GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN (June 18, 2026) — Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative applauds the Trump administration’s announcement of new guidance for dairy use of the H-2A program. The guidance, released on Wednesday, now allows dairy operations to use the work visa program if they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need. Prior to this announcement, dairy farms were not eligible to use the H-2A program due to the year-round aspect of dairy farms.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture release, the guidance clarifies that dairying is eligible for consideration under the H-2A program and will be subject to the same statutory and regulatory standards applied to all H-2A employers, with petitions evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
“As a dairy farmer, this move is an encouraging milestone to have access to a visa program and address our labor force needs,” said Heidi Fischer, Edge president.
“This is a decades-old need, and Edge has actively participated in this conversation with the administration on behalf of our members for several years. We plan to continue to engage on this vitally-important issue.”
The change to allow dairy to use the H-2A program is a meaningful first step in making permanent changes to the program.
“We believe workforce reform is a food security issue and ultimately a national-security issue,” Fischer said.
“Food security is dependent on a reliable, skilled, and safe workforce that harvest crops, care for livestock, and process the food to keep American families fed. It is promising to see this first step and encourage Congress to continue efforts on legislation needed for permanent solutions for the dairy workforce.”
About Edge:
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. For more information, visit www.edgedairy.com.
