Resources

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Know Your Rights with ICE and Border Patrol

This two-pager provides guidance on what to do should ICE or Border Patrol come to your farm or stops your vehicle. Note: While the information in this resource has been reviewed by immigration attorneys, it should not be considered legal advice. For legal advice pertaining to your needs please consult with an attorney.
Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas

This is a small card people can carry in wallet or pocket to assert their constitutional rights if ICE comes to their home. Available in 56 languages. Free from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
Creating a Personnel Policy Manual

A personnel policy manual insures that all employees are aware of the policies and expectations of your business. A manual enhances your professionalism, creates consistency in communications, and protects you from appearing arbitrary in your treatment of employees. Drafting this manual will provide you and your management team the opportunity to think through your policies in advance and create a pleasant, productive work environment.
Conflict Resolution Guidelines: A Quick Guide

It is critical to the smooth workings of a farm that the people who work there take the time to resolve conflicts in a respectful way. Work to resolve conflicts in ways that contribute to the health and harmony of the entire farm community with this 3-step guide.
Your Role as an Employee Manager

Use this Assessing Personnel Management Skills checklist to consider the various aspects of being a successful human resources manager and identify areas to work on developing knowledge and skills.
(Developed by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach)
Fast Feedback Loop to Improve Performance (video)

This 3-minute video shares a quick activity that can help build more productive and stronger farm work teams. The exercise can help improve how employees work together, their level of compassion for each other, and how you can be a better supervisor.

UMASH Safety Check

The UMASH Safety Check is designed to help farmers identify and fix potential hazards before they cause harm to people working on your farms. It includes checklists, tips, and resources to help remedy problems.
Used Farm Equipment: Assessing Quality, Safety and Economics

This publication can help you evaluate whether buying used farm machinery makes sense for your operation. In addition to providing information on how to assess the quality and serviceability of the…
Vermont Farm Worker Wage, Hour and Housing Fact Sheet

This eight-page booklet is produced through a collaboration of agencies and organizations involved with Vermont agriculture.
Vermont Farmworker Housing Repair and Replacement Program

This program aims to preserve affordable housing and to help improve the health and welfare of the Vermont farm workforce. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with the goal of committing current funds by September 2025.
Vermont job advertisement rules: Pay Equity

Effective July 1, 2025, business owners in Vermont who employ at least 5 people must state the expected range of compensation in job advertisements.
Vermont Tick Information Center

This website, hosted by the University of Vermont's Integrated Tick Management Program, provides information for farmers on how to protect people, livestock and pets ticks and tick-borne diseases.
Wearable Technology for Health and Safety in Agricultural Work

View this recording to learn about strategies for identifying, evaluating and using wearable technology that can make you and your employees healthier and safer while working in agriculture. The session also included ideas for how you might integrate these devices in to your management framework with a goal of increasing wellness and decreasing injuries and illnesses. Some examples of wearable technology in farming include using heat and humidity monitors to prevent heat illness, and heart rate monitors to help fit tasks to the individuals and prevent over-exertion.
Why and How Farmers Protect Their Skin

In this Growing For Market article Katie Kulla writes about an important, but often overlooked health issue: skin protection. Explore why skin protection matters and how you can go out into the field confident that you're doing your best for your skin.
Why create an employee handbook for your farm?

This January 2024 online workshop featured a panel of experienced Vermont farmers who described how and why their employee handbooks have helped finding and retaining employees, establishing and maintaining team morale and overall farm efficiency.
Winning Strategies for Farmers to Transition to the "New Normal."

This half-hour presentation shared experiences and insights from farmers, extension personnel and community organizations in North Carolina related to transitions from conventional business models to…
Workers' Compensation & Farm Businesses

This document is an FAQ-style bulletin that helps farm business managers estimate the cost of workers' compensation for financial and business planning. It covers requirements, cost factors, and steps to obtain workers' compensation coverage. It was written by Rachel Armstrong of Farm Commons and last updated July 2024.