HDR1012000170051121971500FARM LABOR                                             
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released November 21, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service     
(NASS), Agricultural Sta202) 690-3228, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Hired Workers and Wages 5 Percent Above a Year Ago                       
                                                                                
There were 1.29 million hired workers on the Nation's farms and ranches during  
the week of October 12-18, 1997, up 5 percent from a year ago.  Farm operators  
directly hired 1,003,000 workers.  Agricultural service employees on farms and  
ranches made up the remaining 283,000 workers.  Migrant workers accounted for   
11.2 percent of the hired workforce.                                            
                                                                                
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $7.31 per hour       
during the October 1997 survey week, up 34 cents from a year earlier.  Field    
workers received an average of $6.94 per hour, up 36 cents.  Livestock workers  
earned $6.80 per hour compared with $6.57 a year earlier.                       
                                                                                
Ideal weather conditions during the survey week of October 12-18, in the        
central and eastern Corn Belt allowed fall harvest activity to surge ahead of   
normal.  Heavy rains in the central Great Plains slowed row-crop harvest        
activity.  Favorable conditions along the Pacific Coast allowed fieldwork and   
seedbed preparation to advance.  Dry weather in Florida caused citrus           
caretakers and vegetable producers to irrigate. After heavy early-week rains,   
breezy, dry conditions allowed for a rapid return to summer crop harvesting and 
winter wheat planting across the Plains and Midwest.                            
                                                                                
In California, ground preparation for planting small grains, forage crops and   
new alfalfa gained momentum.  Rice harvest was virtually complete in the        
Sacramento Valley and was rapidly winding down in the San Joaquin Valley.       
Cotton harvest neared completion in the Imperial and Sacramento Valleys, while  
the San Joaquin Valley harvest was progressing normally.   Harvest of grapes    
for juice and wine slowed but table grapes were still being harvested and       
packed.  The walnut and pistachio harvests were nearly complete.   Navel orange 
and grapefruit harvesting continued.  Broccoli and cauliflower harvest          
continued in the Salinas-Watsonville area.  Lettuce harvest in Monterey County  
was winding down.  Harvest of fresh market tomatoes in the San Joaquin Valley   
progressed normally.                                                            
                                                                                
Cool, dry conditions in Florida accelerated harvesting of crops during the      
week.  Sugarcane planting was active.  Caretakers were mowing, chopping and     
discing cover crops that had dried and were a fire hazard. There were still a   
few fertilizers, herbicides and sprays being applied where needed.              
                                                                                
Most small grains planting have been completed in the Plains of Texas.  Cotton  
producers were well into harvest in the High Plains and North Central Texas,    
however wet fields at mid-week caused some delays.  Corn harvest was winding    
down in most fields prior to the wet conditions.  Cool, cloudy wet conditions   
slowed final rice harvest operations along the Upper Coast.  Sugar beets        
harvest progressed slowly in the Plains as wet conditions limited fieldwork.    
Pecan harvest began in many areas.                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Farm Labor:  Employment and Wage Rates, United States,             
                    October 12-18, 1997, with Comparisons 1/                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             : October 6-12,  :   July 6-12,   : October 12-18, 
       Farm Employment       :      1996      :      1997      :      1997      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :                      1,000                       
                             :                                                  
Hired Workers                :       935            *1,069           1,003      
  Expected to be Employed    :                                                  
    150 Days or More         :       625               689             648      
    149 Days or Less         :       310              *380             355      
                             :                                                  
Agricultural Services        :                                                  
  Workers Working on Farms   :       291               340             283      
                             :                                                  
Hired Farm & Service Workers :     1,226             1,409           1,286      
                             :                                                  
                             :                                                  
                             :                     Percent                      
                             :                                                  
Migrant Workers Percent of   :                                                  
 Hired Farm & Service Workers:      11.1              10.8            11.2      
                             :                                                  
                             :                                                  
                             :                  Hours per Week                  
                             :                                                  
Hours Worked                 :                                                  
 Hired                       :      40.6              40.9            40.9      
                             :                                                  
                             :                                                  
                             :                 Dollars per Hour                 
                             :                                                  
Wage Rates for               :                                                  
 All Hired Workers 2/ 3/     :      6.97             *6.88            7.31      
                             :                                                  
Type of Worker               :                                                  
 Field & Livestock Combined  :      6.58             *6.46            6.91      
   Field                     :      6.58             *6.44            6.94      
   Livestock                 :      6.57              6.54            6.80      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Excludes AK.                                                                
2/  Benefits, such as housing and meals, are provided some workers but the      
    values are not included in the wage rates.                                  
