Trump Administration Welcomes Clarification on H-2A Eligibility for Dairy Operations

Jun 18, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today welcomed new guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor clarifying that dairy operations may use the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program when they can demonstrate a qualifying temporary or seasonal labor need under existing law.

The policy memorandum provides additional clarity regarding how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will evaluate H-2A petitions for dairy-related work. Under the guidance, dairy operations 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 based on the employer’s demonstrated temporary or seasonal need.

The guidance clarifies that dairying is an agricultural activity eligible for consideration under the H-2A program and recognizes that dairy operations may experience temporary or seasonal labor needs that qualify for H-2A employment. It also confirms that employers seeking H-2A workers for dairy-related positions may use existing H-2A procedures and requirements.

For many dairy farmers, labor availability remains a significant challenge. The clarification provides additional certainty regarding the circumstances under which dairy operations may access the H-2A program while maintaining existing protections for U.S. workers and ensuring compliance with applicable federal law.

Additional information on the DHS policy memorandum is available through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Source : usda.gov

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.