Ready to grow your dream? From dirt to dollars, here’s your step-by-step guide to starting a farm in Riverside County—made simple, local, and built for today
It is never to late to start
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Labor, Workers & the H-2A Program
How to Hire Farm Labor in Riverside County (Including H-2A Program)
Key Steps Simplified:
Understand the difference between local hires and H-2A temporary workers.
Meet the required standards for housing, wages, and transportation.
Apply for H-2A certification if using the H-2A Visa program.
Hiring Options:
Choose between local labor, seasonal hires, or guest workers through H-2A.
Use the H-2A Visa program to bring in temporary agricultural workers when needed.
Ensure all housing, transportation, and wage requirements are certified and met.
📚Essential Resources:
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Grants, Loans & Funding
This section breaks down startup grants, conservation incentives, and where to find support for small and beginning farmers.
✅ Key Steps:
Apply for CDFA and USDA grants (many available!)
Connect with lenders focused on small ag
Use cost-share programs to reduce irrigation or energy costs
📚 Essential Resources:
CDFA Grants Portal – All current state ag grants
USDA Farm Service Agency – Direct loans & microloans
California FarmLink – Loans + land access help
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Plan & Set Up Your Farm
This section guides users through defining their farm vision, choosing what to grow, and understanding where and how to legally operate in Riverside County.
✅ Key Steps:
Decide what to grow (e.g., dates, citrus, flowers, veggies, livestock)
Check land use, zoning, and water access
Register your business (LLC, DBA, etc.)
📚 Essential Resources:
UCANR Small Farm Program – Training & crop planning
Riverside County Planning Department – Zoning and land use
CDFA Beginning Farmer Resources – How to start
CA Secretary of State Business Portal – Business registration
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Supporting Farmworker Families: H-2B, H-4 & More
Agriculture isn’t just about crops—it’s about people. This section supports farmworkers, their spouses, and families by explaining visa options, legal rights, and local support systems that help build a stable life in Riverside County and beyond.
🌿 H-2B Program: Seasonal Non-Agricultural Jobs
Though not used directly on farms, the H-2B visa is available for seasonal, temporary jobs like:
Food processing
Farm equipment repair
Construction or landscaping services that support ag
✅ Key Facts:
Not for crop harvest or planting (that's H-2A)
Employers must prove no U.S. workers are available
Housing is not guaranteed like in H-2A
📚 Resources:
🏡 H-4 Visa: Family Members of H-2A/H-2B Workers
Spouses and children of H-2A or H-2B workers may apply for an H-4 visa, allowing them to live in the U.S. during the worker’s employment period.
✅ What H-4 Allows:
H-4 holders cannot work unless they later change visa status
They can attend school
It provides family unity and stability for workers who stay for multiple seasons
📚 Resources:
Immigration Help for Farmworker Families (FARMWORKER JUSTICE)