3/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region               
                    and United States, October 12-18, 1997 1/                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             Hired                             
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      U.S.      :               :    Expected to be Employed    :               
       and      :    Number     :-------------------------------:    Number     
    Region 2/   :      of       :   150 Days    :   149 Days    :   of hours    
                :    Workers    :    or More    :    or Less    :    Worked     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :     --------------- 1,000 --------------       Hours per Week 
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :        46             32              14            40.4      
Northeast II    :        43             34               9            37.1      
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :        53             22              31            31.3      
Appalachian II  :        52             18              34            29.9      
                :                                                               
Southeast       :        32             25               7            39.4      
FL              :        44             41               3            40.0      
                :                                                               
Lake            :        80             48              32            41.3      
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :        56             33              23            41.3      
Cornbelt II     :        46             29              17            39.9      
                :                                                               
Delta           :        52             35              17            45.4      
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :        52             35              17            45.8      
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :        66             45              21            38.8      
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :        28             20               8            41.5      
Mountain II     :        26             21               5            40.3      
Mountain III    :        20             16               4            41.5      
                :                                                               
Pacific         :        79             42              37            41.0      
CA              :       220            145              75            45.6      
                :                                                               
HI              :         8              7               1            36.4      
                :                                                               
US 3/           :     1,003            648             355            40.9      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
      Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Workers and All Hired Workers      
               by Region and United States, October 12-18, 1997 1/              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Type of Worker               :                  
      U.S.      :--------------------------------------------:  Wage Rates for  
       and      :              :              :Field & Lvstk :All Hired Workers 
    Region 2/   :    Field     :  Livestock   :   Combined   :                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :     7.39           6.45           7.09             7.49       
Northeast II    :     6.68           6.18           6.50             7.06       
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :     6.51           6.77           6.55             6.73       
Appalachian II  :     6.14           6.16           6.14             6.27       
                :                                                               
Southeast       :     6.38           6.27           6.36             6.95       
FL              :     7.10           7.50           7.17             7.75       
                :                                                               
Lake            :     7.85           6.01           7.28             7.73       
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :     7.17           7.46           7.21             7.81       
Cornbelt II     :     7.08           7.08           7.08             7.23       
                :                                                               
Delta           :     5.92           6.40           5.99             6.22       
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :     7.05           6.59           6.91             7.22       
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :     6.10           6.73           6.41             6.70       
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :     6.28           6.74           6.43             6.65       
Mountain II     :     6.74           7.23           6.85             7.25       
Mountain III    :     6.17           6.66           6.25             6.85       
                :                                                               
Pacific         :     7.55           8.14           7.60             8.11       
CA              :     7.06           7.84           7.13             7.55       
                :                                                               
HI 3/           :     8.49                          8.55             9.98       
                :                                                               
US 4/           :     6.94           6.80           6.91             7.31       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Insufficient data for livestock.                                            
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region               
                      and United States, July 6-12, 1997 1/                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             Hired                             
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      U.S.      :               :    Expected to be Employed    :               
       and      :    Number     :-------------------------------:    Number     
    Region 2/   :      of       :   150 Days    :   149 Days    :   of Hours    
                :    Workers    :    or More    :    or Less    :    Worked     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :    --------------- 1,000 ---------------       Hours per Week 
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :        49             35              14             37.2     
Northeast II    :        48             33              15             46.0     
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :        67             26              41             38.3     
Appalachian II  :        39             16              23             30.7     
                :                                                               
Southeast       :        48             33              15             37.2     
