West Virginia PYs 2016-2017 Published

Wagner-Peyser Act

Section Published
Located in:

e. 1. B. An Assessment of the Unique Needs of Farmworkers Means Summarizing Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker (msfw) Characteristics (including if They Are Predominantly from Certain Countries, What Language(s) They Speak, the Approximate Number of Msfws in the State During Peak Season and During Low Season, and Whether They Tend to Be Migrant, Seasonal, or Year-round Farmworkers). This Information Must Take into Account Data Supplied by WIOA Section 167 National Farmworker Jobs Program (nfjp) Grantees, Other Msfw Organizations, Employer Organizations, and State And/or Federal Agency Data Sources Such as the U.s. Department of Agriculture and the U.s. Department of Labor (dol) Employment and Training Administration.

Current Narrative:

The MSFWs in WV may be classified into two (2) groups. Group “A” farmworkers who live and work in the state and enjoy performing farm work part of the year. They usually work part–time or seasonal on a farm that is located within daily commuting distance of their home. Group “B” farmworkers migrate into West Virginia, traveling to and through the state working on farms until the harvest time ends. These farmworkers follow the migrant stream from Florida to states north of WV. They have permanent homes in various states but choose to move from state to state to perform farm work. Many of the MSFWs who travel to the Eastern Panhandle have long established working relationships with orchard operators. There appears to be an unspoken gentlemen’s agreement between the workers and employer predicated on “see you same time next year”. These farmworkers, family members and friends have a history of migrating from state to state harvesting crops. Most of these workers are males between the ages of twenty and sixty–nine years of age. A quick review of the MSFWs served between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 revealed that 97% of the 1,189 workers fell into this age range. And a few of the workers operate under the direction of a farm labor contractor who brings his select group of workers to an employer.

During the peak seasons in the Eastern Panhandle region apple harvesting requires about 250 MSFWs, 200 workers are needed for peach harvesting activities and approximately 40 to 50 workers for harvesting berries and other fruit and small vegetables. During Program Year 2014, the MSFW Outreach Specialists in the Eastern Panhandle projected to contact 600 MSFWs and actually contacted 763 workers at their worksites. Also, partner agencies annually contact at least 200 MSFWs in the field or at the labor camps. Additionally, there are other areas of the state where MSFWs may be utilized for farm work but their work activity is not a matter of public record. There could be approximately 50 up to 200 MSFWs working in various locations around the state working on seasonal jobs.