Virtual Southwest Agricultural Seminar

MARCH 3, DAY 1

9:00-10:00 am CT

(All events are in Central Time Zone)

WELCOME PANEL AND INTRODUCTIONS

Southwest Regional Administrator Betty Campbell

Wage and Hour Deputy Administrator Jessica Looman

INTRODUCTION OF PARTICIPATING AGENCIES

&

Guest Speaker: Michael Marsh, National Council of AG Employers

10:00-10:15 am

BREAK

10:15-11:15 am

H-2A: TEMPORARY AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN WORKERS PROGRAM

Speaker: Division of Immigration, Farm Labor, and Trade

WHD Wage and Hour Specialist Daniel Chapman

11:15-12:00 pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: H-2A AND COVID-19 UPDATE

Speakers: Division of Immigration, Farm Labor, and Trade

Director Whitney Ford and WHD Wage and Hour Specialist Daniel Chapman

12:00-12:30 pm

LUNCH

12:30-1:30 pm

H-2A: TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Speakers: ETA Office of Foreign Labor Certification

Immigration Program Analysts Liam Stein and Janet Banos

1:30-2:45 pm

Agricultural Requirements: MIGRANT AND SEASONAL WORKER PROTECTION ACT (MSPA)

This session will be offered in English and Spanish

Speaker: Assistant District Director Jacobo Valenzuela (English)

Speaker: Wage and Hour Investigator Gutberto Martinez (Spanish)

2:45-3:00 pm

BREAK

3:00-3:30 pm

Agricultural Requirements: FIELD SANITATION STANDARDS & COVID-19 PROTECTION MEASURES

This session will be offered in English and Spanish

Speaker: WHD District Director Cindy Cantu-Flores (English)

Speaker: WHD CORPS Corando Carrizales (Spanish)

3:30-4:30 pm

Agricultural Requirements: FLSA & CHILD LABOR

This session will be offered in English and Spanish

Speaker: WHD District Director Cynthia Ramos (English)

Speaker: Wage and Hour Investigator Jesus Calderon (Spanish)

MARCH 4, DAY 2

9:00-9:15 am CT

INTRODUCTION AND DAY 2 AGENDA OVERVIEW

Wage and Hour Division

Southwest Deputy Regional Administrator Nathan Barrow

9:15-10:45 am

PANEL DISCUSSION: WORKER PROTECTION RIGHTS

Speakers:  EEOC Outreach and Education Coordinator Rodney Klein and

DOJ Immig. Employee Rights Acting Deputy Special Counsel Jennifer Deines

10:45-11:00 am

BREAK

11:00-11:30 am

MSPA FLC Certification Team: HOW TO REGISTER AS A FARM LABOR CONTRACTOR

            Speaker:  WHD Program Manager Adriana Iglesias

&

WHD Program Manager Alejandra Sainz

11:30-12:00 pm

LUNCH

12:00-12:45 pm

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN AGRICULTURE

Speaker:  Kristen Abrams, McCain Institute

12:45-1:30 pm

USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA)

GETTING STARTED AND WORKING WITH FSA  

Speaker:  Outreach Coordinator Joshua Coleman

1:30-1:45 pm

BREAK

1:45-3:30 pm

PANEL DISCUSSION

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Review of the Interim Guidance for Agriculture Workers and Employers and COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation

Speakers: Jennifer Lincoln, CDC NIOSH; Dr. Margaret Kitt, CDC NIOSH, Vaccine Task Force / Essential Workers Team

COVID-19: Protecting Workers and Ensuring Businesses Open Safely

Speakers: El Paso Area Director Diego Alvarado and Compliance Assistance Specialist Abraham Arzola

3:30-4:30 pm

MEET & GREET YOUR MSFW STATE MONITOR ADVOCATE

INTRODUCTIONS & COVID-19 UPDATES

PARTICIPATING STATES:

Colorado

Louisiana

New Mexico 

Texas

Montana/Utah/Wyoming