FL              :        40             36               4             41.5     
                :                                                               
Lake            :        70             43              27             35.1     
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :        65             36              29             33.2     
Cornbelt II     :        37             29               8             33.5     
                :                                                               
Delta           :        50             36              14             41.9     
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :        51             35              16             43.0     
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :        82             54              28             44.3     
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :       *26             17              *9            *41.7     
Mountain II     :        30             21               9             49.5     
Mountain III    :        25             17               8             41.2     
                :                                                               
Pacific         :       108             52              56             39.9     
CA              :       227            164              63            *46.4     
                :                                                               
HI              :         7              6               1             37.6     
                :                                                               
US 3/           :    *1,069            689            *380             40.9     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Worker and All Hired Workers      
                 By Region and United States, July 6-12, 1997 1/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Type of Worker               :                  
      U.S.      :--------------------------------------------:  Wage Rates for  
       and      :              :              :Field & Lvstk :All Hired Workers 
    Region 2/   :    Field     :  Livestock   :   Combined   :                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :     6.99           6.41           6.81             7.15       
Northeast II    :     6.29           5.71           6.10             6.56       
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :     5.62           6.67           5.77             5.87       
Appalachian II  :     5.65           5.45           5.60             5.80       
                :                                                               
Southeast       :     5.92           6.08           5.95             6.46       
FL              :     6.71           6.60           6.69             7.60       
                :                                                               
Lake            :     6.56           6.10           6.35             6.72       
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :     6.70           7.84           6.95             7.63       
Cornbelt II     :     6.93           6.65           6.82             7.17       
                :                                                               
Delta           :     5.67           6.42           5.86             6.23       
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :     6.95           6.99           6.96            *7.39       
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :     5.60           6.17           5.83             6.32       
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :    *5.89           6.39          *6.00            *6.19       
Mountain II     :     5.88           6.69           6.00             6.33       
Mountain III    :     6.30           6.21           6.29             6.99       
                :                                                               
Pacific         :     6.83           8.54           6.93             7.33       
CA              :     6.74           7.43          *6.79            *7.18       
                :                                                               
HI 3/           :     9.11                          9.10            10.34       
                :                                                               
US 3/           :    *6.44           6.54          *6.46            *6.88       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Insufficient data for livestock.                                            
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region               
                    and United States, October 6-12, 1996 1/                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             Hired                             
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      U.S.      :               :    Expected to be Employed    :               
       and      :    Number     :-------------------------------:    Number     
    Region 2/   :      of       :   150 Days    :   149 Days    :   of Hours    
                :    Workers    :  or More 3/   :  or Less 3/   :    Worked     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      -------------- 1,000 --------------       Hours per Week 
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :       52              39              13            40.7      
Northeast II    :       38              28              10            40.1      
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :       42              23              19            35.3      
Appalachian II  :       33              16              17            29.5      
                :                                                               
Southeast       :       36              28               8            34.6      
FL              :       45              40               5            37.0      
                :                                                               
Lake            :       67              40              27            37.7      
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :       50              32              18            36.9      
Cornbelt II     :       40              26              14            33.9      
                :                                                               
Delta           :       42              32              10            50.7      
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :       47              31              16            47.3      
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :       63              42              21            41.2      
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :       23              17               6            50.6      
Mountain II     :       23              18               5            45.0      
Mountain III    :       19              17               2            45.1      
                :                                                               
Pacific         :      101              51              50            44.0      
CA              :      206             138              68            40.9      
                :                                                               
