what is food and agriculture worker

What does an agricultural worker do?

Agricultural and food science technicians assist agricultural and food scientists by performing duties such as measuring and analyzing the quality of food and agricultural products. Animal Care and Service Workers

How many agricultural workers are in the United States?

MIGRATORY AGRICULTURAL WORKERS – “Defined by section 330(g) of the Public Health Service Act, a migratory agricultural worker is an individual whose principal employment is in agriculture and who establishes a temporary home for the purposes of such employment. Migratory agricultural workers are usually hired laborers who are paid

What is the work schedule of agricultural workers?

The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) protects migrant and seasonal agricultural workers by establishing employment standards related to wages, housing, transportation, disclosures, and recordkeeping. The MSPA also requires farm labor contractors (FLCs) and farm labor contractor employees (FLCEs) to register with the U.S. Department of …

How do you become an agricultural worker?

The National Center for Farmworker Health estimates that there are approximately 2.5-3 million agricultural workers in the United States. [1] These workers travel and work throughout the U.S., serving as the backbone for the trillion dollar agricultural industry. [2] Within the population, 19% identify as migratory, while 81% are seasonal …

What are the duties of an agricultural worker?

Agricultural workers typically do the following: Harvest and inspect crops by hand. Irrigate farm soil and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps. Operate and service farm machinery and tools. Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungi, and weeds.

Why are agricultural workers so good?

Job prospects for agricultural workers—especially farmworkers and laborers and agricultural equipment operators—should be very good because workers frequently leave the occupation due to the intense physical nature of the work.

How many jobs did agricultural workers have in 2018?

Agricultural workers held about 876,300 jobs in 2018. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up agricultural workers was distributed as follows:

Why is effective listening important in agriculture?

Because they take instructions from farmers and other agricultural managers, effective listening is critical. Physical stamina. Agricultural workers need to be able to perform laborious tasks repeatedly. Physical strength. Agricultural workers must be strong enough to lift heavy objects, including tools and crops.

How do small farms help consumers?

Smaller farms that sell their products directly to consumers through venues such as farmer’s markets might create some new opportunities for agricultural workers. These direct-to-consumer farms have grown in popularity, and farmers at these operations may hire agricultural workers as an alternative to expensive machinery.

What do farmers use?

They may use tractors, fertilizer spreaders, balers, combines, threshers, and trucks. These workers also operate machines such as conveyor belts, loading machines, separators, cleaners, and dryers. Workers may make adjustments and minor repairs to equipment.

When will the employment of agricultural workers change?

Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to show little or no change from 2018 to 2028.

What are the duties of an agricultural worker?

Duties. Agricultural workers typically do the following: Plant, inspect, and harvest crops. Irrigate farm soil and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps.

What do farmworkers do?

Farmworkers also apply fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides to crops. They repair fences and some farm equipment. Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products, such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. They also plant, water, prune, weed, and spray the plants.

What is seasonal schedule in agriculture?

Seasonal schedules typically include longer periods of work during planting or harvesting or when animals must be sheltered and fed.

What do nursery workers do?

Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products, such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. They also plant, water, prune, weed, and spray the plants. They may cut, roll, and stack sod; stake trees; tie, wrap, and pack plants to fill orders; and dig up or move field-grown shrubs and trees.

How long does it take to get a farm worker training?

Many agricultural workers receive short-term on-the-job training of up to 1 month. Employers instruct them on how to use simple farming tools and complex machinery while following safety procedures. Agricultural equipment operators may need more extensive training before being allowed to operate expensive farming equipment.

What do agricultural operators use?

Agricultural equipment operators use a variety of farm equipment to plow and sow seeds, as well as to maintain and harvest crops. They may use machines such as tractors, balers, conveyor belts, fertilizer spreaders, and threshers. Workers also may adjust and make minor repairs to the machines and equipment.

Why do agricultural workers need physical endurance?

Physical stamina. Agricultural workers must have physical endurance because they do laborious tasks repeatedly.

What are the duties of an agricultural worker?

