Sustainable Farm Labor: Regional Trainers Meet to Build Resilience

Finding steady ground amid the daily demands of farming and ranching is tough, especially when it comes to labor. Whether facing changing regulations, adjusting employment models, or holding onto good help, having a plan to move forward is crucial. While the agricultural community has developed numerous resources for environmental and economic sustainability, managing labor to support social sustainability remains a persistent challenge, with fewer well-known resources available to address this issue.

This pressing need for practical support directly informed the agenda for NCR-SARE’s recent 2025 Regional Train-the-Trainer Gathering, held on October 15-16, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. Seventy educators attended this focused exploration of sustainable labor management in agriculture. Organized by Sarah Janes Ugoretz and Andy Larson, the event centered on this critical need, aiming to equip extension agents, educators, and technical experts with concrete tools needed to help farmers and ranchers build operations that can successfully attract and keep skilled, satisfied workers.

Key Takeaways: Infrastructure, Economics, and Wellbeing

The two-day agenda was structured to move beyond theory into practical implementation.

Day One concentrated on upstream strategies. Sessions covered establishing a Strong HR Infrastructure and the critical need to price out labor costs to reflect true total expenses. Attendees gained real-world context through site visits to Door Creek Orchard, Larson Acres Dairy,  and Vitruvian Farms, which provided immediate, tangible context for the discussions.

Day Two explored specific operational frameworks. Topics included navigating the complexities of the H-2A Visa Program and an analysis of various farmer training and labor models. Crucially, the agenda addressed quality-of-life factors, with dedicated sessions on farmworker housing and mental and emotional well-being on the farm. An emphasis was also placed on physical health through a session on movement health for farm labor.

Direct Worker Voices Inform Future Strategy

A defining feature of the event was the direct input from the workforce. A dedicated session centered on farmworker experiences and perspectives, ensuring educators heard directly from workers about their core values. This immediate feedback directly shaped the final panel discussion during lunch, where experienced workers reflected on the prior sessions and introduced crucial considerations that are often central to their daily experiences but are perhaps under-discussed.

A Path Forward

Ultimately, the gathering achieved its objective: moving beyond problem identification to deliver actionable strategies. Armed with insights from farmers, ranchers, and legal experts, attendees left prepared to foster work cultures that strengthen the long-term sustainability and success of agricultural enterprises by prioritizing skilled labor.

Event Resources

• The guide, "Farming into the Future by Centering Farmworkers," aims to support positive, long-term employment opportunities for workers on diversified vegetable farms. During a time when farm owners are asking how they can attract employees and build long-term working relationships with those individuals, Not Our Farm and the Fairshare CSA Coalition came together to take a look at four things employees have said they deeply value in a workplace: communication, work environment, opportunities for growth and advancement, and livable wages. Throughout the pages of this resource, you'll find concrete, action-oriented tips and examples.
• View the Paths to Sustainability with Farm Labor to learn more about the sessions and presenters.