In March 2024, Daily Yonder released an article exploring abusive working conditions for migrant workers on US dairy farms, written by ProPublica reporters Melissa Sanchez and Maryam Jameel. The article focuses on the substandard living conditions experienced by these workers, including black mold, crumbling ceilings, and exposed electric cables, among other unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

An interview by PBSO News, released in March 2024, further explores research by ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez on exploitative working conditions for migrant workers on US dairy farms.

Sanchez highlights how many of dairy farmworkers are undocumented migrants from Central America and Mexico.

In the interview, Sanchez emphasises the ‘normalisation’ of occupational health and safety hazards on dairy farms, with workers allegedly “routinely injured”. Other rights risks include unreasonable working hours, with workers regularly working 60 to 80 hours a week. Sanchez also emphasises the poor living conditions experienced by these workers. Workers interviewed in the programme also allege intimidation from employers, Workers say they feel unable to complain about rights abuses due to their undocumented status, which creates fear of dismissal, eviction, and deportation.

Sanchez also highlights how dairy work is less regulated, which increases the risk of rights abuse on the farms. She notes many farmworker protections specifically apply to seasonal or temporary work, which excludes dairy work. Generally, farmworkers are often exempt from various labour laws, such as overtime pay. Small farms, Sanchez notes, are particularly lacking in regulation.