Agricultural workers typically do the following: Harvest and inspect crops by hand. Irrigate farm soil and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps. Operate and service farm machinery and tools. Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungi, and weeds.

What is the work environment of an agricultural worker?

Work Environment: Agricultural workers usually perform their duties outdoors in all kinds of weather.

What is the term for agricultural workers who work during harvesting?

Many agricultural workers have seasonal work schedules. Seasonal workers typically work longer periods during planting or harvesting times or when animals must be sheltered and fed. Some agricultural workers, called migrant farmworkers, move from location to location as crops ripen.

Why are agricultural workers so good?

Job prospects for agricultural workers—especially farmworkers and laborers and agricultural equipment operators—should be very good because workers frequently leave the occupation due to the intense physical nature of the work.

How much will the employment of agricultural workers grow in the next 10 years?

Job Outlook: Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to grow 1 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite increased demand for crops and other agricultural products, employment growth is expected to be tempered as agricultural establishments continue to use technologies that increase output per farmworker.

What do farmworkers do?

Farmworkers also apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to crops. They repair fences and some farm equipment. Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. They also plant, water, prune, weed, and spray the plants.

What do agricultural operators use?

Agricultural equipment operators use a variety of farm equipment to plow and sow seeds, as well as maintain and harvest crops . They may use tractors, fertilizer spreaders, balers, combines, threshers, and trucks. These workers also operate machines such as conveyor belts, loading machines, separators, cleaners, and dryers.

What is the wage and hour division?

The Wage and Hour Division is responsible for administering a number of statutes that extend various protections to different types of agricultural workers.

What is the FLSA?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) contains Federal minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements for covered agricultural employers.

How old are agricultural workers?

Agricultural workers in the United States have an average age of 38 years. 34 % are 45 years of age or older. 49 % are between 25 and 44. 11 % are between 20 and 24. 7% are between 14 and 19. The average level of completed education was 8th grade. 4 % had not completed any formal schooling.

How do agricultural workers help the economy?

Agricultural workers support the $1.109 trillion agricultural industry in the U.S. [2] Some studies noted a rise in agricultural workers over the last decade, and the presence of agricultural workers increased the overall economic output of their agricultural regions. [4] Eliminating the agricultural workers or switching to less labor-intensive crops negatively impacts agricultural regions and reduces the number of jobs available to permanent local residents. [4] Research conducted on Michigan’s agricultural economy found that agricultural workers contributed over $23.3 million dollars to the state’s annual economy by enabling farmers to produce higher-value crops, after the deduction of agricultural workers’ wages and housing costs. [5] Strict immigration laws passed in several states have demonstrated the severe impacts of farm labor shortages. [6] A University of Georgia study found that House Bill 87, passed in April 2011, adversely affected the state’s agricultural output. Georgia lost over $181 million in less than a year due to increased labor shortages. [7]

What are the barriers to accessing health care for agricultural workers?

A study conducted in New York in 2007 found that poverty, frequent mobility, low literacy, language and cultural barriers impede agricultural workers’ access to social services and cost-effective primary health care. [27] The small percentage of agricultural workers who do take advantage of health services face more issues: a limited means of transportation, language and cultural barriers, no health coverage, cost of services, the lack of time-efficient healthcare delivery methods and the medical referral system. [28] For over 55 years, health centers have provided primary care services to agricultural workers via the federal Health Center Program. [29] Health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care. These include low-income populations, the uninsured, those with limited English proficiency, agricultural workers, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and those living in public housing. [30] Some Health Centers receive federal funds to provide health services to agricultural worker patients. In 2019, the Health and Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that the health center program provided health services to 1,031,049 agricultural workers (including family members) as reported by all Community Health Centers; of which 903,842 received services from 175 centers with specific funds to help agricultural workers. [31] According to HRSA’s Health Center Data, the following are the most common diagnoses reported by Health Centers for this set of patients in 2019. [22] (See NCFH’s fact sheet on Farmworker Health for more detailed information about health issues among agricultural workers nationally.

Why are agricultural workers more challenged?

