DENVER — The Honey Bee Health Coalition (HBHC) has published a new resource to help beekeepers understand and successfully navigate the H-2A process for securing seasonal workers. The two-page guide, titled Tips for Getting the H-2A Process Started Right, provides clear, actionable steps for beekeepers to meet labor needs while remaining in compliance with H-2A program requirements.
The H-2A program allows beekeepers to request foreign workers when U.S. labor is unavailable for seasonal or temporary work. HBHC’s new guide outlines the key stages of the H-2A application process, including filing job orders, recruiting domestic workers, meeting housing requirements, and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.
“As labor needs in beekeeping continue to grow, the H-2A program can be an important tool for operations of all sizes,” said Matt Mulica, senior project director at Keystone Policy Center, which facilitates the Honey Bee Health Coalition. “This resource is designed to make the process more approachable for beekeepers, whether they’re exploring H-2A for the first time or looking to streamline their existing approach.”
Highlights of the resource include:
- A step-by-step overview of the H-2A process, from initial job orders to final housing inspections.
- Tips for understanding and verifying terms in the ETA-790A work contract.
- Important compliance requirements for wages, worker recruitment, and record-keeping.
For more information or to access Tips for Getting the H-2A Process Started Right, click here.
About the Honey Bee Health Coalition
The Honey Bee Health Coalition brings together beekeepers, growers, researchers, government agencies, agribusinesses, conservation groups, manufacturers, brands and other key partners to improve the health of honey bees and other pollinators. Its mission is to collaboratively implement solutions that help achieve a healthy population of honey bees while also supporting populations of native and managed pollinators in the context of productive agricultural systems and thriving ecosystems. The Coalition focuses on accelerating the collective impact of efforts in four key areas: forage and nutrition; hive management; crop pest management; and communications, outreach and education.
The Honey Bee Health Coalition is a project of the Keystone Policy Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together diverse stakeholders to find collaborative, actionable solutions to public policy challenges.
–Honey Bee Health Coalition
