In the heart of America’s Dairyland, the milking parlor runs 24/7, 365 days a year. For many Midwest dairy farmers — especially in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, South Dakota and Iowa — that reliability depends heavily on immigrant labor, often from Mexico and Central America.
Recent surveys from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School for Workers, cited in 2025 and early 2026 reports, estimate that around 70% of the work on Wisconsin dairy farms is performed by immigrants, many without full legal status. Similar patterns exist across the region, where year-round milking demands make local hiring extremely difficult.
Farm Progress | Immigration enforcement and your dairy workforce