Automatic Milking Systems: Labor-Savings Route or Costly Gamble for Dairy Farmers?

Automatic milking systems (AMS) can be promising labor-saving technologies that can help improve milk yield and potentially serve as an alternative to conventional milking systems (Bohj et al., 2022). While AMS reduce the demand for low-skilled workers for milking-related activities, some skilled labor is still needed for monitoring AMS, a task that might demand other skills and training that low-skilled laborers may lack. These skilled workers may require higher wages. For this reason, the effect of AMS adoption on net labor savings is not clear. Anecdotal evidence from interviews of Wisconsin farmers suggests that the limited availability and high cost of agricultural labor in recent years is one of the primary determinants of AMS adoption.