View all AgWorks agricultural law programs on the Center’s
AgWorks Homepage

Materials: 

• PowerPoint AgWorks AL5 Wage & Hour—Requirements & Exemptions

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 12 noon–2:00 pm ET, the Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside Penn State Extension and sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry through funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, will present the fifth agricultural law webinar in the AgWorks program:

Webinar No. 5. Wage and Hour Laws—Requirements and Exemptions

Paying farm employees can get complicated—are you confident you’re doing it right?

This AgWorks webinar explains the basic rules for paying workers under both federal and Pennsylvania wage and hour laws—and how those rules work together. You’ll learn how the law determines which businesses and workers are covered, what qualifies as “agricultural work,” and which farm jobs may be exempt from certain wage rules.

The session also covers special situations, such as livestock range work and local hand-harvesting jobs. Participants who choose to stay for an optional second hour will have the opportunity to ask attorneys legal questions and talk through real-life examples from their operations.

To help track grant reach and eligibility, participants will be asked questions about their farm or agribusiness during registration. Responses will remain confidential and will not be shared outside the project team.

Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.

Please note: The Ag Law Center provides educational support and resources only and does not offer legal representation.
Attorney CLE is NOT available for this program.

AgWorks: Connecting Agricultural Businesses to Workforce Services and Training

Project Background

From 2025 to 2027, Penn State Extension and the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law will collaborate with farms and agriculture-related businesses to strengthen the workforce system. This initiative aims to support employers, expand opportunities for workers, and enhance employment conditions throughout the agricultural sector.

Workforce Help for Farms and Agribusinesses

AgWorks will provide 100 registered small- to medium-sized Pennsylvania farms and agribusinesses with no-cost training and consultation in the following areas to ensure business sustainability:

• Hiring and Retention
• Business Operations
• Compensation and Benefits
• Legal Counseling *
• Health and Safety
• PA CareerLink® services to help farms and Agribusinesses

Additional resources may be available to those who register and consult with their Workforce Consultant.

Webinars and Private Consultation

Over the next two years, we will offer over 90 webinars that will be recorded and available to those participating. The webinars are open to participating organizations and their employees.

Registered participants can also speak with their workforce consultants to utilize tailored consulting and other services that fit their professional needs.

Explore more AgWorks Events

Register for the AgWorks Program

To participate in the AgWorks program, complete the intake form, which includes a brief survey that will help us understand the challenges that businesses face.

Intake and Survey Link

For more information about the program, contact agworks@psu.edu.

For more information about the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s training and services, visit their website.