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EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, USDOL H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa Program FY 2012 – Quarter 3: Select Statistics Summary  The percent of new employers using the H-2A program for the first time through FY 2012 Q3 was 17%, consistent with FY 2011 activity.  Significant program use increased in key agricultural states like Washington (120.5%), Virginia (82.3%), and Arizona (22.3%).  Kentucky was the only state to show an overall program decrease (-1.4%).  Significant program use increased in specific crop or agricultural activities include Arizona’s Lettuce (125.7%), South Carolina’s Peaches (106.4%), Arkansas’ Tomatoes (99.0%); Virginia’s Tobacco (98.7%), Florida’s Oranges (66.2%), Washington’s Cherries (57.3%) and Georgia’s Onions (52.8%).  Significant program use decreased in specific crop and or activities such as New York’s Apples (44.1%), North Carolina’s Hay and Straw (-40.2%), and Louisiana’s Sugarcane (- 23.2%). Processing Performance Application Category FY 2010 Full Year FY 2011 Full Year FY 2012 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) Total Determinations Percent Issued Deficiency Notices Total Determinations Certified Total Positions Requested Total Positions Certified Total Determinations Processed Timely1 Percent Processed Timely Total Appeals Received 7,378 41.57% 6,988 89,177 79,011 3,544 N/A 148 7,361 66.53% 7,000 83,844 77,246 6,239 85% 448 7,168 34.2% 7,009 74,889 70,497 6,172 86% 79 1 When the application meets all program requirements, the Department is required by law to issue a certification decision no later than 30 days before the employer’s start date of need. Applications not certifiable at day 30 were initially denied, creating a larger number of appeals than normal. Beginning February 2011, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification allowed employers additional time (up to 5 days) to submit the documentation required to receive a certification.

This action significantly reduced unnecessary appeals and processing delays attributable to the Department. than 30 days before the employer’s start date of need. Applications not certifiable at day 30 were initially denied, creating a larger number of appeals than normal. Beginning February 2011, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification allowed employers additional time (up to 5 days) to submit the documentation required to receive a certification. This action significantly reduced unnecessary appeals and processing delays attributable to the Department.

FY 2012 Quarter 3 Estimates EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, USDOL H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa Program FY 2012 – Quarter 3: Select Statistics Data Summary FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2011 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) FY 2012 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) Determinations Determinations Certified Positions Requested Positions Certified 7,378 6,988 89,177 79,011 7,361 7,000 83,844 77,246 6,638 6,310 69,326 63,389 7,168 7,009 74,889 70,497 Top States of Employment, by Positions Certified (more than 2,000 positions) State FY 2011 (Rank) FY 2011 - Q1, Q2 & Q3 (Rank) FY 2012 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) North Carolina Georgia Louisiana Washington Florida Kentucky Virginia South Carolina Arizona Arkansas Tennessee New York 9,137 (1) 6,793 (3) 7,342 (2) 3,194 (7) 5,741 (4) 4,684 (5) 2,647 (8) 2,640 (9) 2,110 (12) 2,472 (10) 1,928 (13) 3,938 (6) 8,481 (1) 5,993 (2) 5,603 (3) 2,524 (6) 3,711 (5) 4,565 (4) 1,801 (13) 2,409 (8) 2,101 (9) 2,453 (7) 1,870 (11) 2,081 (10) 9,295 6,375 5,735 5,565 5,233 4,499 3,283 2,726 2,570 2,468 2,199 2,159 Top Crops/Activities, by Positions Certified (more than 2,000 positions) General Farm Worker2 Tobacco3 Hay & Straw4 Oranges 5 Cotton6 Corn7 Nurseries & Greenhouses 8 Onions 9 Sheep10 Tomatoes11 Peaches Lettuce FY 2012 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) 12,814 7,734 5,265 4,375 4,029 3,157 3,043 2,816 2,775 2,489 2,430 2,316 Top States WA (29%); GA (12.4%); ID (10%); NC (9%); LA (9%) KY (37%); VA (35%); TN (12%); NC (8%); CT (5%) NC (90%); TX (3%); TN (2%); LA (1%); KY (1%) FL (100%) NC (90%); AR (2%); TX (2%); AL (1%) NC (49%); IN (13%); KS (5%); CO (5%); IA (4%) OH (21%); PA (8%); MD (7%); MN (6%); NY (5%) GA (76%); NV (15%); NY (7%); WI (1%) UT (42% ; NV (13%); ID (9%); CO (9%); WY (8%) AR (40%); CA (18%); SC (18%); TN (18%); FL (3%) SC (72%); GA (19%); CO (4%); AL (3%) AZ (72%); CA (25%); NJ (2%); OH (1%) 2 General Farm Worker includes: Farm (-General, -Hand, -Labor, -Worker, -Diversified), Field Labor, General Field Work, and Manual Labor Tasks) 3 Tobacco includes: Tobacco (-Cutting, -Housing, -Setting, -Stripping, -Topping & Oiling, -Work) 4 Hay & Straw includes: Hay and Straw 5 Oranges includes: Oranges (-Early, -Mid, -Fresh, -Valencia) 6 Cotton includes: Cotton and Cotton Hauling 7 Corn includes: Corn (-Detasseling; -Seed; and -Sweet) 8 Nurseries & Greenhouses includes: Greenhouse(s); Nursery(ies) (-Stock, -Tree) 9 Onions includes: Onion(s) (Vidalia, Onion Sets) 10 Sheep includes: Ewe, Sheep (Multi-state); Sheep Shearers; Sheepherders, Wool Graders and Wool 11 Tomatoes includes: Tomatoes and Grape Tomatoes FY 2012 Quarter 3 Estimates EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, USDOL New Employers Total Employers New Employers % of New Applicants FY 2011 7,361 1,271 17% FY 2012 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) 4,821 798 17% Top Crop/Activity by State and Positions Certified State Crop FY 2011 (Rank) FY 2011 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) FY 2012 (Q1, Q2 & Q3) North Carolina Georgia Louisiana Washington Florida Kentucky Virginia South Carolina Arizona Arkansas Tennessee New York Hay & Straw Cotton Onions General Farm Labor Sugarcane General Farm Labor General Farm Labor Cherries Oranges Grapefruits Tobacco General Farm Labor Tobacco Nurseries & Greenhouses Peaches General Farm Labor Lettuce General Farm Labor Tomatoes General Farm Labor Tobacco Tomatoes General Farm Labor Apples 12 3,990 (1) 1,631 (2) 1,708 (1) 1,636 (2) 2,563 (1) 1216 (2) 450 (3) 691 (2) 4,051 (1) 170 (4) 2,830 (1) 718 (2) 1,376 (1) 118 (4) 853 (1) 386 (3) 743 (1) 650 (2) 500 (2) 934 (1) 942 (1) 292 (2) 553 (3) 1,339 (1) 3,990 (1) 1,629 (2) 1,361 (2) 1,513 (1) 2444 (1) 1216 (2) 370 (3) 691 (2) 2,632 (1) N/A 2,761 (1) 718 (2) 1,376 (1) 118 (2) 853 (1) 386 (2) 743 (1) 650 (2) 500 (2) 934 (1) 910 (1) 292 (2) 499 (1) 487 (2) 2,386 1,918 2,080 1,585 1,877 1,128 1,871 1,087 4,375 275 2,703 874 2,734 144 1,761 449 1,677 280 995 597 939 436 532 272 12 Apples includes: Apple(s); Apple (-Harvester, -Orchard, -Picker) FY 2012 Quarter 3 Estimates