Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
- e. Agricultural Outreach Plan (aop). Each State Agency Must Develop an Aop Every Four Years as Part of the Unified or Combined State Plan Required Under Sections 102 or 103 of WIOA. the Aop Must Include--
- 1. Assessment of NeedProvide an assessment of the unique needs of farmworkers in the area based on past and projected agricultural and farmworker activity in the State. Such needs may include but are not limited to: employment, training, and housing.
- 1. Assessment of Need
- e. Agricultural Outreach Plan (aop). Each State Agency Must Develop an Aop Every Four Years as Part of the Unified or Combined State Plan Required Under Sections 102 or 103 of WIOA. the Aop Must Include--
e. 1. A. An Assessment of the Agricultural Activity in the State Means: 1) Identifying the Top Five Labor-intensive Crops, the Months of Heavy Activity, and the Geographic Area of Prime Activity; 2) Summarize the Agricultural Employers’ Needs in the State (i.e. Are They Predominantly Hiring Local or Foreign Workers, Are They Expressing That There is a Scarcity in the Agricultural Workforce); and 3) Identifying Any Economic, Natural, or Other Factors That Are Affecting Agriculture in the State or Any Projected Factors That Will Affect Agriculture in the State.
Current Narrative:
Table 22: Top Crops in Louisiana
| Crop | Peak Season(s) | Geographical Area(s) | Gross Farm Value | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | Planting: July through October Harvest: mid-September through early January | Eastern Acadiana Parishes and River Parishes from Avoyelles to Lafourche | $496,604,901 | $841,248,702 |
| Soybeans | $554,694,039 | $651,765,496 | ||
| Aquaculture | Aquaculture includes: crawfish, catfish, alligators, oysters, soft-shell crabs, turtles, minnows, and other bait fish | $344,449,380 | $576,952,712 | |
| Crawfish | Harvest: March through June, variable | South Central to Southwestern LA | ||
| Rice | Planting: mid-March through May 31th Harvest: late July through early October | South Central to Southwestern LA | $305,489,269 | $407,217,196 |
| Produce | Produce includes: commercial vegetables, greenhouse vegetables, fruit crops, sweet potatoes, pecans and home gardens. | $496,400,000 | ||
| Sweet Potatoes | Planting: early April through mid-June Harvest: early September through late November | Northeastern parishes | $43,483,180 | $76,095,565 |
| Greenhouse Vegetables | $806,098 | $3,109,235 | ||
| Commercial Vegetables | $45,177,257 | $106,166,554 | ||
| Fruit Crops | Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes | $44,766,870 | $60,435,275 | |
| Plant Nurseries | January through mid-November | Rapides and St. Tammany Parishes | $101,389,250 | $157,153,338 |
The general employment trend in rural Louisiana has been for workers to leave agricultural work for higher paying or less labor intensive jobs in other occupations. Additionally, while many workers enjoy agricultural work, very few can adapt to living on a seasonal income. As a result, agricultural employers have a difficult time finding reliable local workers. The H-2A temporary agricultural foreign worker program has become increasingly popular among Louisiana agricultural employers, following the national trend. Today, H-2A workers dominate the agricultural labor force in the state.
According to Louisiana Summary: Agriculture and Natural Resources 2016 (p. 3):
Many Louisiana communities depend on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and wildlife for local jobs and their economic well-being. However, for those who work in it day in and day out, agriculture, forestry and fisheries are far more than a business, a major job contributor and economic engine. It truly is a way of life. Families have lived on many of these farms, forest lands or fishing villages for generations following a preferred way of life even though it means hard work, many hours, high risks and sometimes low incomes.