BROOKINGS, S.D. - Learn how Foundation for the Future dairy policy reform programs will benefit your dairy operation now and in the future during theForum on National Dairy Policy and Immigration Reform August 30 in Sioux Falls.

Foundation for the Future is the proposed national dairy policy reform which includes authorization of foreign workers, components of margin insurance and production controls.

The forum provides South Dakota dairy producers with the opportunity to learn more about the latest federal legislation to authorize foreign workers through presentations and question and answer sessions led by Jim Tillison, the vice president of marketing and economic research for the National Milk Producer Federation (NMPF) and Jaime Castaneda, vice president of strategic initiative and trade policy. South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture, Walt Bones will also speak.

The National Milk Producer Federation was invited to present their proposals to South Dakota dairy producers by the South Dakota Dairy Producers and theI-29 Dairy Consortium. The forum will be held at the Best Western - Ramkota Hotel, in Sioux Falls, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST. Hotel address is 3200 W. Maple Street, Sioux Falls, S.D., 57107. For rooms call (605) 610-2455.

The free forum is limited to 100 attendees. To pre-reregister for the forum contact Roger Scheibe (605) 692-1775 or sddairyproducers@gmail.com.

Forum focuses on proposed dairy policy

The proposed Foundation for the Future policy will pave the way for further congressional consideration of dairy reforms. A text of this proposed policy reform is available by the House Agriculture Committee's ranking member, Collin Peterson (D-MN) at http://democrats.agriculture.house.gov/. Representative Peterson introduced this draft into the house the week of July 18.

Along with the overview of the Foundation for the Future, during the forum South Dakota Dairy Producers also requested NMPF to provide the latest in efforts to authorize foreign workers. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced the H-2A Improvement Act, which would authorize foreign dairy workers, sheep herders and goat herders to remain in the U.S. for an initial period of three years, and give the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services the authority to approve a worker for an additional three-year period.

The H-2A Improvement Act was introduced in part because the U.S. Department of Labor announced in February that it has "no legal authority," to include the dairy industry in the H-2A visa program. The legislation will rectify that situation, according to NMPF. Under present law, farms that hire seasonal workers to harvest fruits and vegetables can utilize the H-2A visa program. Dairy farms are not included because milk production is not considered seasonal work.

South Dakota Dairy Producers encourage dairy producers, milk processors, and other key industry stakeholders to take part in the discussion by attending the forum.