Because a worker’s benefits are state-dependent, agricultural workers are often more challenged by the qualifications and requirements of each state . Farmworker Justice compiled a chart of state-specific worker’s compensation coverage limitations for agricultural workers. [13] .

What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?

The Fair Labor Standards Act: First enacted in 1938, the FLSA has undergone many amendments; it establishes a minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping and child labor standards. [33] The agricultural industry is specifically exempted from the requirement for overtime pay, so agricultural employers are not required to pay employees time and a half for working more than 40 hours a week. [34] Small agricultural employers that do not meet a set threshold of labor hours are also exempted from the requirement to pay minimum wage. [34]

How much do agricultural workers contribute to Michigan’s economy?

Research conducted on Michigan’s agricultural economy found that agricultural workers contributed over $23.3 million dollars to the state’s annual economy by enabling farmers to produce higher-value crops, after the deduction of agricultural workers’ wages and housing costs. [5] .

How many years of farm experience do farmers have?

More than half (58%) of agricultural workers surveyed had more than 10 years of U.S. farm experience.

What is joint employment in agriculture?

Joint employment means that both the contractor and the farmer are responsible for complying with the minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping and youth employment provisions of the law. If either party fails to comply with the law both parties may be held liable.

What is FLSA in agriculture?

The FLSA is the federal law which sets minimum wage, overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor standards. Agriculture includes farming in all its branches when performed by a farmer or on a farm as an incident to or in conjunction …

How old do you have to be to be a hand harvester?

Non-local minors, 16 years of age or under, who are hand harvesters, paid on a piece rate basis in traditionally piece-rated occupations, employed on the same farm as their parent, and paid the same piece rate as those over 16.

Does agriculture include work performed on a farm?

Agriculture does not include work performed on a farm which is not incidental to or in conjunction with such farmer’s farming operation. It also does not include operations performed off a farm if performed by employees employed by someone other than the farmer whose agricultural products are being worked on.

Do agricultural workers have to pay minimum wage?

Although exempt from the overtime requirements of the FLSA, agricultural employees must be paid the federal minimum wage ( unless exempt from minimum wage as noted above). There are numerous restrictions on the employment of minors less than 16 years of age, particularly in occupations declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. Substantial civil money penalties are prescribed for violations of the monetary and child labor provisions of the law. The FLSA also requires that specified records be kept.

What are the industries of agriculture and food service?

The agriculture and food service sectors encompass a wide range of activities, including animal and crop production, manufacturing of food products, support services such as testing and inspections, and restaurants and retail sales. Food service workers have been some of the most visibly impacted by state stay-at-home orders as restaurants have been forced to close or adapt to takeout-only service. Agriculture and food production businesses and workers up the supply chain have faced their own challenges. From reports of significant supply chain issues forcing farmers to destroy crops and spill gallons of milk, demand for typical products farmers and production facilities would be sending to restaurants and schools is way down, while the demand for grocery-ready items has increased.

What is essential worker?

According to the U..S Department of Homeland Security, essential workers are those who conduct a range of operations and services that are typically essential to continue critical infrastructure operations. Critical infrastructure is a large, umbrella term encompassing sectors from energy to defense to agriculture.

How many states have essential worker orders?

Of the 43 states with essential worker orders or directives, 21 now defer to the federal definitions developed by the US. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CISA’s guidance and sector-specific list, according to the agency’s website, are intended to support state and local governments in their identification of essential workers. The agency says, “promoting the ability of [critical workers] to continue to work during periods of community restriction, access management, social distancing or closure orders is crucial to community resilience and the continuity of essential functions.”

How many retail workers are women?

Demographically, 40% of retail workers are women, although the gender distribution varies widely by occupation within the sector. Cashiers, who earn an average of $8.25 per hour, are predominantly women, whereas delivery drivers, who earn an average of $16.20, are predominantly men.

Is child care considered an essential worker?

Some states have also designated child care providers as “essential workers” so they are eligible for any supports or services offered by the state and are able to continue working to ensure essential workers in other critical industries can also work and meet the health and safety needs during the crisis.