The primary function of Agriculture Workforce Management Association, Inc. (AWMA) is to provide guidance to its stockholder employers who wish to apply for temporary alien agricultural labor certification for the purpose of employing H-2A workers on a temporary or seasonal basis.
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Do you have questions about the H-2A program? Contact us and check out our Frequently Asked Questions!
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Use the link above to access updated Application Documents, please remember that we will need the application and payment AT LEAST 75 days before your start date.
Need to make a payment? Use the link below to access our payment portal.
Application Links
New to the H-2A Program? Learn more using the link below.
"Owned and Managed by Agricultural Employers"
One Big Beautiful Bill
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" was passed by congress and signed into law. Below is a link to the bill and we will include further updates as more information becomes available in our newsletter. As always, if you have any questions do not hesitate to call our office.
When do I need to submit an application?
Application documents are listed under "Application Links" on the Home page.
Staggered Start Dates
Good News! The Department of Labor rescinded the 2011 requirements for multiple
H2A applications for each seasonal need in a crop year. In part the Department announced "..In rescinding the July 2011 FAQ, OFLC recognizes that employers, particularly those in the specialty crop sector, may have challenges accurately predicting their labor needs because the timing of their diversified agricultural work is highly sensitive to unpredictable weather conditions, and the H-2A regulations require employers to start the labor certification process at least two months in advance of the season. As a result of these circumstances, some employers need additional flexibility in the H-2A process to employ workers onto their farming operations starting at different times within the season." The notice is below.
August 28, 2025
The Department of Labor Vacated the 2023 H-2A AEWR Final Rule per the Federal District Court Order. These wages were applied to
agriculture jobs outside of the "Big 6"
The Department of Labor Reduces AEWR Wages for H2A Labor
(For H-2A Applications Submitted on or after 10/02/2025)
The Department of Labor (DOL) released an interim final rule (Rule) revising the methodology used to determine the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for H-2A agricultural workers. For the vast majority of H2A jobs the wages are decreased for field and livestock worker occupations.
Under the new Rule the AEWR’s will be based on state-level wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey (OEWS). The Rule sets two skill-based AEWR Wages for differences in duties and compensation. DOL will assign skill-based wages based on the duties for most of the workdays and qualifications/experience required. Most general farm labor will be Skill Level 1.
DOL has included a housing compensation deduction for H-2A workers living in employer providing housing. The housing allowance is a major win and decreases H2A worker wages from $0.71 to $3.00 per hour. For example, the AEWR for Kentucky is $13.94 for local workers and $12.70 for H2A workers that are provided with housing. ($13.94 - $1.24).
DOL has set a 60-day comment period, and we strongly recommend you comment on how the wages have a positive effect on your farming operation. DOL did a great job in laying out the justification for the wages and the preamble has interesting information. Complete regulations and comment instructions can be found at the link below:
Below are the wages for some of the states:
A link to the full publication of the rules is posted in our Rules and Regulations page.
