Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Survey details

• April 2018
• Covered 224 dairy farms
• Covering 2899 dairy farm employees

• Asked about wages of:

  a) General labor
  b) Specialized Labor 
  c) Managers/Herdsperson

Providing for 1 Adult:

• Wisconsin living wages for a single adult was $11.03/hr
• 57% of dairy farms surveyed offered a starting wage for "general labor" that was above the living wage for 1 Adult.

• 85% of dairy farms surveyed offered an average wage for "general labor" that was above the living wage for 1 Adult.

  • Considering benefits (bonuses, housing, transportation…etc.)
  • Vast majority of dairy farms offer a "living wage" for a single adult.

Providing for a family ( 2 working adults and 2 children)

• Wisconsin living wages for 2 working adults and 2 children was $15.96/hr
• Only 3.5% of dairy farms surveyed offered an average wage for "general labor" that was above the living wage for a family.

• 50% of dairy farms surveyed offered an average wage for "specialized labor" that was above the living wage for a family.

  • Considering the changing employee demographic
    
  • Inability to provide a living wage for a family may be an issue

• Have an employee handbook?       Yes 31% No 69%

• Hold regular meetings with the majority of employees present? Yes 54% (37% monthly) No 46%

• How employees are recruited?      Word of mouth: 81%

• Perform regular performance reviews with employees?   Yes 47% No 53%