A Texas A & M University study shows nearly 77,000 immigrants worked on dairy farms in 2014, out of about 150,000 employees nationwide. National Milk Producer Federation Leaders say that reinforces the urgent need for Congress to pass immigration reform legislation. Federation’s Chris Galen says what this report shows is the problem doesn’t just effect the dairy industry but the entire economy.

Galen says he doesn’t see any short term relief happening in terms of immigration reform.

Galen says one problem with trying to implement an E verify program in an immigration bill without some type of guest worker program, that would lead to even more problem.

Galen says it’s encouraging that House Ag Committee Chairman Michael Conaway took note of the Texas A & M
study and sees the urgency for dealing with the immigration problem.