DairyTalk 440: Why Wisconsin’s prison dairy program is outperforming the open labor market on retention - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · May 24, 2026 · 21m

This episode draws on a professional analysis of Wisconsin’s prison dairy training program and its potential to address one of the dairy sector’s most persistent problems: labor instability. The central issue is not only workforce shortages, but why formerly incarcerated workers often remain on farms far longer than traditionally recruited employees. The discussion examines the financial impact of turnover, the value of certified hands-on training, and the economic advantages of building more stable labor pipelines. It also questions why U.S. dairy organizations have been slow to develop…