Resources

  • Know Your Rights with ICE and Border Patrol

    Screen shot of a portion of the resource.
    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.

  • Fast Feedback Loop to Improve Performance (video)

    Feedback loop flow chart diagram
    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.

  • Demystifying the H2A Program (article & podcast)

    The United States H-2A "guestworker" visa program allows farmers to hire workers from other countries to fill temporary/seasonal positions when local workers aren't available.
    Growing For Market has covered the H-2A program in both a 2021 online article and a 2023 podcast episode, offering first-hand perspectives and useful information to consider when deciding if the H-2A program could be a good fit for your operation.

  • Equipment Cost Recovery Calculator

    Screenshot of the equipment cost spreadsheet
    The Equipment Cost Recovery Calculator is a spreadsheet-based workbook that helps estimate the time it will take to recover the cost of purchasing new equipment through increased labor efficiency (labor cost savings). It was developed by the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin.

  • Payroll Taxes & Farm Businesses

    Payroll taxes & farm businesses by Rachel Armstrong
    This FAQ-style resource helps farm businesses understand and manage payroll taxes. It covers topics such as Federal and State Unemployment Tax (FUTA and SUTA), the thresholds for paying these taxes, the costs involved, and the steps to comply with tax regulations. Author: Rachel Armstrong, Farm Commons. Last updated July 2024.

  • Your Role as an Employee Manager

    Screenshot of the Assessing Personnel Management Skills checklist
    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)

  • Training Your Employees (Farm Manager Video Series)

    Training your crews to do their jobs effectively from the start is a key way to avoid problems later. This short video from the Farm Manager Video Series shares practical strategies for training farm employees so that they contribute to the success of the farm.

  • UMASH Safety & Health Resources in Spanish

    Image of three Spanish language guides on farm safety/Imagen de tres guías en español sobre seguridad en las granjas
    The Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center resource database contains a variety of health and safety materials, including a several Spanish language guides. You can search for materials by keyword, category, and tags/topics and language.

  • 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.

  • Vermont Tick Information Center

    A line drawing of a tick
    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

    Examples of wearable temperature monitors
    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.

  • Workers' Compensation & Farm Businesses

    Workers Compensation & Farm Businesses by Rachel Armstrong
    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.