California farmers, ranchers and dairymen face an increasingly complicated landscape of labor laws, workplace safety requirements, pesticide regulations, wage-and-hour rules and other compliance issues.
For agricultural employers trying to keep up, Anna Genasci says the California Farm Bureau’s Farm Employer Labor Service, or FELS, is ready to help.
Genasci, the new FELS general manager, recently joined “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni for an in-depth conversation about the challenges facing California agriculture and the resources FELS provides. The discussion covered everything from Cal/OSHA inspections and heat illness prevention to farm labor contractors, immigration-related questions, employee safety, workforce development and upcoming 2027 regulations.
Anna Genasci Takes Leadership Role at FELS
Genasci previously spent about seven years as Director of Education and Communication for Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. Her new position keeps her within the Farm Bureau family while expanding her reach statewide.
FELS was created by California Farm Bureau in 1970 to help agricultural employers navigate compliance requirements. Today, its Labor Management Consultants provide bilingual, bicultural assistance with workplace safety, HR and pesticide regulations.
The consultants work directly on farms, conducting training and helping employers with issues such as incident investigations. Genasci said the team can provide mobile, on-farm training in both English and Spanish, making it easier for agricultural employers to meet training requirements without disrupting operations.
Hotline Gives Growers Immediate Compliance Assistance
One of FELS’ most frequently used resources is its hotline.
Genasci said recent calls have focused heavily on wage-and-hour questions, particularly during harvest. Employers are asking about overtime, piece-rate pay, split shifts and situations where employees move between different types of agricultural work and wage orders.
FELS members can call when they have questions about payroll or other compliance matters and receive guidance in real time.
Genasci also said FELS will provide a hotline feature in AgAlert addressing common questions coming from agricultural employers.
Heat Illness and Cal/OSHA Remain Major Concerns
Heat illness prevention is another major area of focus.
Genasci said Cal/OSHA has increased fines depending on the severity of violations and warned that an inspection can identify multiple problems involving requirements such as heat illness plans, shade and water.
Her goal, however, goes beyond helping employers avoid penalties.
Genasci said she wants agricultural employees to go home “happy, healthy and whole,” while helping employers operate in compliance and maintain productivity.
She also noted that Cal/OSHA has deployed approximately 40 new agriculture-specific inspectors, increasing the importance of being prepared for inspections.
FELS Expanding Support for Farm Labor Contractors
FELS serves growers, processors, dairies and nurseries, and Genasci sees opportunities to expand its work with farm labor contractors.
She said FELS partners with organizations such as the California Farm Labor Contractor Association and believes those partnerships allow organizations to combine expertise.
FELS currently has three Labor Management Consultants, with two serving the Central Valley and one in Southern California. Genasci said the organization is also seeking another consultant for the Central Coast.
Immigration Questions Are Also Reaching the Hotline
Genasci recalled receiving an FELS hotline call shortly after taking the job from a member whose employee had been taken into custody by an ICE agent.
She learned that FELS already had resources available for employers dealing with an ICE presence, including a checklist explaining what employers should do and information about employer and employee rights.
Genasci connected the issue to California agriculture’s reliance on its farmworker workforce and discussed the broader need for legal pathways for people who want to come to the United States to work.
Workforce Development and Automation
Genasci also sees workforce development as an important part of agriculture’s future.
During her time with Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, she worked with workforce development organizations on training and upskilling opportunities for farmworkers.
She said FELS is examining ways to support training involving agricultural technology, drone pesticide applications and autonomous tractors.
The goal is to help existing agricultural employees develop skills for higher-paying positions while allowing employers to manage labor costs through technology and automation.
At the same time, Genasci emphasized that agriculture will continue to need people, particularly for highly labor-intensive jobs that remain difficult to automate.
Agriculture Needs to Tell Its Story
Genasci said another priority is helping consumers better understand agriculture.
She shared an experience in a grocery store when another shopper confronted her with negative claims about cattle production and corporate farming. Genasci said the encounter reinforced her belief that agriculture needs to do a better job explaining how food is produced.
