If cashflow is an issue on your farm, and it very well may be if you are just starting out, you can explore different options for paying your farmworkers. (Spoiler alert: Yes, paying in broccoli is often allowed!) Non-cash wages are often called “in-kind” wages under legal rules. Our resource, Farmers’ Guide to In-Kind Wages (77pgs.) will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the rules and regulations you must follow when paying farm workers “in kind” wages (e.g. paying with food, lodging and other non-cash items of value).
State-specific rules matter when it comes to in-kind wages. As we work towards comprehensive materials for all 50 states, we currently have state-specific information for Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont in the Appendix of the guide above. The state-specific resources below also discuss in-kind wage rules.
Connecticut:
Getting Work Done on Connecticut Farms: Employment law basics in classification and payroll issues (55pgs.)
Illinois:
Illinois Checklist of selected legal obligations When Hiring a Farm Employee (14pgs.)
Illinois: Make Employment Law Work for Your Farm (1 hour)
Iowa:
Iowa Checklist of selected legal obligations When Hiring a Farm Employee (12pgs.)
Iowa: Make Employment Law Work for Your Farm (1 hour)
Maine:
Getting Work Done on Maine Farms: Employment law basics in classification and payroll issues (60 pages)
Michigan:
Michigan Checklist of selected legal obligations When Hiring a Farm Employee (12pgs.)
Michigan: Make Employment Law Work for Your Farm (1 hour)
Minnesota:
Minnesota Checklist of selected legal obligations When Hiring a Farm Employee (14pgs.)
Minnesota: Make Employment Law Work for Your Farm (1 hour)
New Hampshire:
Getting Work Done on New Hampshire Farms: Employment law basics in classification and payroll issues (57 pages)
Ohio:
Ohio Checklist of selected legal obligations When Hiring a Farm Employee (13pgs.)
Ohio: Make Employment Law Work for Your Farm (1 hour)
Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania Checklist of selected legal obligations When Hiring a Farm Employee (19pgs.)
Pennsylvania Farmers’ Guide to Classifying Workers (18 pages)
Rhode Island:
Getting Work Done on Rhode Island Farms: Employment law basics in classification and payroll issues (57 pages)
Vermont:
Getting Work Done on Vermont Farms: Employment law basics in classification and payroll issues (61 pages)
Wisconsin:
Wisconsin Checklist of selected legal obligations When Hiring a Farm Employee (11pgs.)
Wisconsin Farmers’ Guide to Classifying Workers (19 pages)
Wisconsin: Make Employment Law Work for Your Farm (1 hour)
