---
title: "Check a farm labor contractor's MSPA certificate of registration"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law/check-whether-a-seasonal-horticulture-labour-provider-holds-a-labour-hir/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A38-OB20261022-4-US"
practice_area: "Agribusiness & Rural Law"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check a farm labor contractor's MSPA certificate of registration

> Record the contractor's name, certificate number, expiration date, and whether the published authorization covers housing, using vehicles to transport workers, or driving.…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law/check-whether-a-seasonal-horticulture-labour-provider-holds-a-labour-hir/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Agribusiness & Rural Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Record the contractor's name, certificate number, expiration date, and whether the published authorization covers housing, using vehicles to transport workers, or driving. Do not treat a farmer's own employees as farm labor contractors, and do not complete an application. |
| What the lawyer must review | The Department of Labor's MSPA pages state that only a person holding a valid certificate issued by the Secretary of Labor may engage in farm labor contracting activities, and that individuals and companies must register with the Department in order to operate legally as farm labor contractors. Those pages also state that there are special registration requirements for a contractor who intends to house, transport, or drive a migrant or seasonal agricultural worker, and that the Wage and Hour Division's list of current certificate holders shows whether the holder is authorized to house workers, to use vehicles to transport workers, or to drive. The list shows the expiration date and certificate number. The lawyer checks the current certificate against the work to be done. This registration is for farm labor contractors. It is not a requirement, on these pages, that every farmer hold a certificate. Fact Sheet 49 and the application instructions were not opened. ABA Model Rules 1.1 and 5.3 and Formal Opinion 512 leave the check with the lawyer. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Check whether a seasonal horticulture labour provider holds a labour hire licence](https://ailawframework.com/practice/agribusiness-and-rural-law/check-whether-a-seasonal-horticulture-labour-provider-holds-a-labour-hir.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Record the contractor's name, certificate number, expiration date, and whether the published authorization covers housing, using vehicles to transport workers, or driving. Do not treat a farmer's own employees as farm labor contractors, and do not complete an application.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- The pages describe a federal certificate for farm labor contractors. They do not say every farmer must hold one.
- Housing, transport, and driving are separate authorizations shown on the certificate list. The application form's fields were not opened.
- A state labor-contractor statute may add a further registration. None was opened.

## Sources

- [Department of Labor, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/agriculture/mspa) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [Wage and Hour Division, registered farm labor contractors](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/agriculture/mspa/farm-labor-contractors) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*