OLYMPIA, Wash. — A recent Washington Supreme Court decision is leading state dairy farmers to consider more automation.
On November 5th, the Washington Supreme Court ruled farm workers are entitled to overtime pay, a move that will substantially increase labor costs and limit flexibility in dairy operations.
Curtis, Washington dairy farmer Maynard Mallonee already uses milking robots.
He told the Capital Press that since the decision, he knows of at least 5 other neighboring dairies that are looking into adopting the technology.
A new robotic milker can cost up to a quarter million dollars, but farmers say they save on labor costs for the long term and the technology than human milkers better for cow health by reducing animal stress.