NORFOLK, Neb. -- A northeast Nebraska farm has opened its workforce to Ukrainians leaving their war-torn region.

With the help of the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program, Wolff Farms in Madison County has extended its employment to two Ukrainian workers.

The program allows immigrant workers to be granted temporary work visas for up to nine months in the United States.

While he says the extra hands on the farm have adapted smoothly, Wolff Farms co-owner Jay Wolff notes that it took extra work to complete the rigorous transfer process as well.

"They had a recruiter I guess in Ukraine that helped them and then the recruiter that I hired as well took care of most of the paperwork. It was quite the long process I started back in March to get the guys here in June for work," Wolff said.

The Ukrainian employees came at the perfect time, Wolff said, as they were able to help Wolff Farms to bridge their worker shortage with half their staff being lost to the start of the school year

The H-2A program also helps its immigrant workers by providing them safe and economic opportunities away from their home country as it remains under Russian attack.

"The state sets like the minimum wage for them, and then we have to provide transportation from Ukraine and back to Ukraine. So the plane ticket is one expense and then actually housing as well," said Wolff. 

Wolff said the farm has provided a mutually beneficial relationship with its new workers helping them find solace here in Norfolk.

Along with the H-2A program, Ukrainian immigrants are utilizing other organizations like the Orphan Grain Train to help reunite their families.