HI              :        8               7               1            39.7      
                :                                                               
US 3/           :      935             625             310            40.6      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Worker and All Hired Workers      
               By Region and United States, October 6-12, 1996 1/               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Type of Worker               :                  
      U.S.      :--------------------------------------------:  Wage Rates for  
       and      :              :              :Field & Lvstk :All Hired Workers 
    Region 2/   :    Field     :  Livestock   :   Combined   :                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :     7.21           6.28           6.92             7.36       
Northeast II    :     6.91           5.57           6.58             7.10       
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :     5.98           6.35           6.04             6.38       
Appalachian II  :     5.84           5.73           5.82             5.97       
                :                                                               
Southeast       :     6.54           5.71           6.45             6.82       
FL              :     6.31           6.65           6.35             7.35       
                :                                                               
Lake            :     7.56           6.47           7.13             7.41       
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :     6.48           7.19           6.58             7.02       
Cornbelt II     :     6.34           6.58           6.43             6.74       
                :                                                               
Delta           :     5.57           6.02           5.65             5.78       
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :     7.02           6.46           6.93             7.22       
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :     5.38           6.00           5.56             5.85       
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :     6.16           7.31           6.60             6.57       
Mountain II     :     6.11           6.95           6.34             6.98       
Mountain III    :     5.94           6.37           6.11             6.53       
                :                                                               
Pacific         :     7.29           7.28           7.29             7.58       
CA              :     6.67           7.25           6.74             7.22       
                :                                                               
HI 3/           :     8.60                          8.65            *9.75       
                :                                                               
US 3/           :     6.58           6.57           6.58             6.97       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Insufficient data for livestock.                                            
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Field and Livestock Workers Combined:  Wage Rates, by Type           
                       of Farm, by Region and 48 States 1/                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      October 6-12, 1996       :      October 12-18, 1997      
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
    Region 2/   : Field : Other :L'stk &:  All  : Field : Other :L'stk &:  All  
                : Crops : Crops :Poultry: Farms : Crops : Crops :Poultry: Farms 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast       : 6.19    7.36    5.96    6.76    6.80    6.98    6.41    6.70  
Appalachian     : 5.83    6.39    5.85    5.93    6.22    7.03    6.42    6.37  
Southeast       : 5.75    6.25    5.59    6.11    6.45    6.81    7.40    6.85  
Lake            : 8.09    7.89    6.08    7.13    7.16    8.33    6.08    7.28  
Cornbelt        : 6.53    6.36    6.62    6.52    7.12    7.46    7.18    7.20  
Delta           : 5.50    6.24    6.12    5.65    5.58    6.46    6.22    5.99  
Northern Plains : 7.07    6.67    6.44    6.93    7.23    6.97    6.40    6.91  
Southern Plains : 5.27    5.76    5.76    5.56    6.12    6.33    6.55    6.41  
Mountain        : 6.12    5.99    6.91    6.37    6.40    6.48    7.04    6.63  
Pacific         : 6.58    6.97    7.03    6.93    7.52    7.47    8.12    7.66  
48 States       : 6.26    6.83    6.34    6.54    6.58    7.10    6.82    6.91  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
            All Hired Workers:  Wage Rates, by Economic Class of Farm           
                           by Region and 48 States 1/                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :        October 6-12, 1996         :        October 12-18, 1997        
 Region :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   2/   : Gross Value Sales-$1000's  :      : Gross Value Sales-$1000's  :      
        :----------------------------: All  :----------------------------: All  
        : <40  :40-99 :100-249 :250+ :Farms : <40 :40-99 :100-249 : 250+ :Farms 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                           Dollars per Hour                            
        :                                                                       
N. East : 6.63   5.83    5.90   7.85   7.25   7.94  6.81    6.85    7.33   7.27 
Appal.  : 5.98   6.13    5.85   6.48   6.18   5.91  6.36    6.28    7.12   6.40 
S. East : 5.08   4.42    6.12   6.47   6.31   6.82  6.53    6.44    7.72   7.45 
Lake    : 4.78   6.30    6.87   7.94   7.41   5.94  5.10    8.06    7.02   7.73 
Cornbelt: 6.97   6.08    6.27   7.43   6.91   7.40  7.47    6.82    7.80   7.48 
Delta   : 6.04   5.22    5.58   5.86   5.78   6.26  5.91    5.90    6.35   6.22 
N. Plain: 6.38   5.43    7.15   7.49   7.22  10.51  5.48    6.56    7.32   7.22 
S. Plain: 5.66   5.49    5.24   6.27   5.85   5.79  6.12    6.42    7.03   6.70 
Mountain: 5.81   5.83    6.47   6.86   6.71   6.29  5.77    6.07    7.22   6.87 
Pacific : 5.74   7.98    7.55   7.37   7.34   9.92  8.99    8.25    7.88   7.97 
48 State: 5.89   6.32    6.51   7.14   6.97   6.82  6.62    6.93    7.51   7.31 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Regions consist of the following States.                                    
      Northeast: CT, DE, MD, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT.                    
      Appalachian:  KY, NC, TN, VA, WV.                                         
      Southeast:  AL, FL, GA, SC.                                               
      Lake:  MI, MN, WI.                                                        
      Cornbelt:  IA, IL, IN, MO, OH.                                            
      Delta:  AR, LA, MS.                                                       
      Northern Plains:  KS, NE, ND, SD.                                         
      Southern Plains:  OK, TX.                                                 
      Mountain:  AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY.                                
