America’s food security is a matter of national security, and the U.S. agricultural system behind it, which contributes over $1 trillion to our economy, is at risk. Not from drought or disease, but from a persistent and deepening labor shortage that has reached a critical inflection point.
I was once a dairy farmer in the flatlands of western Kansas, in a rural county spanning 1,000 square miles — more than double the area of Los Angeles — but home to just 2,500 people and over 150,000 head of livestock. Like dairy farmers across the country, I offered wages and incentives that matched or exceeded those in construction and manufacturing, hoping to attract the traditional U.S. workforce. I soon learned what many others had already discovered: Despite strong income opportunities, most U.S. workers had lost interest in rural dairy farm jobs decades ago. Due in part to labor challenges, I chose to exit dairy farming nearly 20 years ago. This situation was not unique. In fact, since then, more than 60% — over 38,000 — of U.S. dairy farms have permanently closed.