SAINT PAUL – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $50 million to 141 recipients across 40 states and Puerto Rico through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program). This funding will benefit 177 unique agricultural operations and over 11,000 workers, aiming to enhance the resilience of the U.S. food supply chain by addressing labor challenges, strengthening protections for farmworkers, and expanding legal pathways for labor migration.

“These awards will largely support small and mid-sized farms to ensure they can hire and retain the workers they need to be competitive in the market, while also uplifting rural communities across the country,” said Whitney Place, USDA Farm Service Agency State Executive Director for Minnesota. “Farmworkers make an incredibly important contribution to food and agriculture and ensure we have food on our tables every day. Improving working conditions and quality of life for farmworkers is a key step in building a stronger, more resilient food supply chain.”

Launched in September 2023, the FLSP Program was designed with input from immigration, labor, and agricultural stakeholders. It aims to promote a safe and healthy work environment, ethical recruitment for farmworkers, and lawful migration pathways, including the H-2A visa program for workers from Northern Central America.

The FLSP Program grants will support various initiatives to improve benefits and protections for all employees, such as:

  • Establishing robust pay-related benefits like personal and paid sick time off and mid-season vacation leave.
  • Enhancing working and living conditions through employer-employee engagement and partnerships with experienced external organizations.
  • Offering additional worker-friendly benefits such as management training, driver’s license training, no-cost English classes, and recreational spaces in housing facilities.
  • Providing Know-Your-Rights-and-Resources training sessions for all workers.
  • Participating in Worker-driven Social Responsibility programs like the Fair Food Program.
  • Advancing ethical recruitment practices to protect workers from illegal fees, undue debt, and exploitation.
  • Sixty percent of employers using the H-2A visa program committed to recruiting workers from Northern Central America.

For a complete list of awardees and more information about the USDA’s initiatives, visit usda.gov.