By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Finding enough workers is one of the biggest challenges Texas farmers and ranchers face each year, but a new Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) member benefit aims to help alleviate that issue.

Great Lakes Ag Labor Service (GLALS) is the latest benefit available to members.

The company helps farmers utilize the federal H-2A Temporary Agricultural Employment of Foreign Workers program to bring in workers from other countries who have the necessary skills.

New resource available
The GLALS member benefit is based out of Michigan and is a trusted resource for farmers who need help navigating the H-2A labor filing and onboarding processes.

Several state Farm Bureaus, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana, also partner with the company.

“GLALS is an affiliate company of Michigan Farm Bureau, started at the request and direction of our grassroots membership, with the sole purpose of helping our Farm Bureau members address growing workforce shortages,” said Sarah Black, general manager of GLALS and director of Business Operations for Michigan Farm Bureau. “We exist to serve our members and hopefully provide a crucial piece of the puzzle that helps sustain family farms moving forward.”

Labor shortages and H-2A program
The federal H-2A program helps farmers and ranchers find skilled laborers from other countries when local workers aren’t available.

The program, however, can be cumbersome and difficult to navigate.

“Farmers and ranchers across the country have increasingly turned to the federal H-2A visa program to fill vacant, seasonal positions,” Jay Bragg, TFB associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said.

In 2022, U.S. agricultural employers advertised more than 378,000 vacant positions. After receiving no qualified applications from U.S. workers, those positions were filled by 311,217 foreign workers through the H-2A visa program.

The agricultural labor shortage has been an ongoing issue, but recent data shows the shortage is spreading beyond farms and ranches.

The supply chain is affected because trucking companies, ag processors, food companies and others are struggling to find workers.

“This isn’t just an on-farm issue anymore,” Bragg said. “Rural areas at large are struggling to find workers, and it certainly seems to be compounding and growing.”

Benefit details
GLALS offers TFB members assistance with application filing, worker recruitment, worker scheduling and virtual worker orientation and onboarding.

“The H-2A process can be complicated and overwhelming,” Bragg said. “GLALS has experience working with farmers and seasonal laborers, and they have staff operating here in Texas. So, we thought expanding their services to Texas Farm Bureau members would be beneficial.”

GLALS conducts a legal and management review at the farm to help farmers better understand the details from housing requirements to human resources documents.

The company recruits foreign workers based on skills and expertise, as well as ensures they have transportation from their home countries to the farm and back again at the end of the season.

A labor program coordinator works directly with farmers and workers. They provide an in-depth orientation for workers, highlighting what they need to know while living in the U.S. and working at the farm, Worker Protection Safety guidelines and farm tasks and expectations.

H-2A guestworkers can work on any type and size of farm or ranch and perform a variety of seasonal jobs, such as weeding, pruning, picking, packing and grading. They can also help operate equipment for planting, harvesting or irrigating, as well as sorting, moving and caring for livestock.

The services offered by GLALS are only available to TFB members in good standing. Prices vary depending on the services requested.

For more information, visit greatlakesaglabor.com or call 517-679-4779 with questions related to the H-2A labor member benefit.

Legal advice about H-2A is not available from this company.

TFB member benefits
TFB member benefits offer discounts for health solutions, vehicles and travel and entertainment, as well as various products and services.

Visit texasfarmbureau.org/memberbenefits for a full list of benefits available.