Tag: webinar

NCAE to Co-Host H-2A Visa Program Briefing for Congressional Staff

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NCAE to Co-Host H-2A Visa Program Briefing for Congressional Staff

“Fields, Farms, and the Hill: 

A Congressional Briefing on the State of Ag Labor”

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is pleased to announce a special installment of its educational webinar series which will arm congressional staffers with the critical information they need to know about the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa Program and current casework challenges that farmers and workers are experiencing.

On Tuesday June 2, 2026, from 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. Eastern, NCAE will host “Fields, Farms, and the Hill: A Congressional Briefing on the State of Ag Labor.” The webinar will be co-hosted by Representative Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Representative Donald G. Davis (NC-01).  The interactive webinar will be led by Tom Bortnyk, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of másLabor and moderated by John Hollay, NCAE’s President and CEO. Tom will walk staffers through all aspects of the program, challenges offices are facing regarding constituent casework, the Department of Labor’s Interim Final Rule, and how staffers can best be prepared to handle legislative inquiries from agricultural employers.

“The H-2A program is a lifeline for America’s farmers and ranchers, providing the essential legal workforce necessary to sustain our agricultural operations and secure our national food supply,” said Hollay. “Because agricultural labor policy is heavily regulated and increasingly complex, it is imperative that congressional staffers understand the day-to-day intricacies of this program. Staffers are often the first point of contact for constituent casework and play a crucial role in shaping policy. Their active engagement and deep understanding of the H-2A program are vital to fostering a system that truly works for agricultural employers and the communities they support.”

As the agricultural sector continues to face unprecedented workforce challenges and shifting regulatory landscapes, this briefing aims to bridge the gap between the realities on the farm and the policy discussions happening on Capitol Hill.

The webinar will begin at 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT on Thursday, June 2, 2026. This briefing is open to all congressional staff. Recordings of the webinar presentation will be available to agricultural policy advisors, and key stakeholders interested in the future of agricultural labor upon the conclusion of the webinar. Additional information, including registration details, is available on the NCAE website at ncaeonline.org.

About NCAE

Founded in 1964, NCAE is the only national association focusing exclusively on agricultural labor issues from the agricultural employer’s viewpoint.

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NCAE to Host “Preventing Paperwork Pitfalls: Essential I-9 Compliance for Agricultural Employers”

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NCAE to Host “Preventing Paperwork Pitfalls: Essential I-9 Compliance for Agricultural Employers”

Arlington, VA – Tuesday, April 28, 2026

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is pleased to announce a new educational webinar, “Preventing Paperwork Pitfalls: Essential I-9 Compliance for Agricultural Employers.” This event is designed to equip agricultural employers with the essential knowledge and practical tools needed for I-9 compliance so they can avoid common pitfalls and implement best practices for their agricultural operation.

“Properly filling out and maintaining I-9 forms is a critical compliance area for all agricultural employers, yet it remains a common source of audits and penalties,” said John Hollay, NCAE’s President and CEO. “We are thrilled to pair together expert legal acumen with day-to-day operational know-how to help our members confidently navigate these requirements.”

The interactive webinar will be led by Ryan Ayres of FirstFruits Farms and Cynthia Yarbrough of Fisher Phillips. John Hollay will facilitate the discussion. The webinar will take place on May 14th from 2:00 to 2:30 PM ET.

Ryan is the Director of Human Resources for the largest Opal apple grower, FirstFruits Farms, and the owner of Desert Management Services, providing growers with assistance and guidance for each step of the H-2A process.  Ryan has served in various consulting, accounting, and human resource leadership roles over the past 20 years and currently serves as NCAE’s H-2A Committee Chairman and Executive Committee Vice Chairman.

Cynthia is an Immigration partner in the Fisher Phillips Atlanta office and a member of the firm’s Immigration Practice Group. Her practice focuses on business immigration, representing domestic and multinational employers before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and the U.S. Department of State.

This webinar is announced following a recent update from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that lowered the threshold and increased fines on common I-9 infractions. With penalties now ranging from $288 to $2,861 per violation, agricultural employers must be more vigilant than ever. Under this new penalty system, seemingly minor administrative oversights are now classified as substantive errors that can trigger severe financial consequences.

Participants will be eligible to receive a half (.5) Professional Development Credit from the Society for Human Resource Management upon completion of the webinar. Additional information about the webinar, including registration details, is available on the NCAE website at ncaeonline.org. To claim SHRM credit or for more information about the webinar or to register, please contact Susan Lester, NCAE’s Director of External Affairs and Operations.

About NCAE

Founded in 1964, NCAE is the only national association focusing exclusively on agricultural labor issues from the agricultural employer’s viewpoint.

 

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NCAE Announces ‘Diamond Anniversary’ for Upcoming 60th Annual Meeting of Members

| Press Release, Uncategorized

December 5, 2023

For Immediate Release

Contact:            Michael Marsh, President and CEO

                             (202) 629-9320

NCAE Announces ‘Diamond Anniversary’ for Upcoming 60th Annual Meeting of Members

(Arlington, VA) The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) announced today the opening of registration for the 60th Annual Meeting which will be held February 13 – 15, 2024, at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol in Washington, D.C. Each year, NCAE’s members gather in the Nation’s capital along with key leaders in the agricultural employment and labor communities from across the United States and around the world.   

“NCAE’s Annual Meeting is a must-attend event for agricultural employers nationwide as it offers an opportunity to interact with the Federal representatives that impact their farm and ranch operations as well as their daily lives,” said Michael Marsh, NCAE’s President and CEO.

Attendees of NCAE’s 60th Annual Meeting will enjoy a special opportunity to celebrate this important anniversary in the organization’s history at the much-anticipated wine reception at the conclusion of the first day. The wine reception will feature delicious hors d’oeuvres and wonderful wines generously donated by Mercer Ranches.

“Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event that reaches attendees nationwide,” said Marsh.

Details on the Annual Meeting and how to participate can be found at ncaeonline.org

NCAE is the national trade association focusing on agricultural labor issues from the employer’s viewpoint.

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Special Guest USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to Join NCAE Webinar “Unpacking USDA’s Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program”

| Press Release, Uncategorized

October 13, 2023 

For Immediate Release

Contact:            Michael Marsh, President and CEO

                             (202) 629-9320

(Arlington, VA) The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is pleased to announce a special installment of its educational webinar series focusing on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP). The FLSP will award up to $65 million in grants to support agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards on farms and ranches while facilitating lawful migration pathways through the H-2A temporary worker program.

The webinar will be led by Julie Kurtz, an agricultural economist in the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will make a special guest appearance to encourage agricultural employers to take part in the FLSP. The webinar will begin at 3:00 pm ET/12:00 pm PT on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.

“Agricultural employers are keen to learn more about the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Grant Program,” noted Michael Marsh, President and CEO of NCAE.  “The webinar will cover and attempt to answer employer questions about the FLSP and how they might participate. NCAE is thrilled to host Secretary Vilsack on this important webinar. We encourage all agricultural employers to join us for this webinar to discover whether this Program might be a good opportunity for their operation.”

Registration for this important webinar is free, open to the public, and is available at ncaeonline.org.  Marsh noted, “Our webinars are extremely popular and typically fill up very quickly. Please register as soon as possible to ensure you secure your spot in this important discussion.”

NCAE is the national trade association focusing on agricultural labor issues from the employer’s viewpoint.

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