      Pacific:  CA, OR, WA.                                                     
      48 States:  All States, excluding AK and HI.                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                    Field and Livestock Workers: Distribution                   
                       by Type of Farm, 48 States 1/ 2/ 3/                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Type of      :    October 6-12,    :    July 6-12,    :  October 12-18,  
        Farm        :        1996         :       1997       :       1997       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :          Percent of Field and Livestock Workers           
                    :                                                           
Field Crops         :         27                  23                 24         
Other Crops         :         48                  50                 50         
Livestock, Dairy,   :                                                           
 & Poultry          :         25                  27                 26         
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                    Hired Workers:  Distribution by Economic                    
                         Class of Farm, 48 States 1/ 3/                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Gross Value    :    October 6-12,    :    July 6-12,    :  October 12-18,  
      of Sales      :        1996         :       1997       :       1997       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                 Percent of Hired Workers                  
                    :                                                           
Less than $40,000   :         13                  13                 12         
$40,000-$99,999     :          9                  12                 10         
$100,000-$249,999   :         17                  15                 15         
$250,000 and over   :         61                  60                 63         
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Hired Workers:  Distribution by Category, United States, 1/ 3/         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             : October 6-12,  :   July 6-12,   : October 12-18, 
                             :      1996      :      1997      :      1997      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :             Percent of Hired Workers             
Employed on Farms Hiring     :                                                  
  1 Worker                   :      10               10               11        
  2 Workers                  :      10               11               11        
  3-6 Workers                :      21               23               20        
  7-10 Workers               :      10               11                8        
  At least 11 Workers        :      49               45               50        
                             :     100.0            100.0            100.0      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  48 States, excluding AK and HI.                                             
2/  Field and Livestock Workers combined.                                       
3/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                      Agricultural Services                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Crew leaders and custom crews provided 283,000 workers for the Nation's farms   
and ranches during the week of October 12-18, 1997.  Service workers in         
California numbered 85,000 compared with 88,000 during the October 1996 survey  
week.  Florida's number of service workers was 5,700 and compare to 7,000 last  
year.                                                                           
                                                                                
The average wage received by agricultural service workers in California and     
Florida were $7.37 and $8.29 per hour, respectively.  Comparable wages in       
October 1996 were $6.63 in California and $7.30 in Florida.                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
      Agricultural Service Workers:  Number, Hours Worked, and Wage Rates,      
                  for California, Florida, and United States 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :    Number of Workers    :         Hours         :         Wage          
      :    Working on Farms     :       Worked 2/       :      Rates 2/ 3/      
 State:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :  Oct  :  Jul   :  Oct   :  Oct  :  Jul  :  Oct  :  Oct  :  Jul  :  Oct  
      : 1996  :  1997  :  1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      : -------- 1,000 -------    ------- Hours ------      Dollars per Hour    
      :                                                                         
CA    :  88.0    96.0     85.0    36.3    37.2    34.5    6.63    6.87    7.37  
FL    :   7.0     4.0      5.7    24.0    39.5    27.2    7.30    8.10    8.29  
      :                                                                         
US    : 291.0   340.0    283.0                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Data are for Agricultural Services performed on the farm by custom          
    service units such as crew leaders or custom crews.  These statistics are   
    not included in the State-Regional tables.                                  
2/  United States data not available.                                           
3/  Benefits, such as housing and meals, are provided some workers but          
    the values are not included in the wage rates.                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Migrant Workers:  Percent of all Hired Workers, United States,         
         By Quarter (Includes Agricultural Service Workers), 1995-97 1/         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Year      :      Jan      :      Apr      :      Jul      :      Oct      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                            Percent                            
                :                                                               
