The “Let’s Talk About Labor” podcast is a collaboration between the University of Tennessee and GAP Connections and aims to help you connect with farmers in Tennessee and other surrounding states, specifically to hear about their experiences using various US temporary foreign visa programs to address their labor needs.
Episode 1: Let’s talk about the H-2A program – Farmers’ experiences with the H-2A program
In this episode, George McDonald, owner of Catesa Farms, and Bart Gilmer, one of the owners of Falcon Ridge Farm, will talk about their general experience with the H-2A program. The H-2A temporary agricultural program, also called the H-2A visa program, is a program that allows U.S. agricultural employers experiencing a shortage of domestic workers to fill seasonal or temporary jobs with foreign nonimmigrant workers.
Episode 2: H-2A Worker Housing: Practical Things I Need to Know Before Considering the H-2A Program
In this episode, George McDonald, owner of Catesa Farms, and Bart Gilmer, one of the owners of Falcon Ridge Farm, will talk about housing requirements related to the H-2A program. Employers of H-2A workers must provide housing at no cost to workers. If the employer decides to secure rental accommodations, such as apartments, hotels, or motels, the employer is required to pay all housing-related charges directly to the housing management. Employer-provided or secured housing must meet all applicable safety standards. Housing costs include repairs, water testing, and utilities if the employer is providing housing on-site instead of securing rental accommodations. In Tennessee, the type of housing provided by employers to H-2A workers varies greatly depending on the number of workers.
For more information about the podcast, and topics you would like to hear about, contact Margarita Velandia, mvelandi@tennessee.edu.
