Narrative: e. 1. A.

Crop Area Dates

Sugerbeets NW/SW MN June-September

Vegetables SE MN July-October

Potatoes Statewide August-October

Corn Central/Southern July-September

Soybeans Central/Southern June-August

Apples SE/Metro July-September

Migrant labor participation was concentrated in the months specified, based on the growing or harvesting of the particular crops. The use of mechanization and Roundup Ready chemicals in the state has reduced the number of farm workers needed per acre in fieldwork. Many migrant farm workers have continued to take advantage of other longer—term employment opportunities in vegetable, meat and poultry processing companies. In addition, local worker shortages have also contributed to the increasing interest of employers hiring migrant farm workers in dairy farms, nurseries, landscaping and sod farms.

Because some workers return to areas where they have established relationships, they do not seek the services of the WorkForce Centers. Therefore, it is difficult to provide an actual number of migrant farm workers in this state. The best guess would be an estimate of 10,000 migrant farm workers residing in Minnesota during the peak season. The total number of registered Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in the last full program year, PY14, was 2,435. This number is a significant increase due to best practices used by the Migrant Labor outreach workers and the addition of a Migrant Labor Representative (MLR) outreach worker at the Rochester WorkForce Center the MSFW information was captured in the Workforce One data system.

Our commitment to improve these numbers have included intensive training for the program staff as to the eligibility definitions and criteria of the program. The reestablishment of employer cooperation and collaboration. In the past, Minnesota has placed in the top 12 of the 20 states with the highest impact of registered MSFWs. There are four WorkForce Centers with significant MSFW activity in Minnesota. These WorkForce Centers each staff a bilingual Spanish/English MLR, all of whom are bilingual/bicultural and also have farmworker backgrounds. Three of these MLRs are not full—time outreach positions. The MLR staff, while performing outreach, make contacts, assist MSFWs with registrations, job referrals and inform workers of employment services as well as other resources available from all partners in the WorkForce Centers. They distribute bilingual materials that describe these services and also provide the names and addresses of contact persons.

The information is important and sometimes crucial to MSFWs, whether they are seeking agricultural or non—agricultural employment. This is consistent with our commitment to universal access to labor exchange services and the requirement to ensure that all job seekers with LEP and/or little or no knowledge in using computer—based labor exchange services will be provided with services. Other partner agencies are advised they may want to review their written correspondence to ensure they are meeting the needs of LEP customers. For example, English language forms or general business letters are sent to LEP customers explaining the appeals process and numerous processes within the agency. LEP customers often lose their benefits because they do not understand nor respond to the information they receive. They may be unfamiliar with timeframes for filing, the appeals process or deadlines for applications. Many times these customer will have to reapply for a benefit or start over with the process, which can cost time and decrease the amount of benefits.

Therefore, it is imperative that LEP customers be identified in the registration process and correspondence written in their language whenever possible. The MLRs will contact farm workers at their work sites, living areas and gathering places. The MLRs collaborate with social service agencies, migrant education centers, health service centers, community agencies, migrant Head Start, migrant legal services and other migrant service providers to enable them to provide outreach and locate farm workers that are missed through WorkForce Center outreach efforts.

The cooperative arrangements with these agencies are based on long—standing verbal agreements. Minnesota has a Memorandum of Understanding with Motivation, Education and Training, Inc. (MET) the NFJP grantee. The working relationships among agencies have been excellent. The MLRs are expected to contact a minimum of five farm workers per day on their outreach days. At the rate of 121 outreach days from four offices, the number of contacts in PY14 was 2,216. The expected new for PY15 will be 3,500. Much of the outreach activity is concentrated in the summer and early fall months, when MSFW activity is at its peak. The MLRs participated in the annual Pre—Season Training in May 2015. The emphasis of the training included outreach efforts, coordination with other agencies, the Complaint Process and protections afforded to MSFWs by state and federal laws. The training is planned and facilitated by the state monitor advocate.

