Parker and Smith Farms, Inc. (Petition 2) — Agricultural Employer

Employer Background

Public agricultural employment records list Parker and Smith Farms, Inc. (Petition 2) as an employer based in Calhoun City, Mississippi. Job orders on file with federal agencies document placements for Farmworkers and Laborers workers at worksites in CALHOUN COUNTY County, Mississippi. Agricultural employers of this type operate within a regulated framework that establishes minimum standards for wages, working conditions, and worker welfare. Certification records associated with Parker and Smith Farms, Inc. (Petition 2) reference 54 workers in this classification.

Records describe the work associated with Parker and Smith Farms, Inc. (Petition 2) as falling under the Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse occupational classification. This encompasses a broad range of farm-related tasks common to agricultural operations in the region. The documented work period of May through June — approximately approximately one month — reflects the agricultural cycle characteristic of Mississippi.

Available records show a wage of $9.74 / hour for Farmworkers and Laborers work filed by Parker and Smith Farms, Inc. (Petition 2). Employer-provided housing and transportation were listed as part of the compensation package, consistent with federal requirements governing this type of agricultural employment certification. The type of housing noted in the records is Employer. Meals were also documented as provided.

CALHOUN COUNTY County, Mississippi is the documented worksite area for job orders associated with Parker and Smith Farms, Inc. (Petition 2). Agricultural activity in this area contributes to Mississippi's role as a significant food and farming producer. The state's agricultural sector encompasses a wide range of operations, from crop production and livestock management to processing and related activities. The employer's principal address on file is in Calhoun City, Mississippi.

H2A program certification indicates that the U.S. Department of Labor has determined there are not enough available domestic workers to fill the positions described in the employer's job order, and that the employment of temporary agricultural workers will not adversely affect the wages or working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. The program requires employers to cover housing, transportation between housing and the worksite, and all tools and equipment needed to perform the job. Workers are also entitled to workers' compensation coverage and must be paid at least the applicable Adverse Effect Wage Rate for the state.

Job orders filed by Parker and Smith Farms, Inc. (Petition 2) included documented qualifications for applicants. The listed requirements noted an education level of None or equivalent and the ability to lift up to 60 pounds. These reflect the physical demands and qualifications typically associated with Farmworkers and Laborers work in the agricultural sector.