Onboarding Seasonal Farm Employees - Get Organized for 2021!
Event Details
Date
January 4, 2021
Time
12:00pm-1:30pm
Location
online (zoom link will be provided upon registration)
Cost
Free Registration : Free
Registration includes the 1.5 hour class, 1 hard copy of the planning guide and access to technical assistance and additional programs and resources.
Host
Eastern New York Commercial HorticultureBest Practices for Onboarding Seasonal Workers
Onboarding Seasonal Farm Employees - Get Organized for 2021!
- Do you bring groups of seasonal employees onto your farm?
- Every year do you say that NEXT year you will be more organized when they arrive?
- Do you find it challenging to keep up with all of the regulatory requirements for bringing on a new employee?
Then Onboarding Seasonal Farm Employees is for YOU!
Attend this 1.5-hour, on-line program Best Practices for Onboarding Seasonal Workers. Learn the key things you should have in place to be ready to welcome a group of seasonal workers. This program will follow an onboarding guide, Onboarding Seasonal Farm Employees, that was developed by Liz Higgins, CCE Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team, Mark Wiltberger, CCE Lake Ontario Fruit Program, and Richard Stup, CCE Ag Workforce Development Program. The onboarding guide covers:
- required paperwork and documentation for a new hire, including seasonal, migrant workers.
- required trainings (with an emphasis on fruit and vegetable farms) and guides for developing a training plan
- tips for bringing on new employees and having them productive from day 1, especially when you are up to your eyeballs in work!
- tips for creating a welcoming environment where employees feel connected to their workplace and competent on the job.
When you enroll in this program you will receive a hard copy of the guide by mail and be automatically enrolled in all follow-up education, networking and technical assistance offered by the Onboarding Seasonal Farm Employees Program to help you have an on-boarding plan ready by March 2021.
In February 2021 you will have access to 4-weeks of on-line, personalized assistance to finalize your 2021 plan. This program, Developing Your Farm's Onboarding Plan for Seasonal Workers, will be a combination of on-line webinars with CCE, NYCAMH, NYS DOL and US DOL, and experienced NYS farmers; online discussion; and access to resources to help you as you get ready for 2021. You will also receive one-on-one technical assistance from CCE and Ag Workforce Development staff on your on-boarding plan and an opportunity to communicate with other farms in NYS who are working on their plans too. This program will be self-paced, so we can accommodate your schedule.
This project is supported by a grant from Northeast Extension Risk Management Education under USDA/NIFA award number 2018-70027-28588.
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Beets
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dry Beans
Eggplant
Ethnic Vegetables
Garlic
Grapes
Horseradish
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Nectarines
Onions
Parsnips
Peaches
Pears
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Raspberries / Blackberries
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Upcoming Events
Ag Labor Road Show IX
December 1, 2025 : Save the Date! - Ag Labor Roadshow Webinar 1
In addition to the in-person Ag Labor Roadshow program in our region on December 9, two webinars are scheduled for December 1 and December 22. Each webinar will focus on different program content that is different from the in-person sessions. These webinars are an added benefit to program registration.
December 9, 2025 : Save the Date - Ag Labor Road Show In-Person Event (Greenwich, NY)
Greenwich, NY
The Roadshow delivers essential updates on labor law, regulations, and workforce best practices—tailored for farm owners, managers, and ag service providers. Sessions also focus on practical strategies to boost communication, strengthen retention, and build a positive workplace culture.
The in-person session for Eastern NY is December 9 - Elks Lodge, Greenwich, NY - full day in person session
Additional in-person sessions are:
December 10 - Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown, NY, December 17 - Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY, December 18 - Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY
December 22, 2025 : Save the Date! - Ag Labor Roadshow Webinar 2
In addition to the in-person Ag Labor Roadshow program in our region on December 9, two webinars are scheduled for December 1 and December 22. Each webinar will focus on different program content that is different from the in-person sessions. These webinars are an added benefit to program registration.
2026 Winter Cut Flower Webinar Series
January 6, 2026
The fifth annual CCE Cut Flower Webinar Series begins on January 6, 2026 and continues over 5 weeks on Tuesdays. This is a very popular series of online events you won't want to miss, with topflight speakers, a wide variety of subjects concerning growing cut flowers and plenty of interaction between speakers and attendees.
Tuesdays 1pm-3pm January 6, 2026 - February 3, 2026 (The webinar held on February 3 will run 1pm-4pm)
Cost: $60.00 for all five sessions, $20 for single sessions
Webinars will be recorded, and all the recordings will be sent to registrants for future review.
Expanding Farm Sales: Markets, Profits, and Branding Series
January 10, 2026
Looking to diversify where you sell your farm products? This four-part workshop series helps farmers explore new opportunities in direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and institutional markets. Learn how to meet buyer expectations, price for profitability, and build lasting relationships that support your business goals. Participants will strengthen marketing and communication skills, evaluate which sales channels best fit their farm, and connect with buyers, distributors, and local partners who can help expand their reach. Whether you're just starting out or ready to grow your market presence, this program will help you chart the right path for your farm's future.
Four Session Series: Saturdays from 10AM to Noon, January 10-January 31, 2026
Attend at one of three locations: Schoharie Extension Center - Cobleskill, NY; Otsego Education Center - Cooperstown, NY; Via Zoom
Pre-registration is requested! Fee: $25 Register Here
Any questions can be directed to Kelley Doolin at kmd322@cornell.edu