Aug 15, 2024

Georgia ag labor forum announces speakers

Speakers have been publicized for the Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum.

The event is scheduled for Aug. 20-21 in Tifton, Georgia. It is coordinated by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA).

Speakers and topics include:

• Updates & preparations for future changes in the H2A & H2B guest worker programs, Ellen Hendley, AgWorks H2
• GFVGA & Southeast Legal Foundation’s H2A lawsuit, Braden Boucek and Kimberly Hermann
• Purdue University software solution to automate back office paperwork for ag labor, Scott Prince, Croft

• Georgia housing update from Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) Work Force Development, Felipe Pacheo, Gabriela Munoz, Migrant Seasonal Farmworker program, Carla Calderon-Bonilla, Foreign Labor Certification Program

• Future engagement of H2A services in agriculture

• Karen Kirchler, deputy commissioner, Rossany Rios, Workforce Development, TCSG

• Litigation trends & wage/hour update, Marty Heller, Fisher Phillips

• What to do (and not) to do in response to OSHA’s proposed heat rule, Fisher Phillips

• Grower Panel hosted by Chris Butts, GFVGA

The event brings together regulators and renowned experts from the ag labor industry. The forum’s format and design encourage active engagement, enabling ag employers, HR managers, and administrators to collaboratively tackle the ongoing and dynamic challenge of securing and sustaining a reliable workforce within a complex regulatory landscape, according to a news release.

This event is designed for owners, operators, office managers, personnel managers and service providers for the produce, nursery, landscape, dairy, cotton, and any other agricultural professional dealing with agricultural labor relations.

Presenting sponsors include the Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Agribusiness Council, the Vidalia Onion Committee, the Georgia Watermelon Association, the Georgia Pecan Growers Association, the Georgia Pecan Commission, AgWorks H2, Big Force, and the Georgia Green Industry Association.

The conference will remain at the University of Georgia Tifton Conference Center and continue to offer a comprehensive two-day program of updates and discussions tailored for agricultural employers, according to the release.

Learn more about the event here.