Agribusiness Owners

Welcome (Bienvenido!) New York State farmers and agribusiness owners! The New York State Migrant Education Program (NYS-MEP) has compiled a variety of useful resources and information for you on this page.

The NYS-MEP helps the children of farmworkers and young farmworkers under 22 years of age who have moved and engaged in farm work within the past three years. A variety of services can be provided to those who qualify, including virtual and in-person instructional services such as support for school-aged children, English as a Second Language instruction for workers, and summer programs. Read more about our  services.

Refer Your Employee to the NYS-MEP

If you think one of your employees may qualify for services provided by the NYS-MEP, please give the Recruiter in your area a call.

A Message From Your Local Recruiter

To ensure that we safely serve farmworkers, we are asking you for your assistance with our service delivery.

 Notify your local NYS-MEP Recruiter:

• When new workers arrive, especially if they have children. Our program can help families connect with their local school district.
• To connect us with crew leaders/managers when new workers arrive.
• If you or your workers have any needs that our program could help you to meet.

NEW! Resources for Farm Owners

 Spanish for Agribusiness Owners - This book was created to help you learn some basic words and phrases that will enable you to communicate with Spanish-speaking individuals in an agricultural work environment.

 OSHA-compliant bilingual farm safety signs - The NYS-MEP has developed a variety of safety signs that can be used in and around farms. These signs can help farmers comply with OSHA regulations, and create a safer work environment for all employees and visitors. Anyone accessing this page has permission to print and post these signs in hazardous areas on their farm.

COVID-19 Pandemic Information and Resources

We at the NYS-MEP hope that you, your family and crew are well. Our program would like to recognize and appreciate the huge role that you play for our community. With the understanding of the difficulties you are facing during these times, we are here to continue the support for you and your farmworkers in person and remotely as health guidance continuously evolves. When we conduct home visits, we will be following social distancing protocols for our safety, and for the safety of your workers and your property. Our staff will maintain six feet of distance and will be wearing proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Services we may provide include:

• Advocacy and support tailored to farmworker and farm owner needs, including referrals to community services, such as migrant health, support in accessing school district services, and food pick-ups.
• Drop-offs of materials and resources as needed, including educational materials, COVID-19 test kits, and/or PPE.
• Best hygiene practices, health lessons and COVID-19 news updates to keep employees healthy and able to keep performing their essential jobs.
• Free, virtual instructional services, including English as a Second Language instruction for older workers that can help farmworkers communicate in English in the workplace and instructional support for school-aged children studying from home.

Maintaining a safe and healthy work environment

 How to Protect Yourself and Others is updated regularly by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Find the CDC recommendations, a county check tool, and additional resources including printable signs. 

 The National Center for Farmworker Health (NCHF) has compiled COVID-19 Educational Resources for Agricultural Workers. You can find videos, audio & radio files, social media resources, and documents for printing in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and indigenous languages such as Triqui, Mam, and Mixteco.

 The CDC has printable posters and graphics developed to help you communicate COVID-19 recommendations in your workplace. Resources are available in various languages and you can filter by topic and audience.