By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) launched a webpage to help make farmers and ranchers aware of programs designed to find agricultural workers needed for their businesses.
“Finding dependable workers has been a challenge in some areas of the state for many years, and it’s only becoming more difficult for farmers and ranchers,” Jay Bragg, TFB associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said.
The aging agricultural workforce, demographical changes and overall attitudes toward manual labor have made it increasingly difficult to find reliable workers, despite competitive wages. The Farm Labor Resources and Information webpage provides details of programs and additional resources that help farmers and ranchers find agricultural workers.
TFB’s new webpage features information from the Texas Workforce Commission; H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program; Texas Child Labor Law; and the legalities of hiring or firing an employee on the farm.
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Agricultural Services unit works with Workforce Solutions offices around the state to assist agricultural employers throughout the nation. They can provide skilled workers, industry training and labor market information to help farmers and ranchers with employment needs.
The H-2A temporary agricultural program helps employers who anticipate a lack of available domestic workers bring foreign workers to the U.S. to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural work including, but not limited to, planting, cultivating or harvesting labor.
Countries with active assistance programs in the U.S. include El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Mexico.
The webpage contains important links regarding the H-2A program, including the employer handbook, foreign labor certification, housing facilities, labor contractor information and a list of countries currently enrolled in the H-2A program.
“We hope that the webpage can help provide direction to members struggling to find farm workers,” Bragg said.
View the programs and resources available on the TFB webpage at texasfarmbureau.org/farm-labor-resources.