H-2A and beyond
NCAE advocates for agricultural employers by providing resources and guidance as H-2A regulations and labor policies continue to evolve.
Key Takeaways
- The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) closely monitors H-2A regulations because changes can significantly affect family farming operations.
- NCAE also provides educational resources on topics including OSHA heat stress regulations, payroll taxes and labor compliance.
- Growers benefit from webinars and training that help them prepare for changing labor and employment regulations.
- The Annual Ag Labor Forum offers guidance on labor laws, H-2A policy and employee benefit requirements.
- Feedback from agricultural employers helps NCAE identify educational priorities and strengthen advocacy efforts.
NCAE’s mission includes everything from heat stress to taxes
I was visiting with a grower the other day who told me, with some apparent relief, that he had not yet had to use the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program because he had been fortunate to find enough domestic workers. He was comforted that he didn’t have to wade through all the government bureaucracy and be confronted by mandated minimum wages devoid of market connection.
Constant flow of changes
He asked why the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) seemed to spend so much time working on the H-2A regulations.
I congratulated him on being able to miss out on all the fun!
The big reason for NCAE spending time on the H-2A regulations is that they are so often in flux. There is a seemingly constant flow of proposed changes to these rules and those changes have a direct economic impact on legacy family farming and ranching operations.
Educational webinars provide assistance
The grower said he appreciates the work NCAE does on non-H-2A issues that impact his operation. This past year he had participated in our webinars on heat stress regulations that will be proposed this coming year by OSHA. The information in both webinars gave him several ideas to help protect workers from heat stress. The discussion was helpful in getting him to think about how he would form his comments on the regulation after the proposal was published.
I told him we were pleased he found the information useful and that NCAE is always looking for new ideas on educational topics that would be of interest to ag employers.
He then thanked us for putting together a webinar on payroll tax issues, as he learned some valuable tips. The grower noted that the recorded information allowed him to review the information again, as his filing deadlines approached.
Additionally, we exchanged information about the Annual Ag Labor Forum in Las Vegas, because I had seen him and his wife there, and asked whether the topics were important for their business.
He responded they were absolutely on point. He enjoyed the presentation on the Fair Labor Standards Act. His wife found the Migrant and Seasonal Ag Worker Protection Act (MSPA) seminar insightful, and the discussion of recent MSPA cases helpful in protecting their business.The farm labor economics presentations helped him realize how impactful the H-2A program was on his business, even though he hasn’t used it yet. He said he hoped we could rein in the H-2A wage rates because he knew they were having a direct impact on his cost of production.
Finally, a forum presentation on the triggers which would require employee benefits be provided, such as health insurance and retirement, to his seasonal workers, had caused him to put a plan in place with his CPA and attorney.
I appreciated his feedback because to constantly improve NCAE, we need to hear what our members need to make their businesses better.
FAQ
What is the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program?
The H-2A program allows agricultural employers to hire temporary foreign workers when sufficient domestic labor is unavailable.
Why does NCAE focus on H-2A regulations?
According to the article, proposed H-2A rule changes have direct economic impacts on family farms and ranches.
What educational resources does NCAE provide?
NCAE offers webinars and educational programs covering labor regulations, heat stress, payroll taxes and other employment issues affecting agriculture.
What topics are covered at the Annual Ag Labor Forum?
The forum includes presentations on the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, H-2A policy and employee benefits.
Why is grower feedback important to NCAE?
Grower input helps the organization improve educational programming and better advocate for agricultural employers.
Michael Marsh, president and CEO for the National Council of Agricultural Employers, is a certified public accountant who focuses in the areas of forensic accounting and fraud investigation. He is a former director of finance for the Almond Board of California, who returned to his true passion advocating on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers at NCAE. For more information, visit ncaeonline.org
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