Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services November News and Highlights

The 2025 Post Season Conference, held Oct. 22-24 at the Mount Pleasant Michigan Works! Service Center, marked the successful close of another productive agricultural season. West Michigan Works! staff had the opportunity to highlight the wide range of services they offer and Unemployment Insurance representatives provided valuable guidance on filing unemployment claims and equipped staff with resources to assist Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFWs) with their unemployment needs.

This year’s theme, “Navigating Change with Purpose: Innovate, Adapt, Evolve,” reflected the team’s spirit of growth and resilience.

The conference provided a meaningful opportunity to celebrate success and renew our shared commitment, reminding us to continue motivating, educating and empowering farmworkers and their families in a rapidly changing world.

Members of the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) team attended the AFOP National Conference held in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the event, the team gained valuable insights and tools to enhance their performance and leadership within the program.

The team participated in a variety of sessions, including those focused on relationship-building between American Job Centers (Michigan Works! Agencies) and NFJP, updates to the Uniform Guidance, and strategies for identifying and serving the children of agricultural workers through migration and education services.

Additional sessions included overviews of the Grant Performance Management System, ATI (AFOP Training Institute) workshops on case management and leadership, and more.

The conference also featured several keynote speakers who provided powerful insights and motivation to the attendees. A highlight of the event was a presentation by a former NFJP participant, who shared her personal journey through the program and her current achievements, offering a meaningful and inspiring example of the program’s impact.

Overall, the conference served as a valuable opportunity for professional development, peer learning, and renewed commitment to serving the farmworker community.

As the peak season for agriculture in Michigan ends, thousands of migrant and seasonal farmworkers will be applying for unemployment benefits in Michigan or other states. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is prepared to assist with any inquiries and provide support for filing claims.

Learn more about the services provided by the UIA at Michigan.gov/UIA. You will find information on various services including:

• Claimant Roadmap: A step-by-step, user-friendly guide to applying for and understanding your unemployment insurance benefits.
• Economic Dashboard: An in-depth analysis of key economic indicators of Michigan's unemployment insurance program.
• Employer Help Center: A centralized hub for employers to efficiently manage their most common unemployment tax and claim issues.
• MiUI University: MiUI University includes helpful resource guides, FAQs, videos, infographics, blogs, and more to help prepare for the transition from MiWAM to MiUI.
• Finding Employment: Understanding work search requirements, utilizing MiTalent.org, connecting with Michigan Works!, assisting individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment, and supporting individuals who are blind or visually impaired in finding work.

As we close out the 2025 season, we’re proud of the strides made despite ongoing challenges. The team was able to: 

• Provide 928 job orders via the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program 
• Provide 730 job orders via the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Program 
• Assist 15,976 workers and certify 14,533 of them
• Inspect 5,712 housing units, including 866 camps

From improving housing coordination to strengthening employer engagement and expanding worker outreach, these achievements reflect our team’s commitment to adaptability, service and impact. We look forward to building on this momentum in the season ahead and are excited to share what’s on the horizon!

Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Abigail Frost and Agricultural Employment Liaison Ruben Santellan joined forces to conduct impactful outreach at Lakeside Pick and Plant (also known as Lakeside Pic N Pac). This visit exemplified the power of collaboration in connecting employers and farmworkers with vital resources and services.

Abigail met with the employer to share how the NFJP can support workforce development through training opportunities such as pesticide licensing and Commercial Driver’s Licenses. These conversations not only informed the employer of available services but also helped strengthen a growing partnership built on trust and shared goals.

During the visit, the team engaged with approximately 20 domestic farmworkers during their lunch break. Abigail delivered a presentation in Spanish to ensure accessibility and understanding, while she and Ruben distributed flyers and business cards. Their friendly, approachable style encouraged open dialogue with some workers even sharing jokes with Abigail, which helped foster a sense of connection and trust.

This outreach effort highlights how a coordinated approach between outreach staff and employment liaisons can effectively serve both sides of the agricultural workforce. By working together, we can ensure that employers are supported in developing their teams and that workers are empowered with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

Explore Opportunities on Pure Michigan Talent Connect

Michigan has thousands of jobs throughout the state in many different industries, including many full-time jobs with benefits in the Food and Agricultural Industry, as well as in the Agri-business sector. Search for your next job today at Pure Michigan Talent Connect (MiTalent.org)!

View a list of agricultural jobs.

The first quarter of the current program year ended Oct. 1. The 10 AELs spent most of their time providing outreach services to MSFWs throughout the state. At the end of the quarter most staff adjusted their work schedules for the evenings in attempts to contact the majority of MSFWs in the state.

A review by State Monitor Advocate office staff identified 11,187 MSFWs were contacted where they live, work and gather, and of those contacted, nearly 800 MSFWs were registered for career services.