The CFP addresses farmworker needs through research, education and extension. Through its educational program, the CFP provided information to over 1183 farmworkers, 159 extension professionals, 474 service providers, and 851 Cornell students on immigration and agricultural labor. Through the CFP summer internship program, 63 farmworkers received on farm tutoring in English and information about New York State driving laws. Also CFP interns served as tutors for farmworker children through various migrant education summer programs, and worked as assistants to Agri-Business Child Development. The CFP research efforts informed many scholars, students, community members, 44 NYS policy makers, and various media professionals about the nature and concerns of the New York State farmworker population. In addition to serving as a resource for the New York Times and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the CFP collaboration with the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communication resulted in a significant publication on immigration. There is great interest among service providers and policy makers in the CFP farmworker demographic research, its economic analysis of farmworkers' contributions, and the research on farmworker goals. The CFP has provided information through over 82 public meetings and forums attended by an estimated 3893 people.
impact statement issue
Farmworkers are important stakeholders in New York state, and the Cornell Farmworker Program serves as the coordinating unit to address farmworker needs. The CFP director conducts research and an ongoing farmworker needs assessments to identify outreach, education, and research foci that contribute to the improvement of the living and working conditions of migrant, seasonal and year-round workers, and re-evaluates these foci on a regular basis. This program is of interest to farmworkers but also to service providers, public schools, agricultural employers, Cornell Cooperative Extension, educational institutions, state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and community organizations. The CFP involves faculty and other academic staff from diverse departments and colleges in the conduct of research on farmworkers, and provides the vehicle for dissemination of these research findings. This information is extremely important for informing research and policy on issues of concern to farmworkers, immigrants and the communities in which they live. The CFP provides an important source of information on farmworkers for educators, extension professionals, and policy makers.
impact statement response
The CFP Director collaborated with farmworkers, service providers, agricultural employers, CCE, educational institutions, state and federal agencies, nongovernmental and community organizations to develop research efforts to contribute to the improvement of the living and working conditions of migrant, seasonal and year-round workers. In 2008 the CFP engaged in research on topics including: farmworker demographics in the Northeast, farmworkers' social and economic interactions, immigration issues, farmworker retention, and farmworkers’ understandings of health risks associated with exposure to pesticides and other on-farm chemicals.
To address immigrant farmworkers' interest in learning English and learning how to navigate in their new communities, the CFP director developed placements throughout NYS for 12 students to collaborate with farmworkers through on-farm educational efforts. In response to widespread interest among farmworkers, the CFP Director collaborated with immigration specialists to develop new workshops and additional educational materials for farmworkers. Also the CFP conducted capacity building training workshops with farmworkers throughout the state. Over 1183 farmworkers participated in CFP organized workshops. Through CFP research and educational workshops farmworkers raised issues about the vulnerabilities of unauthorized immigrant workers to coercion. Subsequently the CFP director was invited to participate in the Governor Patterson’s New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking.
impact statement summary
The CFP brings together faculty, staff and students. The Cornell Farmworker Program (CFP) stimulates and conducts research, and disseminates research findings that improve living and working conditions of migrant, seasonal, and year-round farmworkers and their families. Students from throughout Cornell University to conduct research and to engage in extension efforts to build capacity among the farmworker population. Drawing from our research findings, the CFP also collaborates with relevant stakeholders to address farmworkers' needs. The CFP provides a comprehensive source of information for farmworkers, as well as service providers, public schools, agricultural employers, policy makers, community organizations, other educational institutions, state and federal agencies, and private organizations.
