Deadline for Annual GAP Training is Quickly Approaching!

Growers that have missed Annual GAP Training in person can complete Online Training through their Grower Dashboard on the GAP Connections website. In addition to the online training, Burley & Dark Growers in Kentucky & Tennessee, can contact their County Extension Agent to schedule or get on a list to view the 2023 Annual GAP Training video.

Online Training Instructions

Growers will have a variety of content videos in crop & environment, labor, and GAPC that they may select from to view. Once a grower completes watching the video, a short quiz will evaluate knowledge gained. Growers must score a 100% on the quiz for training credit to count.

One video is not enough!

To complete Annual GAP Training online and earn training credit, growers will be required to complete:

3 crop & environment video courses & quizzes
3 labor video courses & quizzes
3 GAPC video courses & quizzes

For questions about Annual GAP Training, please contact Amy Rochkes, Training and Resource Coordinator, at (865) 622-4606, extension 107 or arochkes@gapconnections.com.

Deadline to complete Annual GAP Training is

Friday, June 30

Need record templates?

GAP record templates, required posters, and training materials are available on our website.

Purchase GAPC Records from the GAPC Store
Download editable PDF files
Download Excel Spreadsheet

There is Still Time to Take Advantage of the Cost-share Farmworker Training

GAP Connections is offering farmworker training on a range of topics including all the required topics for GAPC Certification. This training can be done on your farm or at an extension office. It is interactive, fun, and educational and can be offered in English and Spanish. Basic training can be completed in 2-hours with the option to add additional topics and time as needed.

Have produce on your farm? Consider adding food safety topics such as handling and hygiene for workers. Do you want to discuss the expectations you have in handling or harvesting the crop? Do you want to discuss the importance of maintaining worker housing in good condition? All of this and more can be addressed at this training.

If you grow tobacco, there is an available cost-share program that will provide a 50% discount on training. Join with a neighbor and split costs to make the training more cost effective. For example, two operations that grow tobacco can join for one training and the costs of that training will only be $100 per operation. Each training allows a maximum of 50 farmworkers to be trained at each session.

Benefits of Training

Increased productivity and performance: When workers undergo training, it improves their skills and knowledge of the job and builds their confidence in their abilities. This will improve their performance and make them work more efficiently and effectively.
Reduced wastage: When workers are trained, they will learn to make good, safe, and economical use of the farm's materials, tools and equipment. Accidents and equipment damage will be minimized.
Boosted morale: Workers on farms who go through training programs will feel like they are a part of a supportive work environment where they are appreciated, which will boost their morale and make them approach their job duties with more self-confidence.
Improved knowledge of expectations: A good training program will always help workers get acquainted with the farm’s expectations, reducing conflict and misunderstandings between themselves and the employer.
Better workplace environment: Consistent training will help workers work more effectively in the workplace environment. This creates an atmosphere in the organization that encourages every worker to feel valued and welcomed.

A farmworker in North Carolina said, “I think the training was perfect because it helped us take precautions in the work that we do during the season.”

The GAPC Customized Farmworker Training cost-share program would not be possible without the generous sponsorships from Altria Client Services, Burley & Dark Tobacco Producers Association, Burley Stabilization Cooperative, Gallatin Redrying & Storage Company, Hail & Cotton, Pxyus/Alliance One International, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, Universal Leaf, and US Tobacco Cooperative.

The GAPC Customized Farmworker Training cost-share program is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To take advantage of this program contact GAPC Training Coordinator, at (865) 622-4606, extension 107 or arochkes@gapconnections.com.

Learn More

GAPC Labor Management Webinar

Human Trafficking and Farmworkers

What does it mean to a grower?

Thursday, July 13 | 7:00pm to 8:30pm (EST)

Join GAP Connections for an in-depth look at Human Trafficking amongst the farmworker population. At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will understand:

The legal and practical definitions of human trafficking, both sex and labor
How Human Trafficking looks amongst the farmworker population
How to recognize and report signs of Human Trafficking
The 3 P's - Prevention, Protection, and Partnerships
What can a grower do?

