View our video from instructor, Bess Lewis, here

Video transcribed in English: Do you want to be a supervisor or have you been a supervisor for many years but you have never taken any classes to know if you are doing a good effective job? Cornell offers classes to you that are completely online – which means, you can watch the videos, do the assignments and interact with your classmates and professors – when it works best for you and your schedule. The registration is open – sign up today.

¡Transición a supervisor en español regresa este enero!

Transition to Supervisor in Spanish returns this January!

¡El Liderazgo de Supervisión Agrícola ahora ofrecerá el curso completo de “Transición a supervisor” en ESPAÑOL y todo virtual! Aprenderá estos temas: cómo desarrollar relaciones laborales efectivas, habilidades esenciales de la comunicación, cómo ser el líder de un grupo multicultural, y cómo construir mejores relaciones de trabajo para tener un equipo efectivo de trabajo.

Los materiales del curso estarán disponibles el 19 de enero de 2024 y las sesiones de Zoom se llevarán a cabo todos los jueves a la 13:00-14:00 hora del este, empezando el 25 de enero hasta el 29 de febrero.

La inscripción cierra el 18 de enero.

Agricultural Supervisory Leadership will now offer the complete “Transition to Supervisor” course in SPANISH and all virtual! You will learn these topics: how to develop effective working relationships, essential communication skills, how to be the leader of a multicultural group, and how to build better working relationships to have an effective work team. 

Course materials will be available on January 19, 2024, and weekly Zoom sessions will take place every Thursday from 1-2 PM ET from January 25 to February 29.

Registration closes January 18.

REGISTER NOW!

The Becker Forum is back at the Oncenter in Syracuse, NY on Monday, January 22, 2024 from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.

Topics include:

• H-2A Job Classifications and Wage Rates
• NY Overtime Tax Credit
• NY Farm Labor Union Update
• Labor Laws and Best Practices for Growers During an Audit
• Improving Farm Labor Effectiveness and Efficiency
• Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program
• Unemployment Insurance and Partial Employment

Guest speakers will include Attorney Joshua Viau of Fisher Phillips Law Firm, Attorney Chris Schulte of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, Sarah Decker and Ivette Vigano of the U.S. Department of Labor and more.

Registration information:

$125 for the first person and $115 for additional registrants from the same

organization through January 1. After January 2, registration is $150/person.

For a complete agenda and to register visit: http://nysvga.org/expo/information/

BeckerForumFlyer_2024

Questions? Contact nysvegetablegrowers@gmail.com

Registration is open for Ag Workforce Development Council’s Labor Roadshow VII. Four regional events will cover topics such as how the new NYS Marijuana Law affects the workplace, state and federal employment law compliance, farm safety and OSHA compliance, updating payroll, and workforce development. The topic of overtime will be discussed, including the 2024 NYS tax reimbursements for overtime, payroll systems, and compliance.

Featured speakers:

• Attorney Joshua Viau, Fisher Phillips Law Firm
• Nick Donofrio, New York Regional Office US Department of Labor / OSHA
• Farm HR Managers Panel
• NYS Department of Ag and Markets
• NYS Department of Taxation

Ag Workforce Development Council member organizations include: Agri-Mark, Allenwaite Farms, Amos Zittel & Sons, Inc., Blue Hill Farm, Breezyhill Dairy, Cargill, Cayuga Marketing, Cornell University, CCE, DFA, EZ Acres, EL-VI Farms, Farm Credit East, Hemdale Farms and Greenhouses, Lamb Farms, Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, NEDPA, NY Animal Ag Coalition, NY Farm Bureau, NYS Horticultural Society, NYSVGA, NY Wine Growers, NY Wine Policy Institute, Reeves Farm, NYSVGA, Stauffer Farms, SUNY Morrisville, and Upstate Niagara.

Register for Labor Roadshow VII now.

Questions? Email cu-agworkforce@cornell.edu

Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development is pleased to announce two Agricultural Supervisory Leadership courses that will be available in January. Our Spanish course, “ASL101-SP: Transición a supervisor” has maintained high interest from our audience, prompting us to launch the course once again in January. For the first time ever, we will launch ASL106: Ethics and Employee Regulations.

Learn more about the two courses below:

ASL101-SP: Transición a supervisor

¡El Liderazgo de Supervisión Agrícola ahora ofrecerá el curso completo de “Transición a supervisor” en ESPAÑOL y todo virtual! Aprenderá estos temas: cómo desarrollar relaciones laborales efectivas, habilidades esenciales de la comunicación, cómo ser el líder de un grupo multicultural, y cómo construir mejores relaciones de trabajo para tener un equipo efectivo de trabajo.

Los materiales del curso estarán disponibles el 19 de enero de 2024 y las sesiones de Zoom se llevarán a cabo todos los jueves a la 13:00-14:00 hora del este, empezando el 25 de enero hasta el 29 de febrero.

Agricultural Supervisory Leadership will now offer the complete “Transition to Supervisor” course in SPANISH and all virtual! You will learn these topics: how to develop effective working relationships, essential communication skills, how to be the leader of a multicultural group, and how to build better working relationships to have an effective work team. 

Course materials will be available on January 19, 2024, and weekly Zoom sessions will take place every Thursday  from 1-2 PM ET from January 25 to February 29.

