Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services AFLS September News and Highlights

On Aug. 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Federal Register Notice updating the H‑2A Hourly Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for all non‑range occupations. The updated AEWR applies to the following agricultural occupational categories:

• 45-2041: Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products
• 45-2091: Agricultural Equipment Operators
• 45-2092: Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse
• 45-2093: Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
• 53-7064: Packers and Packagers, Hand

For Michigan this means U.S. workers at Skill Level I must be paid $14.45 per hour and H-2A workers at Skill Level I must be paid $13.06 per hour. However, because the AEWR is below Michigan’s 2026 minimum wage of $13.73 per hour, employers must pay the higher wage to all H-2A Skill level 1 workers.

For further information, please view the Adverse Effect Wage Rate page.

Throughout the Foreign Labor Services’ Post Certification site visits, the team has upheld a people-centered approach by meeting workers and employers where they are and collaborating to support successful outcomes. Their efforts remain focused on protecting the safety and economic security of all workers, both domestic and foreign.

On Aug. 13, the team met a group of housekeepers and laundry attendants at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, LLC – some who had been with the company since 2012 and others who were in their first season. Regardless of their tenure, the most meaningful part of the visit was seeing the genuine satisfaction they expressed as they discussed their work, praised their employer and shared how previous apprehensions had been successfully resolved.

The Agricultural Employment Services team is taking advantage of Michigan’s harvest season by visiting farms and engaging with domestic agricultural workers to promote and enroll workers in AFLS programs and services.

On Aug. 13, the team organized a joint outreach event at Gardens Alive, inviting InterCare and Love in Action to provide blood pressure and blood sugar screenings for workers. Throughout the event, the team handed out information about the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP).

Later in August, NFJP Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Abigail Frost and Agricultural Employment Liaison Ruben Santellan visited the western side of Michigan’s blueberry farms where they were able to visit both worksites and camps, and coordinate with the employers and meet farmworkers who showed interest in training and employment services – particularly education support for their children. 

This season, the teams are proud of the productive outreach, strengthened community awareness and progress towards building meaningful connections with workers and families.

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 view a list of more agricultural industry related jobs here.

NFJP continues to strengthen community partnerships to promote the program and build referral networks that ensure holistic service offering for Michigan’s farm working community. On Aug 13, NFJP Business and Community Liaison Diana Hernandez and Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Cristo Gracia presented about NFJP at the monthly Mid-Michigan Migrant Resource Council virtual meeting.

Cristo introduced NFJP and outlined the eligibility requirements for participants to receive services. Diana discussed opportunities with the Career and Services Training program and the Housing program. Additionally, Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Jesus Ruiz Santos shared program updates and encouraged continued referrals and joint outreach opportunities.

A key component of the Monitor Advocate System is conducting outreach to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFWs) at their working, living and gathering places.

Compliance Monitoring Analyst Katalina Soria accompanied Agricultural Employment Liaisons Benita and Julia on several field visits on the east and west side of the state. The scheduled visits consisted of meetings with farmworkers and farmers to inform them of the services available at their nearest Michigan Works! Service Center. 

Katalina also visited farmworkers where they live at the pictured mobile homes, which are open year-round and house two families. The homes are well maintained by the workers and the farm owner.

Michigan has approximately 980 licensed temporary migrant labor housing sites, with inspection overseen by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. There are over 4,000 individual living units with a capacity of nearly 30,000 workers and their families.

Closing Program Year 2025

The State Monitor Advocate office completed a review of the State Workforce Agency Reporting and Analysis System report filed for the program year. The report highlights include:

• The Agricultural Employment Liaisons contacted over 25,000 MSFWs while on outreach.
• Agricultural Employment Liaisons registered over 2,000 workers and provided onsite career services, referrals to jobs and support service agencies.
• Agricultural Employment Liaisons also visited or contacted 2,010 agricultural employers.

A special thank you to the Agricultural Employment Services teams and their program Manager Ruby Berumen for serving the agricultural community in the state and for a very successful Program Year 2025!