H-2A for farming families
Reliable, low-cost H-2A for farming families.
One person on your side all season, so your crew is here when your season starts.
Family farms run on a crew that comes back season after season. Battenkill Ag handles the H-2A work behind that crew, at a price that works for a family farm, with one team member who knows your farm by name.
Keep your crew coming back
A good season makes the next one easier
Workers return to farms where they are paid fairly and on time, treated with respect and housed well. We take care of the parts the paperwork touches, so your crew starts every season on solid ground.
Paid right from day one
We confirm your wage rate, pay schedule and pay stub requirements before the season, so your first payday goes smoothly.
The contract in hand before they travel
Workers get a copy of their job terms before they leave home, so everyone starts the season on the same page.
Housing ready on time
We get your housing inspection on the calendar early, so it never holds up arrival.
The same faces each season
We can name your returning workers on your petition, so the people you trained are the ones who come back.
What we handle
H-2A, start to finish
You run the farm and stay the employer. We handle the filings, the deadlines and the back and forth with the agencies.
Season planning
Dates, crew size, jobs and housing, set with you.
Job order and state posting
Written, filed with your state and tracked through inspection.
Department of Labor application
Filed, with U.S. recruitment documented and any questions answered on time.
USCIS petition
Your Form I-129 for named or unnamed workers.
Consulate and travel
Consulate appointments and travel to your farm, coordinated by us with our partner company in Mexico.
Season compliance
A clear compliance packet, deadline reminders and help if DOL calls.
Less paperwork, less worry
Records that are ready before anyone asks
H-2A comes with a lot of rules and a lot of records. Every Battenkill Ag customer gets a digital filing cabinet that tracks them automatically, organized by requirement. We remind you before deadlines and help you respond quickly and completely if the Department of Labor asks.
- Job order, applications and approvals in one place
- Housing, vehicle and workers' comp records tracked
- Pay and hours records checked against what H-2A requires
- Notices sent on time if a worker leaves
- A complete season file kept for at least 3 years
Who we work with
Seasonal farms of every kind
H-2A covers temporary or seasonal farm work. If your season has a clear start and end, we can likely help.
Fruit and vegetables
Planting, harvest and packing for specialty crops.
Orchards and vineyards
Apples, stone fruit, berries and grapes, from pruning to picking.
Nurseries and greenhouses
Seasonal propagation, potting, shipping and field work.
Row crops
Seasonal field work for tobacco, sweet potatoes and other row crops.
Seasonal livestock work
Shearing, lambing and other livestock jobs with a clear season.
Free guides
Know the rules before your season starts
Plain-English guides on timing, cost, wages, housing and audits, each linked to the regulation behind it.
H-2A Timeline: When to File for Your Season
The key H-2A deadlines, counted back from your start date, and why family farms should start about four months early.
What Does H-2A Cost? Fees and Costs for Small Farms
Government filing fees, wages, housing, travel and agency fees: what a small farm should budget for an H-2A season.
Preparing for an H-2A Audit: Free Checklist Template
The two kinds of H-2A audits, their deadlines, where farms slip up, and a free Excel checklist of the records DOL can request.
Common questions
What does an H-2A agent do?
An H-2A agent prepares and files the paperwork that lets a farm hire seasonal workers from other countries: the job order, the Department of Labor application and the USCIS petition. The farm stays the employer. Battenkill Ag also coordinates consulate visits and travel with our partner company in Mexico, and supports you on compliance during the season. We don't recruit or employ workers.
Who will I work with?
One dedicated team member, from planning through the end of your season. They know your farm, your dates and your crew, and they are the person you call or text.
How much does it cost?
Battenkill Ag provides a reliable, low-cost service for farming families. Tell us your start date and how many workers you need, and we will send a quote for your farm.
How far ahead do I need to start?
About four months before your first day of need. Your job order goes to the state 60 to 75 days before that date, and the Department of Labor application at least 45 days before.
Can I bring back the same workers each year?
Yes. Many farms bring back the same crew season after season. We can name your returning workers on your petition so they are the ones who come back.
Do you work with farms that only need a few workers?
Yes. Battenkill Ag was built for family farms, including farms that bring in a small crew each season.
Planning next season?
Start about four months before you need your crew. Tell us your start date and how many workers you need, and we will send you a quote.