Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services AFLS July News and Highlights

Michigan's strawberry season is in full swing, and thanks to warm June temperatures and plenty of sunshine, this year’s harvest is shaping up to be one

of the best in recent years. The steady early-summer weather has helped berries ripen perfectly in the field’s bright red, juicy and full of that classic Michigan sweetness.

Behind every berry is a community of people who make the season possible. Michigan’s agricultural employers and farmworkers work side-by-side to prepare fields, tend crops and carefully harvest each strawberry at peak ripeness. Their combined efforts ensure families across the state can enjoy fresh, locally grown berries at farm markets, grocery stores and U-pick locations.

Many growers are reporting excellent yields this season, and U-pick farms are welcoming families for one of Michigan’s favorite summer traditions: gathering in the fields under blue skies and filling buckets with sun-warmed berries. Whether they end up in shortcakes, smoothies, jams or simply eaten straight from the basket, Michigan strawberries are a true taste of summer.

To find nearby U-pick farms and markets, visit the statewide directory at PickYourOwn.org/MI.htm.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released new guidance on how it evaluates temporary or seasonal need for H-2A petitions in the dairy industry. USCIS confirms that dairy farms can use the H-2A program, but only when the need for extra labor is truly short-term.

Even though milking and herd care happen year-round, farms may still qualify if they can show temporary labor spikes such as during calving season or other busy periods. This update doesn’t change any rules; it simply explains how USCIS will review H-2A requests from dairy operations moving forward. A U.S. Department of Labor certification is helpful, but USCIS can still deny a petition if it determines the job is actually year-round.

For more details, see policy memo PM-602-0200.

On June 17, AFLS staff visited McElroy Metal Mill, Inc. in Marshall following their H-2B certification. McElroy Metal Mill, Inc. is using the H-2B program to fill peak-load positions when there are not enough available U.S. workers to meet temporary seasonal demand.

The program has helped McElroy Metal Mill, Inc. find reliable, temporary workers with the skills they need to support production.

Employees also appreciate being welcomed and made to feel like part of the team. One worker remarked, “We like the work here, and I hope the employer is happy with our work. We want to come back next year!”

National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Abigail Frost and Agricultural Employment Liaison Ruben Santellan, along with West Michigan Works! Case Manager Norma Barajas visited Micandy Gardens in Ottawa County to connect with the farm’s domestic workforce. In coordination with the farm owner, Abigail and Norma provided an overview of NFJP’s Career Services and Training and Housing programs to workers during their lunch break.

Ruben complemented the presentation by sharing additional resources, including information about regional health clinic services and a guide to service providers affiliated with the local Migrant Resource Council.

Recognizing the importance of reaching all employees, the owners invited the team back the following day to meet with an additional 15 workers who take their lunchbreak in a separate area. This ensured the entire workforce had access to NFJP information and supportive resources.

The success of this outreach effort highlights the value of strong, trusted partnerships with agricultural employers and demonstrates how coordinated engagement can improve services for Michigan’s farmworker community.

The NFJP offers essential housing support to migrant and seasonal farmworkers across Michigan, ensuring families have access to safe, sanitary and reliable places to live. Through a combination of temporary and permanent housing services, NFJP meets both immediate and long‑term housing needs in agricultural communities.

Temporary housing assistance provides short‑term support for eligible farmworkers who must travel for work and cannot return home the same day. This may include help with hotel stays, rent, deposits, utilities or other urgent housing needs. All temporary units meet habitability standards and assistance is tailored to each family’s situation to provide quick, stable relief.

NFJP also invests in permanent housing solutions that support long‑term stability. Allowable options include rental units, single‑family homes, duplexes, multifamily properties, dormitories, group homes and modular or manufactured housing placed on permanent foundations. Families may receive rental assistance, utility support and housing counseling to help them prepare for homeownership, understand tenant rights, build financial wellness and maintain stable housing year‑round.

Together, these services strengthen housing security for Michigan’s farmworkers and help families build a stable foundation for economic success. Learn more about the program at Michigan.gov/NFJP.

Michigan is hiring! Thousands of positions are available statewide across a wide range of industries. Whether you're looking to start a new career or take the next step, there are full-time jobs with benefits waiting, especially in the Food and Agricultural Industry and the Agri-business sector.

Explore your options on the Pure Michigan Talent Connect website (MiTalent.org) or click here to view a list of more agricultural industry related jobs.

View a list of agricultural jobs.

NFJP is enhancing its coordinated seasonal outreach efforts to engage migrant and seasonal farmworker (MSFW) families during the summer months, when school is out of session and families are more accessible. In partnership with the Migrant Head Start program, NFJP Outreach and Enrollment Coordinators have been actively attending and presenting at family engagement events across Michigan’s agricultural regions.

training and housing programs and led a brief Q&A session to address participant questions.

Abigail also joined a Migrant Head Start event in Sodus as a guest presenter, delivering an NFJP overview to the full group of attending families and engaging with individuals who had detailed questions about the application process and available services.

NFJP will continue partnering with Telamon Migrant Head Start programs throughout the summer to expand access to resources and ensure MSFW families across the state are aware of the support available to them.

If you are an agricultural workforce family seeking childcare, locate your nearest Telamon Head Start center here.

Summer in Michigan is packed with fairs, festivals and community celebrations that highlight the best of our state’s agricultural heritage. From peaches to pickles to lavender fields in bloom, these events offer families, workers and agricultural employers a chance to come together and celebrate the harvests that make Michigan unique.

Here are a few seasonal favorites:

• National Cherry Festival (Traverse City) – One of Michigan’s most iconic agricultural celebrations. The National Cherry Festival honors the region’s world-famous cherry industry with parades, live entertainment, farm-fresh foods and activities for all ages. A true celebration of Michigan fruit country.
• Berrien Springs Pickle Festival (Berrien Springs) – A beloved Michigan tradition honoring the state’s pickle‑growing legacy with contests, vendors, games and community fun.
• Lavender Fest at Lavender Hill Farm (Boyne City) – Experience peak lavender season with tours, workshops, artisans and the calming beauty of fragrant lavender fields.

For even more fairs, festivals and agricultural celebrations happening across Michigan, explore the Pure Michigan Fairs and Festivals calendar.