Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
e. 2. An assessment of the agricultural activity in the State means: 1) Identifying the top five labor-intensive crops, the months of heavy activity, and the geographic area of prime activity; 2) Summarize the agricultural employers’ needs in the State (i.e. are they predominantly hiring local or foreign workers, are they expressing that there is a scarcity in the agricultural workforce); and 3) Identifying any economic, natural, or other factors that are affecting agriculture in the State or any projected factors that will affect agriculture in the State
Current Narrative:
(2). An assessment of the agricultural activity in the State means:
1. Identifying the top five labor-intensive crops, the months of heavy activity, and the geographic area of prime activity;
As shown below, the top five major crop activities across Maryland continue to employ a declining number of migrant and seasonal farm workers.
Top Five Labor-Intensive Crops for Migrant & Seasonal Farm Workers
| Crop | Description |
| Nursery Stock | Employs workers across the state from March through November. Nursery stock growing actually has a bifurcated annual time span which peaks in the spring and in the fall. A cool spring and late frost in the most recent growing season affected nursery production slightly. |
| Diversified crops | Many vegetables are grown in the central, more cosmopolitan regions of the state. These crops are available in local farm stands and grocery stores throughout the summer months. |
| Tomatoes | According to the 2017 census by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Maryland’s primary vegetable crop is sweet corn. “Grape acreage” has increased from 700 acres in 2012, to 1,200 acres.https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2019/06/04/maryland-agriculture-has-it-all |
| Cantaloupes & Melons | Harvested predominantly on Maryland’s Eastern Shore during the months of July and August. |
| Fruit Orchards | Maryland’s fruit orchards typically include apples, peaches, and occasionally other fruit. These employ workers generally along Maryland’s northern and western borders (i.e. the Mason-Dixon Line) from July through October, depending on the varieties of fruits grown at the particular orchard. |
2. Summarize the agricultural employers’ needs in the State (i.e. are they predominantly hiring local or foreign workers, are they expressing that there is a scarcity in the agricultural workforce):
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Maryland’s agricultural employers are challenged by the scarcity of workers interested in the agricultural field. Historically, most Maryland farms were family owned and operated, and passed down through generations. Current trends suggest that younger generations tend to leave for other employment because they do not want to continue the family farm business. When this occurs, anecdotes collected from farmers suggest that farms either go out of business or resort to hiring via the H2A Program. According to online job postings, employers hiring in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting industry in Maryland need workers with landscaping, agricultural, and interpersonal skills (MWE, 2016). In terms of tools and technology, employers need employees skilled in the use of cell phones, forklifts, trucks, and fertilizer spreading equipment.
3. Identifying any economic, natural, or other factors that are affecting agriculture in the State or any projected factors that will affect agriculture in the State.
From 2010 to 2014, Maryland has experienced an increase in population of 3.5 percent. Maryland is very densely populated and is the sixth most densely populated state in the United States, which may be a contributing factor to the steady decline of crop farming across the State.