Narrative: e. 1. B.

Assessment Of The Unique Needs Of Migrant And Seasonal Farmworkers

Definition of a Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker for the One-Stop system:

According to 20 CFR 651.10 Definitions of terms used in parts 651-658, a Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker is identified by one of the three following terms:

Seasonal Farmworkers - is a person who during the preceding 12 months worked at least an aggregate of 25 or more days or parts of days in which some work was performed in farmwork earned at least half of his/her earned income from farmwork , and was not employed in farmwork year round by the same employer.

Migrant Farmworkers - is a seasonal farmworker who had to travel to do the farmwork so that he/she was unable to return to his/her permanent residence within the same date.

Migrant Food Processing Worker - means a person who during the preceding 12 months has worked at least an aggregate of 25 or more days or parts of days in which some work was performed in food processing (as classified in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 311411, 311611, 311421 for food processing establishments), earned at least half of his/her earned income from processing work and was not employed in food processing year round by the same employer, provided that the food processing required travel such that the worker was unable to return to his/her permanent residence in the same day. Migrant food processing workers who are full-time students but who travel in organized groups rather than with their families are excluded.

Using this definition, it is estimated that, in Louisiana, there are currently 920 MSFWs in the following agricultural industries. (This estimate does not include H-2A non-immigrant agricultural temporary workers.)

50 - Sugarcane

20 - Strawberry

40 - Crawfish and Soybean

100 - Nursery

60 - Animal Farms and Other Crops

650 - Other seasonal farmworkers

Although some of these MSFWs are Spanish-speaking Mexican or Central American immigrants or descendants, the great majority of MSFWs in the state are local seasonal workers. According to best estimates the number of migrant workers is very small compared to the size of the LA agricultural industry. Three areas comprise the largest concentrations of MSFWs; Ouachita, southern Rapides, and western Tangipahoa Parishes.

From the best estimates, based upon MSFW contacts by LWC, Motivation, Education and Training, Inc. (MET, Inc., the state Section 167, National Farmworker Jobs Program [NFJP] grantee), and the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) at Delta Community College, the number of migrant farmworkers is very small. According to MET, Inc., (using the broader definition of MSFWs under the NFJP grant) migrant farmworker clients are rare. In PY2014 and PY 2015 100% of MET, Inc. clients were local seasonal workers. The first language is of most of those clients was English. Approximately 3,000 people enroll in HEP annually. Of that number an average of 100 enrollees have engaged in farm work and approximately 50% of them would be categorized as an MSFW. An estimated 75% of that number are local English-speaking seasonal or year-round workers and 25% are local Spanish-speaking seasonal or year-round workers. Almost 100% of the Spanish-speaking workers are from Mexico or of Mexican descent. A few HEP participants each year are H-2A workers who wish to obtain a high school equivalency and learn English. The peak participation period for HEP are the winter months, the off-season for most farm work.

The following characteristics of Louisiana NFJP participants for calendar year 2015 were provided by MET, Inc. and derived from MET’s NFJP database:

“100% Seasonal Farmworkers, 66% Black, 28% White, 21% Hispanic, 10% born in Mexico, 88% born in USA, 216 Families and Individuals served, Average 142 Days Worked in Farm Work, 50% Female, 42% School Dropout, 2% Limited English, 2% Veteran, 47% Long-Term Agricultural Employment, 29% Reading Skill Below 8.9 Grade Level.”

Both NFJP and HEP program operators stated that over 90% of their MSFW participants do not rely primarily upon agriculture for their income at the time of participation, but that agricultural work happens to be part of their past or present experience combined with work in other non-agricultural occupations. Of those that do rely upon agricultural income at the time of participation or within the two years before participation, very few regard agricultural work as a vocation, but one of many different occupations they may work in the course of their careers, especially in rural labor supply areas.

Most participants in both NFJP and HEP utilize the One-Stop System to some degree. The most common needs of MSFWs are employment, increasing income, food assistance, transportation, and training.