For more than a decade, Swineworks has been a trusted staffing partner for the U.S. swine industry. What sets it apart is the authentic, hands-on experience of its Managing Director Victor Ochoa, who began his journey as a farm technician under the TN visa program before rising to management roles. Today, Swineworks connects veterinarians and agronomists from Mexico with farms across the U.S., handling everything from recruitment, and screening to visa processing and workforce management.
“We not only find the workers, we screen them, recruit, and on top of that, we assist with the visa process,” says Victor Ochoa, managing director.
Having once stood in the workers’ boots himself, Ochoa leads with empathy and precision. He understands the cultural, linguistic and practical hurdles immigrant workers face and ensures every placement fits both farm needs and worker aspirations. That firsthand knowledge shapes Swineworks’ operations. While many recruiters have never stepped inside a barn, Ochoa’s team speaks the same language as farmers. With over 30,000 applicants in its database and partnerships with Mexican universities, Swineworks has grown into the largest staffing firm dedicated solely to the swine industry, bridging talent and opportunity across borders.
Comprehensive Staffing and Immigrant Solutions
Swineworks offers three tailored staffing models for farm clients. The direct placement model identifies, screens and connects professionals with employers. The temporary staffing model allows Swineworks to employ workers directly and assign them to farms for specific windows. Its immigration division manages TN visa applications, renewals and employer transitions, handling complexities that often discourage farms from international hiring. The company has also expanded into remote positions such as data entry, bookkeeping and administrative support for agriculture-related businesses.
Every engagement starts with a personal consultation to understand the farm’s needs, environment and expectations. Swineworks works with operations of all sizes. For smaller farms without HR or legal teams, it functions as a partner and an advisor, guiding clients on housing, transportation, wages, benefits and compliance to ensure fairness and stability.
Swineworks effectively serves two primary clients: employers and candidates. For workers, the team provides education on immigration laws, cultural adaptation and job expectations. For farms, it offers market insights, candidate recommendations and long-term workforce planning based on real production cycles and current labor trends.
Behind every placement lies a shared goal, stability. Many U.S. farms, especially those run by older families in rural regions, face chronic labor shortages as younger generations migrate to cities. Meanwhile, skilled graduates in rural Mexico seek sustainable careers. Swineworks bridges that gap. Its placements typically stay two to three years, lowering turnover from 80 percent to just 20 percent and giving farmers the continuity they need for production planning.
For workers, the transformation is often life changing. One Swineworks candidate who started at $12 an hour in Kentucky now earns $25, owns a home in U.S. and supports his family back in Mexico. Stories like this reflect the company’s dual impact— strengthening U.S. agriculture while creating upward mobility for Mexican professionals.
Leading Agricultural Force with Staffing Solutions
Swineworks has placed more than 1,500 professionals in the swine industry. The company serves the entire supply chain, from feed mills and swine production to packing plants, and is expanding into markets such as Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Its ability to navigate complex hiring and visa processes has remained a steady anchor for clients. Even when industry approval rates fell to about 10 percent, Swineworks achieved 40 percent. Today, it maintains an exceptional 96 percent approval rate, giving farms confidence that their workforce pipeline will stay secure as the company broadens its capabilities.
With its extensive experience, operational discipline, and firsthand understanding of both sides of the labor equation, Swineworks continues to transform agricultural staffing. It aligns talent with opportunity, strengthens rural communities and builds a more stable future for the U.S. swine industry.
“We not only find the workers, we screen them, recruit, and on top of that, we assist with the visa process,” says Victor Ochoa, managing director.
Having once stood in the workers’ boots himself, Ochoa leads with empathy and precision. He understands the cultural, linguistic and practical hurdles immigrant workers face and ensures every placement fits both farm needs and worker aspirations. That firsthand knowledge shapes Swineworks’ operations. While many recruiters have never stepped inside a barn, Ochoa’s team speaks the same language as farmers. With over 30,000 applicants in its database and partnerships with Mexican universities, Swineworks has grown into the largest staffing firm dedicated solely to the swine industry, bridging talent and opportunity across borders.
Comprehensive Staffing and Immigrant Solutions
Swineworks offers three tailored staffing models for farm clients. The direct placement model identifies, screens and connects professionals with employers. The temporary staffing model allows Swineworks to employ workers directly and assign them to farms for specific windows. Its immigration division manages TN visa applications, renewals and employer transitions, handling complexities that often discourage farms from international hiring. The company has also expanded into remote positions such as data entry, bookkeeping and administrative support for agriculture-related businesses.
Every engagement starts with a personal consultation to understand the farm’s needs, environment and expectations. Swineworks works with operations of all sizes. For smaller farms without HR or legal teams, it functions as a partner and an advisor, guiding clients on housing, transportation, wages, benefits and compliance to ensure fairness and stability.
We not only find the workers, we screen them, recruit, and on top of that, we assist with the visa process
Behind every placement lies a shared goal, stability. Many U.S. farms, especially those run by older families in rural regions, face chronic labor shortages as younger generations migrate to cities. Meanwhile, skilled graduates in rural Mexico seek sustainable careers. Swineworks bridges that gap. Its placements typically stay two to three years, lowering turnover from 80 percent to just 20 percent and giving farmers the continuity they need for production planning.
For workers, the transformation is often life changing. One Swineworks candidate who started at $12 an hour in Kentucky now earns $25, owns a home in U.S. and supports his family back in Mexico. Stories like this reflect the company’s dual impact— strengthening U.S. agriculture while creating upward mobility for Mexican professionals.
Leading Agricultural Force with Staffing Solutions
Swineworks has placed more than 1,500 professionals in the swine industry. The company serves the entire supply chain, from feed mills and swine production to packing plants, and is expanding into markets such as Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Its ability to navigate complex hiring and visa processes has remained a steady anchor for clients. Even when industry approval rates fell to about 10 percent, Swineworks achieved 40 percent. Today, it maintains an exceptional 96 percent approval rate, giving farms confidence that their workforce pipeline will stay secure as the company broadens its capabilities.
With its extensive experience, operational discipline, and firsthand understanding of both sides of the labor equation, Swineworks continues to transform agricultural staffing. It aligns talent with opportunity, strengthens rural communities and builds a more stable future for the U.S. swine industry.
Thank you for Subscribing to Agri Business Review Weekly Brief
