Milked:

Immigrant Dairy Farmworkers in New

York State
Christopher Rodriguez
New York Dairy and its new immigrant workforce
New York is a major dairy state.

In 2015, it ranked fourth nationally in terms of milk production (at 14.1

billion lbs of fluid milk)4,5 and third nationally in terms of the number of
dairy farms (5,427 milk cow farm operations). 6 Dairy farming holds great
economic importance to the Upstate New York region, with milk sales
representing 50% of total agricultural sales. (milked,8).
Milked presents a survey of 88 undocumented mexican and central
american immigrants farmworkers who live and work in 53 different dairy
farms throughout the NY state.
Revamped industry,New workforce
The change in milk production and the consolidation of smaller dairy farms
into single bigger conglomerate farm, created higher demand for immigrant
labor in New York farms in the early 1990s. Farms became fewer, larger and
more efficient.

In turn to this high production farmers required workers to fill in position for
their 24-hour milking parlors. They found their source of workforce by hiring
latino immigrants to live and work on these farms.
Finding new workforce...
The changes to the production to maximize milk production efficiency,
introduced methods such as high protein cattle feeds and production
boosting hormones injections, automation of milking parlors and the milking
of the entire herd up to three times per day.

Due to these new methods of production milking became more monotonous,

impersonal, faster paced and tiring. More importantly, all under the clock.

This conditions made it very difficult for NY farmers to recruit younger

generations to work on dairy farms resorting to immigrant labor.
 Stats...
62% of american workers are treated better that their latino immigrant counterpart, particularly
because they are perceived to do easier work for better pay.

48% of workers reported suffering discrimination and bullying at the workplace. While one fifth
reported that their manager or boss has made explicit reference to their ethnicity or citizenship status in a
demeaning or intimidating way

28% of workers surveyed reported aggressive and disrespectful behavior from their employers.
Immigrant dairy farm workers earning are just above the minimum wage.Workers often earned $9/hr (a
time where min.wage was $8/hr in 2014 and $8.75 in 2015). On average, a regular workday for these
workers will consist of 12 hour shift with many reporting only have one 5 min break throughout the
extensive shift.
 NY Consolidated & Globalized dairy supply chain
NY has approximately at least 103 large dairy farms( holding approx. 1000 milking cows or
more). However, 15 years earlier there was only 21 large farms in the state.

These Large dairy farms just in the state of NY have revenues estimated up 2.5 million and
largest is approximate to have sales of up to 5 million/ YR.

Large farms are the most efficient in milk production; for example dairy farms with 500 or
more milking cows account for only 10% of the farms of the state ,however they encompass up
to 50% of the milk sales.

However nationally there has been decline in milk consumption, instead were dairy farms
makes most of its production is in its value- added products such as yogurt,cottage cheese and
frozen dessert helping the dairy sector to develop into a mega-industry. (Milked,22).
Government role in shaping New York dairy industry
Dairy farming in the US is of valued importance for the government. Powerful national
dairy lobby, ensures that federal government continues to support dairy farmers and
heavy dairy production.

In 2014, the govt introduced a revamped federal dairy support program with the
introduction of the Dairy Margin Protection program.

-Dairy margin protection plan: insurance program that ensures farmers that payments
are given to dairy producers when dairy margins are below margin coverage level the
producer chooses each year.

Programs like these helped big farms to increase in profit, size and intensifying
consolidation in various regions of the state.

The dairy industry is worth a total 14.1billion to the NY economy.

 The strength of NYs dairy lobby
Despite the increasing unification of smaller farms into bigger conglomerates. Large and
small milk producers remain active in their demands state and political level. A group of 18
associations representing the state 35,000 farms encompassing from dairy, vegetable to
crop farms heavily criticized the mayors decision to support constitutional rights for farm
workers to have collective bargaining.

This group argued basic rights such as to a weekly day of rest and overtime pay would -
Deny farming exceptional qualities as an industry determined by a Mother Nature , who
doesn't work by a time clock (Milked,24)

Dean Norton, (president of the farm bureau) stated: There is only one person who has say
in the length of our workday, and that is the good lord above ( Milked, 24)
Milking cows, milking workers
Most immigrant who come to work farms such as dairy farms often stay in
these jobs with little to no hope for promotion. however , large dairy farms in
new york create specialized division of labor, creating small opportunities for
promotion within the milking parlor positions such as milk parlor
supervisor,herdsman,assistant herdsman and calf feeder.

However, more often than not due to legal status, language barrier between
worker and employer and possibility of getting kicked out of the farms impede
immigrant workers from asking for promotion to higher paid/ status jobs
such as managerial positions.
 Division of Labor NY Dairy farms
Milker: milkers often work in groups of 2 to 4. They have to follow rigorous, fast
paced process with several steps in order to ensure no bacteria enters the milk
supply. Steps such as herding the cows into place on platforms,cleaning cows
with germicide and checking for infection, attaching suction equipment unto cows
and herding cows out from the parlor.

Milkers often reported that their job is the most physically demanding on the
farm and also the most important for generating income- however, they are
lowest paid and least valued workers.
Cont..
Cow pushers: often job role given to immigrant workers where they are
assigned to alternate between pushing and milk shifting ( bringing down cows
from the barns to the holding stall). Pushing requires attention that cows of
different groups remain separated , it is usually not entry- level task.

Pushers often work alone, including overnight, often required to keep in

communication with the milking team to ensure no delay in the milking
process ( Milked,28).
 Cont..
Caring for calves: Task is often assigned to female workers as it is associated with feminized traits of
gentility, patience, and care. Calves typically are tethered to tiny individual huts in rows in the fields near the
main barn(s). Caring for them entails providing sufficient water, milk (and, for older calves, grain feed), and
monitoring for any symptoms of illness in an effort to minimize mortality rates. Workers also clean the calf
stalls and other equipment using bleach.

Cow feeder: There are few farms left in Upstate New York where cattle graze on green pastures. In modern
dairying, cows are fed a scientifically-composed high-protein diet to maximize their milk productioneven
though their stomachs are not designed to digest it. Usually, formulas for feed are provided by a cow
nutritionist and harvested, chopped, purchased, and mixed by farm employees and farm management (who
are almost always local workers). Diets must be carefully managed separately for lactating and dry cows. A
small tractor called a skidsteer is used to clear away unconsumed grains and spread new feed in wide
trenches in front of cow pens inside barns. This job is sometimes held by immigrant workers, and is
considered a promotion because it does not require much work outdoors or long hours on ones feet.
Unequal treatment , bullying and discrimination
62% reported American worker were treated better than their latino
immigrant workers on the farm. Often mentioned was the unequal payment
for the amount of work given to both groups. The undocumented workers
often found themselves doing the heaviest jobs. While the american workers
often did the easiest work at their own pace.

Also noted was the lunch time given to american workers compared to latino
immigrant workers who often found themselves being rush to finish eating to
go back to work.
Valuing Cows, Over Workers
88% of farm workers interviewed reported that their employers cared more
for the quality life of their cows than their workers. Often deeming workers as
expendable objects.

Others reported often being threatened to be sent back their home country,
they are illegal aliens or slurs such as stupid mexicans.

Farmworkers are excluded from the National Labor relations act of 1935, they
do not have the right to organize or engage in collective bargaining. Also they
are excluded from Fair Labor Standards act.