Telling your story could be the key to securing a reliable labor force
Laurie Fischer, ADC | Progressive Dairyman

Tidal wave of sewage reveals disconnect between press, farmers
Bill Eberle  |  Wisconsin State Farmer​​​


Avoiding GMOs isn’t just anti-science. It’s immoral.
Mitch Daniels  |  The Washington Post​​


American Dairy Coalition Requests FDA to Address Plant Based Labels
American Dairy Coalition - Press Release


We Need Immigrants With Skills. But Working Hard Is a Skill.
Jeff Flake  |  The New York Times

 

​​​Yes, but who is going to milk the cows?

Laurie Fischer, ADC  |  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel


Allow peaceful, law-abiding working immigrants out of the shadows
​Laurie Fischer, ADC  |  The Hill
​​

Are you protected?

​​Laurie Fischer, ADC  |  Progressive Dairyman​​


Immigration enforcement executive orders causing fear
Featuring commentary from Laurie Fischer, ADC
Jacqui Fatka  |  Feedstuffs


All farmers should share their stories to build understanding

Bill Eberle  |  Fond du Lac Reporter


Mexico is huge market for Wisconsin cheese
Laurie Fischer, ADC  |  ​Wisconsin State Journal


​​​​​​​​It Seems to Me: CAFO rap unfair
Kristin Solum  |  Leader-Telegram

The top 10 things you should be posting on your Facebook farm page
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Must-read industry articles​ & commentary

Resources

Industry Resources

American Dairy Coalition Inc.
PO Box 10976, Green Bay, WI 54307-0976
Phone:  920-288-7190
Email: ​info@americandairycoalitioninc.com 

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GUIDE: What to do if ICE comes knocking?
BY: ANNA-LISA LACA

1. Know Your Private Property Rights. According to Kelly Fortier, a farm immigration attorney with firm Michael Best, you do not have to give private property access to any government official without consent. “Unless they have some kind of subpoena or warrant, they’re not allowed to just walk around without the permission of the business owner,” she says. Additionally, Fortier advises every farm have a plan in place to know what to do if an immigration enforcement agent shows up at your farm. Ensure whoever the agent’s first point of contact knows to call the farm owner, knows who has the ability to give agents consent to be on the property without a warrant, and make sure everyone knows what to do if the agent does have a warrant.  “It seems like common sense, but in the heat of the moment it’s really nice to have some kind of written procedure for what people should do,” she says.

2. Get Your Form I-9s in Order. Fortier says it’s a good idea to ensure all of your I-9s are ready to go and are organized if they aren’t already. “If the government wants to look at employers they’ll usually look at the I-9s and start there,” she says. Fortier says it’s a good idea to audit the I-9s yourself to ensure they are filled out completely and void of any errors. The most common immigration related fines for an employer are related to I-9 forms having some kind of error. “It’s easy to make errors on the I-9 forms so it’s not shocking to be fined for I-9 issues,” she says.

3. Have a Staffing Plan. While most of the workers in question are being picked up at their home, the situation can still cause issues for farmers. Fortier recommends farmers have a staffing plan in place in the event one or more of their employees does not show up for work. “Once an individual is picked up it’s very hard to predict when they might be coming back, if ever,” she says. “If there is an immigration problem, the farm may never see them again.”

4. Give Agents Your Full Cooperation. While you don’t have to allow agents to roam your private property without consent, it’s imperative that you aren’t seen as harboring a criminal. “If the government thinks you’re proactively hiding or sheltering individuals you know are in the country unlawfully, you could be facing criminal liability, even seizing of assets,” she says. Be sure employees know not to hide from agents. Be prepared to find an employee and bring them to an agent who arrives with a warrant for that person.

Read the full article here.