She believes consumers need more accurate information about the people and processes behind the food they purchase.
FELS Helps Employers of All Sizes
Genasci stressed that FELS is not just for large farms.
The organization serves operations ranging from thousands of acres to smaller farms whose workforce numbers can change annually.
Even growers who already employ safety or HR professionals can use FELS. One grower recently asked FELS to conduct a mock Cal/OSHA inspection to see how the operation would perform during an actual inspection.
Genasci said FELS can provide that type of customized assistance, helping employers identify weaknesses before an official inspection occurs.
Real-World Example Shows FELS’ Value
Genasci provided another example involving a grower who had just joined FELS.
The employer was dealing with an employee who had repeated attendance and performance problems and was following a progressive disciplinary process. The situation became more complicated when the employee’s attorney sent a letter suggesting a possible hostile work environment.
Because the grower was a FELS member, Genasci was able to connect the employer with an agricultural labor attorney through FELS’ partnership with Barsamian & Moody.
Genasci said those situations demonstrate the practical value of having a resource available before a problem becomes a larger legal issue.
Safety Training Can Make a Difference
FELS also works to improve workplace safety.
Genasci said some members have told her they did not have an Injury and Illness Prevention Plan before working with FELS.
In another case, a grower had experienced eye injuries during harvest because employees were not consistently using personal protective equipment. After FELS consultant Gabe provided training, the grower reported a reduction in eye injuries.
Genasci said effective safety training means explaining why a practice matters—not simply telling workers what they must do.
Preparing for 2027 Regulations
FELS is already looking ahead to 2027.
Genasci said the organization plans to hold a free “What’s New in 2027” webinar in January covering updates involving Cal/OSHA, HR and the Department of Pesticide Regulation.
One issue she is closely watching involves treated seed. Workers handling treated seed may fall under the definition of pesticide handlers and therefore require pesticide-handler training.
Genasci said the issue could particularly affect farm labor contractors whose crews are brought in for planting operations.
She also explained that while many agricultural regulations are statewide, county agricultural commissioners can establish local permit conditions. That means growers operating across county lines may have additional requirements to monitor.
Winter Is the Time to Prepare
The end of harvest does not mean agricultural employers can stop thinking about compliance.
Genasci said winter is often when growers work on facility expansion, equipment winterization and annual maintenance before moving quickly into pruning and the next production cycle.
She said the amount of true downtime in agriculture is becoming shorter as growers diversify crops and pursue new opportunities.
That makes the offseason an important time to review safety programs, employee policies, training requirements and compliance materials.
FELS Membership and Contact Information
Genasci said annual FELS membership is $460 for Farm Bureau members. Farm Bureau members also receive a $150 discount on FELS membership, according to Genasci.
FELS members receive access to the hotline, compliance resources, training assistance and an hour of consultation with an agricultural labor-law attorney.
FELS also provides bilingual compliance posters and training resources. Longtime employee Martha, who has been with FELS for 41 years, helps review and update the organization’s English and Spanish compliance materials.
FELS website: FELS.net
Anna Genasci: 925-989-1621
FELS hotline: Available through FELS.net
Genasci said after-hours hotline messages are forwarded to her email, allowing her to respond to urgent requests even when someone cannot answer the phone immediately.
Listen to the Full Ag Meter Interview
Genasci says FELS has been a trusted partner to California farmers, ranchers and dairymen for more than 50 years, and she sees opportunities to expand the organization’s services in the years ahead.
Her conversation with “the Ag Meter” Nick Papagni provides a detailed look at the practical challenges agricultural employers face—and the resources available to help them prepare.
From wage-and-hour questions and workplace safety to immigration-related issues, farm labor contractors, automation and 2027 regulatory changes, the full interview offers valuable insight for anyone working in California agriculture.
Listen to the full Ag Meter interview with Anna Genasci to hear the complete conversation and learn more about how FELS is working to help California agriculture navigate an increasingly complex compliance environment.