on the horizon because the committee also oversees the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corp of Engineers.
Expect to see a further expansion of the Waters of the U.S. rule in the next 12 months, he warned. This rule could heavily impact agriculture by defining what is considered a water way and therefore subject to the federal Clean Water Act.
Denham is all too familiar with the water issues back in California. He noted that his home state is coming out with new regulations that will “make it difficult for anybody to farm.” However, he holds on to an optimistic outlook for the future.
“I think we are going to have a vibrant [dairy] industry because I think we will fix our water problem,” he stated. PD
PHOTO: U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham recently discussed concerns like immigration reform and water rights with the American Dairy Coalition. The meeting was held Oct. 21 at MilkSource in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Pictured from left to right: ADC President Laurie Fischer, Kari Kuehl, Jennifer Keuning, Rep. Jeff Denham, Jim Ostrom and John Pagel. Photo by Peggy Coffeen.