1995 2/         :       N/A             N/A           12.4            11.6      
1996            :       5.7             7.5           13.1            11.1      
1997            :       9.5             6.3           10.8            11.2      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Definition "Migrant Worker" is a farm worker whose employment required      
    travel that prevented the farm worker from returning to his/her permanent   
    place of residence the same day.                                            
2/  Data first collected during July 1995 survey.                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Workers:  Annual Average Number and Hours Worked                
                 By Region, State, and United States, 1996-97 1/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                    Number                     : Hours Worked  
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      State     :     Self      :               :               :               
       and      :   Employed    :    Unpaid     :     Hired     : Hired Workers 
    Region 2/   :---------------------------------------------------------------
                : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :-------------------- 1,000 -------------------  Hours per Week 
                :                                                               
NY              :   31.5    30.0   12.8    11.3    20.5    20.0   41.1    41.4  
Northeast I     :   50.0    54.5   17.5    15.8    40.5    41.0   40.2    39.3  
                :                                                               
PA              :   45.3    51.5   22.3    27.8    20.0    22.5   40.8    41.3  
Northeast II    :   63.3    71.3   28.8    33.8    34.3    40.5   40.0    41.3  
                :                                                               
NC              :   45.0    50.5   10.0     9.3    27.8    32.8   34.6    30.8  
VA              :   36.3    31.8    6.5     8.5    12.3    12.4   39.8    36.8  
Appalachian I   :   81.3    82.3   16.5    17.8    40.0    45.3   36.2    36.4  
                :                                                               
Appalachian II  :  132.8   142.3   31.8    36.4    26.5    35.0   30.6    30.8  
Southeast       :   67.8    77.0   11.5    13.5    30.0    39.0   36.6    36.7  
FL              :   29.0    29.5    5.3     5.3    46.3    52.8   38.0    39.1  
                :                                                               
MI              :   39.8    38.3   10.3     8.5    17.8    21.8   34.5    36.9  
MN              :   67.3    68.8   25.8    25.0    16.8    16.8   36.6    42.5  
WI              :   59.0    54.0   25.5    25.5    27.3    25.8   36.2    33.3  
Lake            :  166.0   161.0   61.5    59.0    61.8    64.3   35.9    37.0  
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :  172.5   167.3   52.0    50.3    45.3    51.8   34.9    36.3  
Cornbelt II     :  150.0   144.8   45.5    44.0    34.8    33.5   34.7    37.0  
Delta           :   75.8    68.0   18.0    17.2    36.8    41.8   42.9    40.9  
Northern Plains :  133.5   126.3   54.3    53.5    38.3    38.8   44.3    43.1  
                :                                                               
OK              :   56.3    57.3   16.0    16.5    12.0    14.8   37.2    41.9  
TX              :  167.5   165.3   37.3    23.5    49.0    47.8   43.8    40.7  
Southern Plains :  223.8   222.5   53.3    40.0    61.0    62.5   42.4    40.9  
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :   37.8    40.5   14.5    19.0    25.3    21.3   46.9    44.1  
Mountain II     :   28.0    26.4   11.0     9.8    17.5    22.8   43.6    43.3  
                :                                                               
AZ              :    4.3     5.4   11.3    10.8    13.3    13.2   47.8    42.0  
NM              :   10.8     9.6   13.3    13.8     5.8     5.8   46.6    42.0  
Mountain III    :   15.0    15.0   24.5    24.5    19.0    19.0   47.4    42.0  
                :                                                               
OR              :   34.0    32.8   12.8    10.4    28.3    29.5   39.5    40.3  
WA              :   22.0    24.5    8.3     6.0    45.0    44.8   41.3    41.0  
Pacific         :   56.0    57.3   21.0    16.4    73.3    74.3   40.6    40.7  
                :                                                               
CA              :   47.8    38.8    9.3     6.3   194.5   188.8   43.3    43.6  
HI              :    3.0     3.0    1.0     1.0     7.3     7.0   37.5    36.7  
                :                                                               
US 3/           :1,533.0 1,527.5  477.0   463.2   832.0   879.0   40.3    40.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                    Hired Workers:  Annual Average Wage Rates                   
                   By Region and United States, 1996-97 1/ 4/                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      All Hired      :       Field       :  Field & Livestock  
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :   1996   :   1997   :  1996   :  1997   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :   7.19       7.63      7.14      7.23       6.71       6.84   
Northeast II    :   6.78       7.24      6.60      6.60       6.26       6.33   
Appalachian I   :   6.07       6.35      5.63      6.00       5.79       6.16   
Appalachian II  :   6.00       6.23      5.62      5.88       5.68       5.92   
Southeast       :   6.33       6.81      5.98      6.37       5.92       6.30   
FL              :   7.30       7.44      6.29      6.76       6.36       6.77   
Lake            :   6.95       7.30      6.96      7.42       6.56       6.85   
Cornbelt I      :   7.11       7.96      6.64      7.06       6.66       7.18   
Cornbelt II     :   6.55       7.10      6.17      7.02       6.22       6.86   
Delta           :   5.91       6.36      5.65      5.87       5.70       5.98   
Northern Plains :   6.84       7.41      6.73      7.14       6.55       7.01   
Southern Plains :   6.01       6.30      5.29      5.67       5.48       5.92   