The second part of the training included an orientation on the WF1 system components and the integration of the MSFW Program within WF1. MET staff was also invited and participated in this training. The MET staff will work in partnership with the MLR staff to deliver services to MSFWs. The significant local offices also develop a yearly outreach plan which, in part, describes the coordination and referral system with other local community MSFW service providers and partners. This includes conducting employer visits and making contacts for job development and assessment of the needs of both MSFWs and employers. These plans will be monitored by the state Monitor Advocate as part of the review process to ensure that MSFWs have full access to all WorkForce Center services. Outreach staff also contact agricultural employers, providing them with information about the services of partners in the WorkForce Centers and the availability of farm workers and the special services provided to them. We have updated our informational pamphlets directed to agricultural and non—agricultural employers. There were 2,880 agricultural job openings received in PY14. There were no interstate clearance orders received. The WF1 system is not set up to or able to accept out of state job orders. Information available on computerized job systems appears to be making clearance orders obsolete. Employers in search of workers contact the local offices and job orders are received and entered in MinnesotaWorks.net, our online state labor exchange system. Local staff provide service to employers by searching for candidates who match the employers’ job categories and other requirements of the positions. This routine screening procedure can alert staff to opportunities that meet the preferences of many migrant workers. In addition, the outreach staff is acquainted with employers in their prospective areas who repeatedly hire MSFWs. Domestic referrals are made to H2—A employers. Migrant labor representatives make contact with as many agricultural employers as possible to provide them information on:

• Listing their agricultural job orders with WorkForce Centers
• Interstate and intrastate clearance orders
• Federal and state compliance regulations
• The availability of presentations by compliance agencies to growers associations, and
• other affected groups and organizations
• Field and quality assessments
• Mediation/interpreter services
• Liaison between migrant service providers and employer

The State Monitor Advocate (SMA) visits communities with substantial MSFW activity to meet with employers, review their needs and determine the effectiveness of the WorkForce Center services provided. This opportunity is taken to provide information to employers, discussing such issues as how to meet the housing needs of farm workers. An additional tool for promoting labor exchange services is the mn.gov/deed website which contains information of particular importance to agricultural employers. Minnesota met 5 of 5 Equity Ratio Indicators in fourth quarter of PY14, including:

1. Referred to Employment
2. Received Staff Assisted Services
3. Referred to Support Services
4. Career Guidance,
5. Job Development Contacts

Minnesota met 4 of the 7 (Minimum Service Level) equity indicators in the fourth quarter of PY10, including:

1. Reviews of significant offices
2. Field checks conducted
3. Timely processing of ES complaints
4. Outreach contacts per staff day

Minnesota is on track to meet the same numerical goals for PY14 and will achieve additional Minimum Service Level equity indicators for PY15. Additional emphasis will be placed on outreach contacts. Outreach was performed throughout the peak MSFW farm worker season. The MLRs commendable commitment to outreach has succeeded in increasing the number to 18 contacts per outreach day in PY14. There were no clearance orders or required field checks in PY14. Although, with an increasing number of H2—A employers and domestic referrals, field checks will be conducted in the coming season. All of the significant offices will be reviewed again this program year. Minnesota WorkForce Centers will offer the same full range of programs and services to farm workers that are provided to non—farm workers. Services will be actively promoted to farm workers as described above under the outreach plan. Our demand driven philosophy includes the concept that employment services are available to both the employers and job seekers to assist in making the connection of the two parties through a common language and understanding of jobs that are in high demand. In a primarily agricultural area, agribusiness is a cornerstone of employment. Occupations in this industry include agricultural research, sales and farming. Minnesota has a full—time MSFW monitor advocate. The State Monitor Advocate and the Migrant Labor Representatives maintain close contact with the following organizations in the interest of providing effective service to their customers:

• Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers Association
• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
• Motivation Education and Training Inc.
• Migrant Health Services, Inc.
• Tri—Valley Opportunity Council

Feedback on the Agricultural Services plan has been solicited from the above organizations. We are awaiting responses for PY15. The four MLRs are expected to contact a minimum of 5 farmworkers per day on their outreach days. In PY14: The number of 2,216 contacts were conducted in 121 staff days this indicates that there was 18 contacts per staff outreach day. The rate of 203 contacts by cooperating agencies. The number of expected contacts in the new PY15 will be 3,500. Much of the outreach activity is concentrated in the summer and early fall months, when MSFW activity is at its peak. Most of the workers are migrant food processors that are recruited and contracted in Texas by employers. They arrive to work in three 8—14 hour shifts during the season. Minnesota met 5of 5 Equity Ratio Indicators in fourth quarter of PY14. Minnesota met 4 of the 7 (Minimum Service Level) equity indicators in the fourth quarter of PY14. Outreach was performed during the peak MSFW farm worker season. The MLRS made 18 contacts per outreach day (PY14).