National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE)

What National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) does

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1964 and headquartered at 1550 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington, Virginia. It is the only national association focused exclusively on agricultural labor issues from the agricultural employer's viewpoint, representing farmers, ranchers, growers, state and regional agricultural associations, and H-2A service providers (agents, attorneys, labor brokers). NCAE's core mission is advocating for legislation, regulation, and federal policies that keep American agricultural employers viable, with particular focus on the H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program.

NCAE operates a membership-based revenue model with five annual tiers ranging from $600 (Subscriber, for small growers with fewer than 20 seasonal employees) to $15,000 (Leader, for industry leaders with Executive Committee appointment). Intermediate tiers are Supporter ($1,825), Benefactor ($3,850), and Patron ($7,000). A secondary revenue stream comes from event sponsorships and registrations tied to two flagship annual events: the Ag Employer Labor Forum (held in Las Vegas each December) and the NCAE Annual Meeting (held in Washington, D.C. each February). Complementary offerings include a monthly educational webinar series (with SHRM recertification credits), an agricultural employer guide library covering H-2A, MSPA, OSHA, and Affordable Care Act compliance, congressional briefings, and a curated directory of federal agency links. The organization is staffed by 9 employees and governed by an Executive Committee with representation from member organizations across the citrus, produce, dairy, apple, and H-2A services sectors.

NCAE's go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with growth derived from advocacy results, event quality, and member referrals. Distribution channels include direct membership sales via the website (ncaeonline.org), self-serve resource access, and in-person event registration. The organization's principal value proposition is regulatory access and influence — providing members direct engagement with the Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, USDA, and Congress on labor and immigration policy affecting labor-intensive agriculture.

Name

National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE)

Legal name

National Council of Agricultural Employers

Website

https://ncaeonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is a 501(c)(6) trade association, founded in 1964, that exclusively advocates for agricultural employers on labor and H-2A visa policy before federal agencies and Congress.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Primary revenue stream from membership dues across five tiers (Subscriber $600/year, Supporter $1,825/year, Benefactor $3,850/year, Patron $7,000/year, Leader $15,000/year). Membership provides access to news briefs, action calls, alert memos, analysis memos, website recognition, and executive committee appointments.
2. Event Sponsorships and Registrations: Revenue from annual Ag Employer Labor Forum and Annual Meeting events including sponsorship packages at various levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Supporter).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NCAE is a 501(c)(6) national trade association that provides legislative advocacy, regulatory representation, and educational resources exclusively for agricultural employers on labor-related issues. Its core offerings include tiered membership subscriptions, the annual Ag Employer Labor Forum and Annual Meeting, a monthly educational webinar series, compliance guides for H-2A and other labor regulations, and direct policy engagement with federal agencies and Congress.

Product overview

The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is a national trade association, not a technology product company. It operates as a membership-based organization offering advocacy services, educational resources, events, and compliance guidance for agricultural employers. The primary offerings include membership at multiple tiers (Subscriber, Supporter, Benefactor, Patron, Leader), the annual Ag Employer Labor Forum conference, the NCAE Annual Meeting, an educational webinar series, agricultural employer guides covering compliance topics, H-2A visa program advocacy, and a curated resource center of useful government agency links. There is no software product, platform, or API offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCAE Membership Tiered membership program offering five levels (Subscriber $600/year, Supporter $1,825/year, Benefactor $3,850/year, Patron $7,000/year, Leader $15,000/year) with access to Weekly News Briefs, NCAE Action Calls, Alert Memos, Analysis Memos, website recognition, and Executive Committee appointments for agricultural employers, H-2A agents, and industry stakeholders.
• Ag Employer Labor Forum Annual conference bringing together farmers, ranchers, agricultural employers, agents, attorneys and professionals to learn from industry experts, engage in trade show activities, and network on topics including labor laws, immigration policies, workforce development, and best practices for managing agricultural labor.
• NCAE Annual Meeting Annual gathering of NCAE members featuring legislative updates, regulatory discussions, and networking opportunities with federal representatives and agricultural employment leaders from across the United States.
• NCAE Webinar Series Educational webinar series focusing on issues facing agricultural employers, featuring industry experts providing insight on H-2A program compliance, labor regulations, wage requirements, and workforce management topics.
• Agricultural Employer Guides How-to guides and resources covering government audit preparation, model workplace policies, and compliance checklists for agricultural employers including H-2A, MSPA, OSHA, and Affordable Care Act requirements.
• H-2A Visa Program Advocacy Advocacy and resource services supporting agricultural employers with the H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program, including regulatory reform efforts, compliance guidance, and legislative representation.