Mountain I      :   6.15       6.72      5.99      6.19       6.01       6.54   
Mountain II     :   6.66       6.85      5.99      6.31       6.09       6.39   
Mountain III    :   6.42       6.66      5.70      6.07       5.82       6.08   
Pacific         :   7.25       7.56      6.80      7.00       6.87       7.08   
CA              :   7.01       7.32      6.44      6.79       6.53       6.87   
HI              :   9.83      10.13      8.61      8.81       8.62       8.83   
                :                                                               
US 3/           :   6.78       7.36      6.34      6.66       6.33       6.64   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Excludes AK.                                                                
4/  Annual rates are averages of the published wage rates for each survey week  
    weighted by the number of hours worked during the week.  The annual average 
    for all States, Regions, and the U.S. is based on data collected for        
    January, April, July, and October.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                    Hired Workers:  Annual Average Wage Rates                   
                             By State, 1996-97 1/ 2/                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      All Hired      :       Field       :  Field & Livestock  
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :   1996   :   1997   :  1996   :  1997   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
AL              :   5.49       6.17      5.47      5.89       5.34       5.74   
AZ              :   6.62       6.70      5.77      6.08       5.89       6.09   
AR              :   6.20       6.58      6.04      6.02       6.04       6.13   
CA              :   7.01       7.32      6.44      6.79       6.53       6.87   
CO              :   6.59       7.02      5.83      6.47       5.98       6.59   
DE              :   6.90       7.85      6.16      7.64       6.18       7.48   
FL              :   7.30       7.44      6.29      6.76       6.36       6.77   
GA              :   6.83       7.34      6.36      6.89       6.34       6.85   
HI              :   9.83      10.13      8.61      8.81       8.62       8.83   
ID              :   6.64       6.80      6.02      6.25       6.53       6.54   
IL              :   7.32       8.04      6.73      7.23       6.84       7.41   
IN              :   7.12       8.09      6.88      7.22       6.78       7.33   
IA              :   6.69       7.76      6.19      7.75       6.34       7.52   
KS              :   7.12       7.59      6.71      7.21       6.81       7.24   
KY              :   6.14       6.28      5.67      5.75       5.78       5.94   
LA              :   5.85       6.39      5.39      6.21       5.61       6.15   
MD              :   7.20       7.76      7.14      7.64       6.71       7.02   
MI              :   6.96       7.14      6.73      6.78       6.61       6.62   
MN              :   7.85       8.45      7.75      9.02       7.44       8.08   
MS              :   5.66       6.17      5.28      5.53       5.42       5.81   
MO              :   6.42       6.45      6.16      6.43       6.11       6.25   
MT              :   5.99       6.15      5.70      6.21       5.67       5.91   
NE              :   6.77       7.60      6.65      7.28       6.48       6.94   
NV              :   6.48       6.88      6.18      6.28       6.15       6.45   
NJ              :   7.56       7.31      6.58      6.39       6.83       6.47   
NM              :   5.98       6.48      5.41      6.01       5.69       6.07   
NY              :   6.73       7.21      6.55      7.32       6.27       6.80   
NC              :   6.04       6.23      5.58      5.94       5.78       6.03   
ND              :   6.82       7.38      7.27      7.63       6.74       7.43   
OH              :   6.83       7.09      6.32      6.70       6.27       6.69   
OK              :   6.29       7.05      5.59      6.10       5.73       6.45   
OR              :   6.95       7.46      6.40      6.82       6.39       6.85   
PA              :   6.38       6.46      6.47      6.32       5.92       5.98   
SC              :   5.42       6.15      5.00      5.65       5.21       5.69   
SD              :   6.24       6.33      6.12      5.82       5.81       5.99   
TN              :   5.88       6.09      5.54      5.98       5.56       5.84   
TX              :   5.95       6.09      5.24      5.55       5.42       5.77   
UT              :   6.96       6.58      6.58      6.15       6.42       6.19   
VA              :   6.14       6.54      5.77      6.16       5.81       6.40   
WA              :   7.43       7.64      7.02      7.10       7.15       7.23   
WV              :   5.85       6.61      5.81      6.01       5.71       6.28   
WI              :   6.39       6.73      6.64      7.29       6.01       6.33   
WY              :   5.09       5.69      6.15      5.89       5.00       5.33   
Oth Sts 3/      :   7.69       7.44      7.65      7.15       7.21       6.88   
                :                                                               
US 4/           :   6.78       7.36      6.34      6.66       6.33       6.64   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Annual rates are averages of the published wage rates for each survey week  
    weighted by the number of hours worked during the week.  The annual average 
    for all States, Regions, and the U.S. is based on data collected for        
    January.                                                                    
3/  Includes CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT.                                        
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                       Farm Labor Regions                                       
                                                                                
     Region                   States                                            
                                                                                
     Northeast I              CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT.                       
