2020 was a difficult year for the Washington Dairy Industry. Not only did producers deal with the pandemic and supply chain disruptions, but the then came the November Supreme Court ruling on the Ag overtime exemption. Washington Dairy Federation Communications director, Scott Dilley, said things are tough on dairy farmers right now, because milk prices are not great and typically, and producers don't have extra money to deal with these unexpected labor costs.

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"The biggest issue regarding that decision is the claims that workers can make going back three years and that puts a huge liability of at least $80 million plus on the whole industry if workers are allowed to make those past claims for additional wages even though everyone was following the law as it was written for those three years.”

The possibility of retroactive payments has dairy farmers anxious moving into the New Year and is a reason the Washington Dairy Federation is asking lawmakers to address that concern, via Senate Bill 5172. The overtime issue is not the only one on the minds of the industry.

"Other issues we're watching are tax increases, like the capital gains income tax, the head tax that's been proposed.”

Dilley added they are also keeping a close eye on worker safety measures and regulations, as well as Carbon Legislation. 

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