Farm labor workshop set for Nov. 16

A conference to help navigate the complexities of hiring, keeping and managing agricultural labor is set for Nov. 16.

“This one-day conference is meant to help those engaged in understanding the increasingly complex issues of hiring agricultural labor,” said Ron Rainey, co-director of the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center. Rainey is a professor of economics for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “We are offering training to help those in agriculture understand the ins and outs of markets, policies and regulations.”

Sessions Include:

• Nuts and Bolts of Guest Worker Program – Sarah Farrell, International Labor Management Corporation.
• Farm Labor Housing Assistance – John Newkirk, Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.
• Louisiana Experiences and Perspectives, Brian Breaux, Louisiana Farm Bureau.
• Grower Perspectives & Issues, Jeremy Gulliam, Gulliam Farms.
• Farm Labor Legal Issues, Harrison Pittman, National Agricultural Law Center.

The conference will be held at the Cooperative Extension Service headquarters, 2301 S. University in Little Rock and is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation. It begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. 

There is no cost to take part. Register online at http://survey.uaex.edu/AgEconomics/farmlaborconference.htm. For more information contact Brenda Duggins at (501) 671-2259.