Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

06/03/2026

Next Virtual Office Hour Webinar details below!👇

Date: June 10
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Topic: Using TN Visas to Address Labor Needs on Dairy Farms

In honor of June being National Dairy Month, our next Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour will focus on the TN visa and its use as a labor strategy for dairy farms. The TN visa program can be used to bring skilled, non-seasonal foreign employees to fill critical positions on the dairy. Panelists will provide an overview of the TN visa program, its use in the dairy industry, and share practical experiences and tips.

Guest panelists:
-Jennie Everson, TN Visa Specialist at the Rochester-based workforce management company Agri-Placement Services, Inc., with nearly ten years of experience helping employers utilize the TN visa.
-Shane St. Cyr, partner at Adirondack Farms in Northern New York, who has used the TN visa program to fill key roles on his dairy.
-J. Farfan, a Mexican veterinarian and herdsman working on a dairy in Western New York, with experience both as a TN visa holder and in recruiting other TN visa employees.

Advance registration is required. Register here: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tRTcYx_kRie2hIp1VVHQQg

06/01/2026

June is Dairy Month, making it the perfect time to invest in the people who help drive your farm’s success. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development recently launched *two* Agricultural Supervisory Leadership (ASL) courses designed to strengthen supervisory and leadership skills on the farm. While scholarship opportunities are available for eligible dairy producers, these courses are open to all agricultural professionals and are relevant across a wide range of agricultural operations.

The two courses available are:
ASL102: Organizing Work for High-Quality Results
ASL105-SP: Capacita y entrena al personal (Employee Development and Training taught in Spanish) NEW COURSE!

Learn more at https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/agricultural-supervisory-leadership-certificate-program/

05/11/2026

VIDA: One Year Skills Series for Hispanic Farm Workers

Note: previous communications listed our live discussion as May 14. There has been an update to the live discussion date. Please join us on May 21 at 7 PM ET.

Format: Online pre-recorded videos and live monthly Zoom sessions
Topic: Understanding and Preventing Addiction
Watch/share the video now.
Session Schedule: Live sessions every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (May 21)
Languages: All content and discussions in Spanish
Cost: Free of charge
Registration: not required!

Learn more at https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/vida-program/

04/29/2026

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently updated its guidance on which Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) errors result in penalties. Many errors that were previously considered “technical” and could be corrected by employers within 10 days of an I-9 inspection to avoid further action by ICE have been reclassified as “substantive” meaning they can result in immediate penalties if identified during an I-9 inspection.

These changes significantly increase the penalty potential for an employer during an I-9 inspection further emphasizing the importance to consistently and accurately complete I-9s and regularly conduct self-audits of existing records. Office staff and managers responsible for completing the I-9 form should be trained on how to properly complete the form and spot potential errors.

At our next Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour on May 13, Richard Stup and Lucas Smith of Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development will provide a refresher on how to complete the I-9 form and common errors to look out for.

Learn more: https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/ag-workforce-central-virtual-office-hour/

04/16/2026

Join us tonight for the April edition of the VIDA Life Skills Program, brought to farm employees exclusively in the Spanish language.

Topic: Family Services Part I – Maintaining Family Bonds Across Borders
Session Schedule: Live sessions every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. ET (TONIGHT!)
Languages: All content and discussions in Spanish
Cost: Free of charge
Registration: not required!

Join here: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/92543327118?pwd=etZpgAE68ocpROUfubHfPMyx6kL5ls.1&jst=1

Acompáñenos esta noche en la edición de abril del Programa de Habilidades para la Vida VIDA, ofrecido a los empleados agrícolas exclusivamente en español.

Tema: Servicios familiares – Parte I: Mantener los lazos familiares a través de las fronteras
Calendario de sesiones: Sesiones en vivo cada tercer jueves del mes a las 7:00 p. m. ET (¡ESTA NOCHE!)
Idiomas: Todo el contenido y las discusiones serán en español
Costo: Gratuito
Inscripción: ¡No se requiere!

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04/06/2026

Our next Ag Workforce Central Video Office Hour will feature a retirement plan expert covering what employers should consider when evaluating retirement plan options for their business. There will be a special emphasis on private retirement plan offerings and their relation to the NYS Secure Choice Savings program covered at our February Virtual Office Hour. Cornell Ag Workforce Development has also launched a dedicated webpage addressing commonly asked questions for agricultural employers considering NYS Secure Choice.

Virtual Office Hour date: April 14, 2026
Time: 12 PM ET
Registration required: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lVLhFZi-T_yKzBq3tcM5bQ #/registration

Hosted by Richard Stup and Lucas Smith
Guest panelist: Mark Modzeleski

Date: April 14, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM Topic: Retirement Plans and Other Employee Benefits Hosted by Richard Stup and Lucas Smith. Guest panelist: Mark Modzeleski Our next Ag Workforce Central Video Office Hour will feature retirement and employee benefits plan experts covering what employers should co...

04/03/2026

Our next VIDA topic will feature a compelling and heartfelt conversation on how families can stay connected despite physical distance. VIDA 2026 | Family Part I explores emotional challenges, practical strategies, and the power of communication in strengthening family bonds across separation. Through real-life insights and reflections with Psychologist Maria Hall, this video highlights that family connection is not defined by proximity, but by commitment, love, and the intentional ways we remain present in each other’s lives.

Format: Online pre-recorded videos and live monthly Zoom sessions (April 16 at 7 PM ET)

Learn more:

Our next VIDA topic will feature a compelling and heartfelt conversation on how families can stay connected despite physical distance. VIDA 2026 | Family Part I explores emotional challenges, pract…

03/18/2026

Join us at 12 PM today for our next Virtual Office Hour. Richard Stup and Lucas Smith will discuss Employee Handbooks. Registration is required. Learn more:

The Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour is a webinar series featuring Cornell experts and guest speakers on timely topics for the agricultural workforce. Virtual Office Hour offers participant…

03/12/2026

Our next Ag Workforce Central Office Hour will feature Richard Stup and Lucas Smith of Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development discussing all things employee handbooks. Richard and Lucas will cover where to start if you want to build your first employee handbook, best practices for regularly reviewing an existing handbook, required written policies employers must have including options related to Paid Sick Leave, and other useful policies that are sometimes overlooked.

Registration is required. Learn more about our Virtual Office Hour here: https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/ag-workforce-central-virtual-office-hour/

03/02/2026

🌷Spring ahead with Ag Supervisory Leadership! Three courses are available - two in English and one in Spanish, beginning next week. Registration closes March 5.

Courses available:
🌱ASL101: Transition to Supervisor (taught in English)
🌱ASL101-SP: Transición a Supervisor (taught in Spanish)
🌱ASL104: Staffing and Organizing Your Team (taught in English)

🐮🥛Scholarship Opportunity for Dairy Producers:
Thanks to the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NEDBIC), eligible dairy producers can apply for a $100 scholarship to help cover registration fees. Scholarships are available to participants from qualifying states in the Northeast, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Additionally, PA Dairy Producers have a limited opportunity: Thanks to the Center for Dairy Excellence , you’ll receive an extra $50 off, bringing your total savings to $150 per person, per course when combined with NEDBIC’s support.

Learn more on our website: https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/