ASL106: Ethics and Employee Regulations beginning this January!

Implement responsible and ethical labor practices and understand why this matters for agriculture. Recognize and prevent sexual harassment. Understand and follow minimum wage and overtime laws. Implement Equal Employment Opportunity laws to prevent discrimination and harassment. Handle employee discipline and termination.

• Ethics and sustainability
• Equal Employment Opportunity, laws and implications
• Hiring regulations and practices
• Safety issues in agriculture
• Farm employee housing
• Compensation regulations

Materials release January 19 and live weekly Zoom discussions will be held from 3 to 4 PM ET each Thursday from January 25 through February 29. Continuing education credits will be offered.

Participation in the live sessions is highly encouraged and provides a valued opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and networking. To get the most out of the course, students should plan to spend a minimum of two hours each week on combined course activities.

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About the Agricultural Supervisory Leadership Certificate Program

Supervisors are critical to the success of farm businesses. They have a major impact both on employees’ daily work experiences and on the production performance of the business. The Agricultural Supervisory Leadership (ASL) certificate helps farm supervisors and managers learn and apply human resource management practices and leadership skills that foster rewarding workplaces and drive business results. Confident managers who thoughtfully apply leadership and management skills improve employee performance, develop teams, reduce employee turnover, and increase employee engagement. The courses within the certificate program will offer extensive practice and engagement activities to build confidence and skill sets.

Each course is made up of five to six weeks of instruction on topics aimed to build your leadership and management skills. Instruction includes a combination of prerecorded lectures, reading assignments, written exercises, live discussion sessions, and quizzes. For those looking to learn more on a particular topic, supplemental videos and articles may be recommended by the instructor. To get the most out of the course, students should plan to spend a minimum of two hours each week on combined course activities. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development’s supervisory leadership program consists of six courses. Those who complete all six courses and achieve 70 percent or better on all weekly quizzes will receive an Agricultural Supervisory Leadership certificate.

It’s day three of National Apprenticeship Week! We are celebrating by highlighting the New York State Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship. This opportunity is for those looking to strengthen their skillset, advance their knowledge, and prepare for leadership opportunities, all while working in the industry.

Apprenticeships promote skill building while maintaining income through on-the-job training. This is a three-year self-guided experience.

With an apprenticeship, employees can:

• Learn while they earn
• Develop in demand skills
• Receive an official credential

Employers can:

• Develop talent from within
• Build a highly skilled workforce
• Earn reputation as a high-quality employer

Find out more about registered apprenticeships here:

New York State Registered Apprenticeship Overview

Learn more by contacting Jay Canzonier: jc3277@cornell.edu

RECRUIT + RE-INVEST + RETAIN = RESULTS

It’s Day 2 of National Apprenticeship Week! Cornell Ag Workforce Development is taking this time to highlight a unique opportunity for those interested in gaining more skills in the dairy industry. At the end of a successful Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship, apprentices earn an official credential from New York State!

The Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship is a self-guided three-year training opportunity combining on the job training with technical instruction, developing employees into management level team leaders.

Dairy Specialist Apprentices gain….

• industry expertise from leaders in the dairy farming industry.
• experience and confidence in modern technologies and management strategies.
• networking opportunities with industry professionals and fellow apprentices.

Learn more by contacting Jay Canzonier: jc3277@cornell.edu

✅ In-depth knowledge of dairy management and technology!

RECRUIT + RE-INVEST + RETAIN = RESULTS

Organizing Work for High-Quality Results teaches farm supervisors how to develop clear expectations and delegate effectively. Learn how to implement a quality management system on your farm, create your own standard operating procedures, and develop processes to streamline work and improve results. This course is appropriate for both new and experienced farm supervisors and managers, as well as those preparing to become supervisors. All participants will learn leadership concepts and practice skills that will improve their ability to build a positive workplace and get results through leading others. Course topics include: setting clear expectations, effective delegation, quality management systems, workplace organization, and aligning HR management with social responsibility expectations.

Materials release November 8, 2023, and live weekly Zoom discussions will be held from 3 to 4 PM ET each Tuesday from November 14 through December 19. Continuing education credits will be offered.

Registration closes November 13. Register now.

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About the Agricultural Supervisory Leadership Certificate Program

Supervisors are critical to the success of farm businesses. They have a major impact both on employees’ daily work experiences and on the production performance of the business. The Agricultural Supervisory Leadership (ASL) certificate helps farm supervisors and managers learn and apply human resource management practices and leadership skills that foster rewarding workplaces and drive business results. Confident managers who thoughtfully apply leadership and management skills improve employee performance, develop teams, reduce employee turnover, and increase employee engagement. The courses within the certificate program will offer extensive practice and engagement activities to build confidence and skill sets.

Each course is made up of five to six weeks of instruction on topics aimed to build your leadership and management skills. Instruction includes a combination of prerecorded lectures, reading assignments, written exercises, live discussion sessions, and quizzes. For those looking to learn more on a particular topic, supplemental videos and articles may be recommended by the instructor. To get the most out of the course, students should plan to spend a minimum of two hours each week on combined course activities. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development’s supervisory leadership program consists of six courses. Those who complete all six courses and achieve 70 percent or better on all weekly quizzes will receive an Agricultural Supervisory Leadership certificate.