Quantifiable outcome

• H-2A program grew from fewer than 100,000 certified positions in 2013 to nearly 400,000 in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, significant and minor.

• DudacoreOthersDuda is a prominent agricultural company and founding member organization of NCAE, participating on the Executive Committee and supporting the organization's advocacy efforts.
• Florida Citrus MutualcoreOthersMajor citrus industry association and NCAE member organization with Executive Committee representation.
• Florida Fruit & Vegetable AssociationcoreOthersLeading produce association member with Treasurer position held on NCAE Executive Committee.
• másLaborcoreOthersH-2A compliance services provider and Executive Committee member organization.
• New England Apple CouncilcoreOthersRegional agricultural association whose Executive Director serves as Chairman of NCAE.
• Grower-Shipper Association of Central CaliforniacoreOthersCentral California agricultural association with President Christopher Valadez serving on NCAE Executive Committee.
• waflacoreOthersH-2A services organization and 2023 'Best Farmworker Housing' award winner, Executive Committee member.
• Western GrowerscoreOthersMajor Western agricultural association and NCAE patron supporting the organization.
• Fisher & Phillips LLPsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor and employment law firm providing legal expertise for NCAE webinars, compliance guidance, and member education on H-2A and agricultural labor issues.
• SesocoreOthersH-2A attorney services and immigration law firm, Executive Committee member organization.
• MalitzLaw, Inc.coreOthersImmigration law firm specializing in employment-based matters, with Principal Jeanne Malitz serving as Secretary of NCAE Executive Committee.
• Torrey FarmscoreOthers12th generation family farm whose Immediate Past Chairwoman Maureen Torrey serves on NCAE Executive Committee.
• Saunders BrothersminorOthers4th generation family farm and 2023 'Doing Good' award winner, representing small-to-medium agricultural employers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Farmers Union: National advocacy organization representing family farmers and ranchers on policy issues including labor and immigration. Comparable membership-based advocacy model, though with different policy orientation than NCAE.
• Agriculture Workforce Coalition: Coalition of agricultural employer and grower groups formed to advocate for immigration reform and agricultural labor access. Directly comparable mission to NCAE's H-2A and labor advocacy work.
• National Milk Producers Federation: Dairy industry trade association engaged in federal advocacy on labor, immigration, and farm policy. Comparable to NCAE's advocacy mission for a specific agricultural employer segment; Hollay also previously worked there in government affairs.
• AmericanHort: Trade association representing horticulture industry employers including nursery, greenhouse, and landscape businesses. Comparable as a specialty agricultural employer association engaged in labor and H-2A advocacy.
• Western Growers Association: Major regional agricultural employer association representing growers, shippers, and processors in California, Arizona, and other Western states. Directly comparable to NCAE in serving agricultural employers, particularly on labor and regulatory matters; listed as an NCAE patron/member organization.
• International Fresh Produce Association: Trade association for the fresh produce industry with significant labor and policy advocacy focus. NCAE President & CEO John Hollay previously served as Director of U.S. Government Relations there, indicating direct functional overlap in agricultural employer policy work.

Broad incumbents

• American Farm Bureau Federation: Largest US general agricultural trade association. Comparable as a national membership organization advocating for farmers, but covers broader issues (commodities, trade, environment) rather than specializing in agricultural labor/employer issues like NCAE.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Largest US business association with broad labor and immigration policy advocacy. Operates in adjacent policy space and overlaps with NCAE's employer-side advocacy on workforce and regulatory issues.

Emerging players

• wafla: Labor association providing H-2A and farmworker housing services to agricultural employers in the Western US. Listed as NCAE Executive Committee member and 2023 'Best Farmworker Housing' award winner; comparable focus on H-2A service delivery to employers.

Others

• United Farm Workers: Labor union representing farmworkers; not a peer organization but operates on the opposite side of the agricultural labor regulatory space NCAE engages in. Highly relevant as an active litigant against DOL H-2A rules that NCAE supports.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-council-of-agricultural-employers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE)