H-2A Sponsorship Jobs in Iowa
Iowa's H-2A visa market is driven by row-crop agriculture across the corn belt, with employers in the Des Moines metro, Cedar Rapids corridor, and rural counties like Sioux, Woodbury, and Polk filing consistently. Crop detasseling, hog confinement, and grain harvest operations generate the highest volume of sponsored positions statewide.
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Get Access To All JobsPRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Directly responsible overseeing the safe and ethical care of multiple independently operated swine finishing sites within the Brenneman Pork system.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Implementation of the standard operating protocols on all assigned sites
- Provide face-to-face coaching and direction, and hands-on technical support to the site caregivers, site owners, and employees to ensure production and quality standards are properly executed
- Meet with every caregiver at one of their sites weekly (rotate sites if they oversee multiple sites)
- Ensure bio-security and euthanasia policies are posted and enforced at all assigned sites
- Ensure ALL welfare issues are addressed before leaving site
- On-call for emergencies and/or alarms unless previously coordinated prior to use of PTO
- Consistently provide accurate records to ensure data integrity, the same day of the movement (within 24hrs)
- Responsible for ensuring accurate data is entered online or in SharePoint daily
- Report accurate physical movement counts and mortality reporting
- Responsible for recounts on all inventory variance greater than 2 pigs and responsible for explanation of variance
- Maintain effective communication with all site caregivers, employees, veterinary staff, and management
- Responsible for ensuring site caregivers are aware of all pig movements to and from sites
- Follow the Routine Vaccination and Therapeutic Medication protocol
- Communicate with manager and veterinary staff on non-diagnosed health complications
- Monitor and control medication usage by site/flow, including site and truck inventories
- Complete weekly schedule for following weeks’ activity and submit in SharePoint each Friday
- Complete weekly site evaluation for each assigned site and submit online. Follow up on ALL action items.
- Monitor and adjust ventilation on all barns to assure correct temperature, proper movement of CFMs, etc. to ensure pig comfort
- Follow and ensure compliance with PQA/TQA protocols
SKILL & KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:
- 2+ years of experience in swine production
- 2+ years of experience in personnel management
- Must possess organization, leadership, production, problem solving, and communication skills
- Ability to use a computer effectively, including use of MS Excel, Office & Outlook
- Valid driver's license
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift, move or carry up to 60 pounds with reasonable accommodation
- Agility to avoid direct physical contact with unpredictable animals
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and squat for extended period of time on varied surfaces and capable of being on their feet for up to 10 hours a day
- Ability to work in noise levels that may require hearing protection
- Ability to reach with hands and arms, balance, and climb over gates up to 48 inches in height
- Must possess ambulatory skills sufficient to move throughout the farm
- Must possess good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including the use of hands to finger, handle, grasp or feel objects, tools, controls, or animals
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Interest or passion for producing quality pork at a competitive price to feed the world
- Respect and care for all animals is required. The ideal candidate must also possess experience in creating a culture of respect and care for all animals
- Knowledge and enforcement of the latest industry biosecurity best practices must be observed and enforced throughout the farm
- Individual must be dedicated, goal-oriented, motivated and able to work effectively as a team member
- Excellent interpersonal & communications skills with ability to work effectively with others in a positive manner
- Able to operate and communicate effectively in a fast-paced system
- Excellent time management & organizational skills, with ability to meet deadlines
- Knowledge of and ability to follow company policies and procedures precisely
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to multitask
PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Directly responsible overseeing the safe and ethical care of multiple independently operated swine finishing sites within the Brenneman Pork system.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Implementation of the standard operating protocols on all assigned sites
- Provide face-to-face coaching and direction, and hands-on technical support to the site caregivers, site owners, and employees to ensure production and quality standards are properly executed
- Meet with every caregiver at one of their sites weekly (rotate sites if they oversee multiple sites)
- Ensure bio-security and euthanasia policies are posted and enforced at all assigned sites
- Ensure ALL welfare issues are addressed before leaving site
- On-call for emergencies and/or alarms unless previously coordinated prior to use of PTO
- Consistently provide accurate records to ensure data integrity, the same day of the movement (within 24hrs)
- Responsible for ensuring accurate data is entered online or in SharePoint daily
- Report accurate physical movement counts and mortality reporting
- Responsible for recounts on all inventory variance greater than 2 pigs and responsible for explanation of variance
- Maintain effective communication with all site caregivers, employees, veterinary staff, and management
- Responsible for ensuring site caregivers are aware of all pig movements to and from sites
- Follow the Routine Vaccination and Therapeutic Medication protocol
- Communicate with manager and veterinary staff on non-diagnosed health complications
- Monitor and control medication usage by site/flow, including site and truck inventories
- Complete weekly schedule for following weeks’ activity and submit in SharePoint each Friday
- Complete weekly site evaluation for each assigned site and submit online. Follow up on ALL action items.
- Monitor and adjust ventilation on all barns to assure correct temperature, proper movement of CFMs, etc. to ensure pig comfort
- Follow and ensure compliance with PQA/TQA protocols
SKILL & KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:
- 2+ years of experience in swine production
- 2+ years of experience in personnel management
- Must possess organization, leadership, production, problem solving, and communication skills
- Ability to use a computer effectively, including use of MS Excel, Office & Outlook
- Valid driver's license
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift, move or carry up to 60 pounds with reasonable accommodation
- Agility to avoid direct physical contact with unpredictable animals
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and squat for extended period of time on varied surfaces and capable of being on their feet for up to 10 hours a day
- Ability to work in noise levels that may require hearing protection
- Ability to reach with hands and arms, balance, and climb over gates up to 48 inches in height
- Must possess ambulatory skills sufficient to move throughout the farm
- Must possess good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including the use of hands to finger, handle, grasp or feel objects, tools, controls, or animals
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Interest or passion for producing quality pork at a competitive price to feed the world
- Respect and care for all animals is required. The ideal candidate must also possess experience in creating a culture of respect and care for all animals
- Knowledge and enforcement of the latest industry biosecurity best practices must be observed and enforced throughout the farm
- Individual must be dedicated, goal-oriented, motivated and able to work effectively as a team member
- Excellent interpersonal & communications skills with ability to work effectively with others in a positive manner
- Able to operate and communicate effectively in a fast-paced system
- Excellent time management & organizational skills, with ability to meet deadlines
- Knowledge of and ability to follow company policies and procedures precisely
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to multitask
Search H-2A Jobs by Industry in Iowa
Tips for Finding H-2A Sponsorship Jobs in Iowa
Verify your agricultural worker eligibility early
H-2A requires that your role involves temporary or seasonal agricultural labor. Review O*NET occupation profiles for titles like crop farmworker or livestock worker to confirm your experience matches the job duties Iowa employers will list on their petitions.
Target employers before peak filing windows
Iowa corn and soybean harvest runs August through October, and detasseling demand peaks in July. Employers filing for those seasons submit petitions to DOL at least 60 days before the start date, so position yourself with target employers in spring.
Search verified H-2A employer filings on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to identify Iowa employers with active H-2A Labor Condition Application history, filtered by county or job title. This surfaces real sponsors faster than cold outreach across rural areas where job postings are sparse.
Understand Iowa's housing obligation before accepting an offer
DOL requires H-2A employers to provide free housing that meets federal and state standards. Ask prospective Iowa employers for their housing location and inspection records before signing anything, since rural placements near Sioux City or Iowa Falls may affect your logistics significantly.
Check the OFLC Wage Search for your specific Iowa county
H-2A workers must be paid the higher of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate or the OFLC prevailing wage for their occupation and county. Iowa rates vary by crop type and region, so use the OFLC Wage Search to benchmark what employers in Polk or Linn County are required to pay.
Confirm your employer has filed the required job order
Before a petition reaches USCIS, Iowa employers must submit a job order through Iowa Workforce Development, the state workforce agency. If an employer skips this step, the DOL will reject the application. Ask directly whether the state job order has been filed and accepted.
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Get Access To All JobsH-2A Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Iowa sponsor the most H-2A visas?
Row-crop agriculture dominates H-2A sponsorship in Iowa. Corn detasseling operations, soybean and grain harvest employers, hog and poultry confinement facilities, and nursery or greenhouse growers file the largest share of petitions. Employers in livestock feeding operations across northwest Iowa, particularly in Sioux and O'Brien counties, also file consistently throughout the year.
Which cities in Iowa have the most H-2A sponsorship jobs?
H-2A activity in Iowa is concentrated in agricultural regions rather than urban centers. Sioux City and surrounding northwest Iowa counties see high livestock-related filings. The Cedar Rapids corridor supports grain and processing-related seasonal work. Rural areas near Mason City, Iowa Falls, and Ottumwa also generate consistent H-2A demand tied to crop and animal agriculture cycles.
What types of roles typically qualify for H-2A sponsorship in Iowa?
Qualifying roles must involve temporary or seasonal agricultural labor. In Iowa, that includes crop farmworkers for detasseling and harvest, swine and poultry farmworkers at confinement operations, irrigators, and equipment operators for planting or harvest seasons. The work must be tied to a defined agricultural season, not year-round operational needs, to meet H-2A eligibility under USCIS guidelines.
How do I find H-2A jobs in Iowa?
Migrate Mate lets you filter verified H-2A employer filings by Iowa county, job title, and season, which is faster than searching rural areas where formal job postings rarely appear. You can also check DOL's job clearance system, where Iowa employers are required to post open H-2A positions before petitions are approved, making it a reliable source for active openings.
Are there any Iowa-specific considerations for H-2A sponsorship?
Iowa requires employers to submit their H-2A job order through Iowa Workforce Development before DOL will certify the petition. Iowa also participates in E-Verify, and some larger agricultural employers require enrollment confirmation. Workers placed in northwest Iowa's confined animal feeding operations should clarify housing proximity upfront, as facilities are often located far from the nearest town with services.