Introduction
Being a farmer in the United States gives a privilege to people who are attracted in agriculture, sustainability and rural lifestyle. The U.S. farm industry is considered to be among the biggest ones worldwide with a great number of different crops and livestock produced in it which helps not only to supply the country but also the world with the food produced.As the demand of the food grown locally grows, there are many opportunities available to potential new entrants such as immigrants to venture into this lucrative sector. Farming is not only a mean to find the way to achieve economic fixity but it makes the connection to nature and community. To the immigrants, the U.S. presents a host of opportunities to establish career in farming such as the seasonal and full time work and even the ownership of the farms. Most of the areas especially in the rural areas depend on agricultural work and thus, creating a large need of laborers. The agricultural sector has many different employment opportunities, including crop farmers and livestock handlers, which provide a wide range of entrylevel jobs, and they can employ people with different sets of experiences. It is important to know how this industry is constituted, in case one desired to pursue a career in agriculture in the United States. Further, the farming way of life is in itself very gratifying. It usually has a high degree of community, external job prospects that allow outdoor labor and good feeling about food production. In this article, we shall discuss the available entry-level positions that an immigrant can be employed in within the farming industry in U.S as well as job requirements and documents that are necessary to obtain a work permit to be able to work legally in this country. Be it a seasonal job, or a desire to build a career, the U.S. agricultural industry can offer something to realize your idea.
Immigrant Entry Level Jobs: Agricultural sector in the U.S is heterogeneous and many of the low-skilled jobs are accessible by the immigrants. The following is a table which features some of the most common job titles, industries which they belong to and the average salary:
| Job Title | Industry | mean remuneration (in USD) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Laborer | Agriculture | 30,000 – 40,000 | The person works in a nature that involves a form of farm labor which involves them using their hands to plant their farms, to undergo harvest and tend their crop. |
| Greenhouse Worker | Horticulture | 28,000 – 38,000 | Their duty includes taking care of a plant in the green house, watering plant and transplanting. |
| Livestock Handler | Animal Husbandry | 30,000 – 40,000 | Is interested in his or her livestock to make sure they are healthy and well- fed, he or she milks them and monitors their health. |
| Agriculture | Field Crop Worker | 28,000 – 38,000 | A field Crop Worker aids in planting, cultivation and harnessing of field crops. |
| Agricultural Equipment Operator | Agriculture | 35,000 – 45,000 | It works on the tractors and other farm equipment and also works as an operator of seafoods and a plough. |
| Dairy Farm Worker | Dairy Production | 30,000 – 40,000 | Provides support in the milking of dairy cows, dairy cow feeding and dairy cow care. |
| Organic Farm Worker | Organic Farming | 28,000 – 38,000 | is a filler in the process of labor as an organic farmworker, plants, and harvests. |
| Farm Manager (Entry Level) | Agriculture | 40,000 – 50,000 | He or she is the one who monitors the farm processes and procedures and other activities as well as one who is in charge of the processes and activities. |
As a table shows, the variety of entry-level positions open in the U.S. agricultural sector is high. Such jobs are normally suitable to the immigrants who want to get experience and contribute to the sector.
Documents and Requirement of Applying: As an immigrant, one needs a number of requirements and documents to apply as a farmer in the United States, and especially to work as a farmer legally. So here is a detailed list to help you with it:
- Work Visa or Permit: The majority of foreign workers will have to obtain a work visa, but it may be a special visa that focuses on foreign workers e.g. H-2A visa, a temporary visa that would enable the foreign worker to work legally in the U.S. during a specified period and in a defined employer.
- Filled up Job Application form: Various employers will insist on a particular employment application. Make certain each field is entered correctly and fully.
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV): Make an elaborate resume listing all your work experience, education, skills and certifications in agriculture or farming.
- Evidence of Qualifications: It should include any educational certificates or vocational or certification related to farming like training on the use of pesticides or farm safety.
- Reference Letters: References or recommendations by earlier employers or mentors in the field of agriculture could strengthen your application as they could give ideas about your talent and industry.
- Health and Safety Training Certificates: It helps to provide certification of safety and health regulations in a work place setting such OSHA training.
- Evidence of a Knowledge of Language: You might be required to have proficiency in English depending on the requirement of the job. This can sometimes be validated via standardised tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Identification Documents: They require a copy of your passport, as well as, any other identification paper, either a national ID card.
- Application Fee: You should be ready to meet all the payment needs where it comes to work permits or other government services.
- Criminal Records: As an employer, they might ask some to undergo a criminal record check when they are hiring people.
The specifications of the job or the visa that they are applying can vary, and it is imperative to cross-check them. An application must have proper documentation.
Web sites to Search Employment: Agricultural job opportunities in the United States can be secured easily with the help of the Internet. The following are some of the useful websites where you may seek farm jobs:
- USAJOBS: The authorized site of the U.S. government in terms of employment; it contains the agreement of job opportunities in the U.S; this includes job opportunities in the agriculture sector.
- Job Bank USA: This is a government sponsored site that offers job opportunities to people and job seekers in general across different jobs categories including the agricultural sector.
- In fact: A well-known job search engine which pulls information on listings at diverse locations, including local farm employment.
- AgCareers.com: a specialized job board in the agriculture industry which includes job posts across career levels and specialties, which range in prerequisite, degree of difficultly and seniority.
- Farm Job Finder: Key employment company that deals specifically with farm and agricultural related openings. Farm Shark
- LinkedIn: is a professional social media platform where job adverts are posted and where you are able to network with agricultural professionals and recruiters.
- SimplyHired: Job search engine where you can quickly and simply find several agricultural job postings within the U.S., and filter them by location, and category. SimplyHired Through the employment of these sources, you can greatly improve your employment search and locate the desirable jobs in the prosperous agriculture industry of the United States.
Becoming a farmer in the United States is a marvelous place where the immigrants would be able to make a career in the field of agriculture. The agricultural sector has a strong demand in labor force and various entry-level vacancies, and all the newcomers can make their contribution to the developed sector. The United States seems to be an ideal place to settle in as people willing to become farmers can find abundant resources as well as favorable policies and a wide variety of working opportunities. In the course of going through the application process, ensure that you do your documentation properly and use available resources to seek employment opportunities. With the time and effort to learn the situation in the agricultural sphere, you will be able to start a whole new life path that will not only become an economically sustainable step forward, but also will incorporate a deep sense of land and community connection. Regardless of whether you are employed on a big commercial farm or a small organic farm, your efforts will be critical in the sustenance of the heritage of agriculture in the United States.