Expert Panelist:

Diana Fimbres, Polaris Project
Nancy Hagan, North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission
Richard Blaylock, US Department of Labor
Miguel Perez, US Department of Labor

Registration is required in order to receive the webinar link.

RSVP to Amy Rochkes (865) 622-4606, ext. 107 or register online.

GAPC Grower Members will earn 1 hour of Additional Labor Management Training for participating.

Growers Participating in the GAPC Certification Program

Your application has been approved. What's next?

Begin working on the Self-Assessment. The Self-Assessment is a requirement for all growers in the Certification program and it is one per operation. The Self-Assessment can be found by logging into the Grower Dashboard and clicking "Grower Self-Assessment". It is required to be completed by the 2023 monitoring visit. A new resource is available with step by step instructions on how to complete the Self-Assessment. View video tutorial here.
Verify training is completed. All growers listed on the application must complete Annual GAP Training by June 30. Growers can view the "Training Report" on their Grower Dashboard to verify completion.
The monitoring firm will contact you. Monitoring firms will call 2-3 weeks before to schedule the visit. Any questions about scheduling or invoicing should go directly to the monitoring firm. Visits will begin in late June in the flue-cured regions, late July in the burley/dark regions.
Prepare. Review the 2023 GAPC Certification Compliance Guide to prepare for your visit. Check your inbox for weekly tips to help you achieve GAPC Certification.
Need help? GAPC staff are available Monday - Friday, 8:00a to 5:00p EST to answer any questions.
Still time to apply. Growers may continue to apply at www.gapconnections.com with $100 late fee. Availability subject to monitoring firm schedule.

Give it a try...GAPC HR/Legal Helpline

GAPC has a partnership with Jackson Lewis to provide growers with a comprehensive risk management helpline service carefully designed to help manage workforce employment issues and reduce exposure to employment-related liability.

This helpline is FREE to all GAPC grower members. Growers can access the helpline by phone
(833) 499-0275 or email GAPConnectionsHotline@jacksonlewis.com. When contacting the helpline, please be prepared to provide, your name, GAPC grower ID #, location, type of issue, phone, and email (if available).

TN/KY Tobacco, Beef, and More Field Day | June 29

The Tobacco, Beef and More field day is a free event that brings together area beef and tobacco producers to learn more about current research in the field.

Thursday, June 29 at 8:00am | Highland Rim Ag Research and Education Center

Learn More.

South Carolina Tobacco Tour | July 11-12

The tour will kick off with check-in at the Hampton Inn Georgetown Marina on July 11 from 3:00 - 6:00 pm, and supper that evening at a local restaurant.

The first stop of the tour will begin at 9:00 AM on July 12 near Squires farm in Georgetown County. Lunch provided at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center at noon and end in Sumter, SC around 3:30 PM. A more detailed tour schedule will be sent at a later date to the email address provided in registration.

Hotel Block is available now through June 11 using the group name “Clemson”. Book on the hotel’s website, or by calling (843) 545-5000.

KY Corn, Soybean, and Tobacco Field Day | July 25

All day event at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, KY

Virginia Tobacco Field Day | July 27 - 28

Southern Piedmont AREC annual field day. More information to come.

Lexington Burley Tobacco Tour | August 9

9:00am | Spindletop Research Farm

KY Dark Tobacco Twilight Tour | August 10

5:30pm - 8:30pm | Murray State University, West Farm

5 Ways USDOL is Tackling Heat Hazards

by Doug Parker, USDOL

Thirty-five-year-old Timothy Barber started a new job on Monday, July 6, 2020, at the Genesee River Bridge Project in New York. The next day, he collapsed and died at the end of his shift from heat stress and heat exhaustion.

Our investigation found he had been working alone without shade or water and not been given time to acclimatize to the 90-degree plus temperatures. We also found his employer had failed to train him and protect him and other workers from extreme heat hazards.

Heat is the leading cause of death among all weather-related workplace hazards. Dozens of workers like Timothy lose their lives each year by heat-related illnesses in indoor and outdoor workplaces, and thousands more are sickened. As temperatures continue to rise, we in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration want employers and workers to know that heat-related illnesses can be prevented by common-sense safety measures.