     Northeast II             DE, MD, NJ, PA.                                   
     Appalachian I            NC, VA.                                           
     Appalachian II           KY, TN, WV.                                       
     Southeast                AL, GA, SC.                                       
     Lake                     MI, MN, WI.                                       
     Cornbelt I               IL, IN, OH.                                       
     Cornbelt II              IA, MO.                                           
     Delta                    AR, LA, MS.                                       
     Northern Plains          KS, NE, ND, SD.                                   
     Southern Plains          OK, TX.                                           
     Mountain I               ID, MT, WY.                                       
     Mountain II              CO, NV, UT.                                       
     Mountain III             AZ, NM.                                           
     Pacific                  OR, WA.                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates                             
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  These data were collected by the National Agricultural      
Statistics Service during the last two weeks of October using sampling          
procedures to ensure every employer of agricultural workers had a chance of     
being selected.                                                                 
                                                                                
Two samples of farm operators are selected.  First, NASS maintains a list of    
farms that hire farm workers.  Farms on this list are classified by size and    
type.  Those expected to employ large numbers of workers are selected with      
greater frequency than those hiring few or no workers.  A second sample         
consists of segments of land scientifically selected from an area sampling      
frame.  Each June, highly trained interviewers locate each selected land        
segment and identify every farm operating land within the sample segment's      
boundaries.  The names of farms found in these area segments are matched        
against the list of farms; those not found on the list are included in the      
labor survey sample to represent all farms not on the NASS list.  This          
methodology is known as multiple frame sampling, with an area sample used to    
measure the incompleteness of the list.  Additionally, a list of agricultural   
service firms was sampled in California and Florida.  The survey reference week 
was October 12-18, 1997.                                                        
                                                                                
Reliability:  Two types of errors, sampling and nonsampling, are possible in an 
estimate based on a sample survey.  Both types affect the "precision" of the    
estimates.                                                                      
                                                                                
Sampling error occurs because a complete census is not taken.  The sampling     
error measures the variation in estimates from the average of all possible      
samples.  An estimate of 100 with a sampling error of 1 would mean that chances 
are 19 out of 20 that the estimates from all possible samples averaged together 
would be between 98 and 102; which is the survey estimate, plus or minus two    
times the sampling error.  The sampling error expressed as a percent of the     
estimate is called the relative sampling error.  The relative sampling error    
for number hired workers at the U.S. level was 4.0 percent.  The relative       
sampling error for number of hired workers generally ranged between 9 and 18    
percent at the regional level.  The U.S. all hired farm worker wage rate had a  
relative sampling error of 0.9 percent.  The relative sampling error was 0.9    
percent for the combined field and livestock worker wage rate.  Relative        
sampling errors for the all hired farm worker wage rate generally ranged        
between 2 and 6 percent at the regional levels.  Relative sampling errors for   
wage rates published by type of farm and economic class of farm ranged between  
2 and 7 percent at the regional level.                                          
                                                                                
Nonsampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as in sample surveys. 
They are caused by the inability to obtain correct information from each        
operation sampled, differences in interpreting questions or definitions, and    
mistakes in coding or processing the data.  Special efforts are taken at each   
step of the survey to minimize nonsampling errors.                              
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  Farm labor information is subject to revision the next time   
the information is published or the year after the original publication date.   
The basis for revision must be supported by additional data that directly       
affect the level of the estimate.  Worker numbers and wage rates for July, 1997 
and October, 1996 were subject to revision with this report.  Revisions were    
made and previous data are reprinted in this report for your information.       
There were no revisions made.                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Annual Average Wage Rates:  Included with this report are the annual average    
wage rates for 1996 and 1997.  Annual rates are the averages of the wage rates  
for each survey week weighted by the total number of hours worked during the    
week.  The survey weeks include the 12th of the month for January, April, July, 
and October.  Combining data for the four survey weeks provides a large enough  
sample to permit publication of some wages at the State level.  Annual average  
wage rates for both 1996 and 1997 are published at the State, regional and U.S. 
level for the all hired wage rate, the field worker wage rate, and the combined 
field and livestock worker wage rate.  For 1997, the relative sampling error,   
at the U.S. level, was 1.0 percent for all hired workers.  The relative         
sampling error was 1.1 percent for the combined field and livestock worker wage 
rate.  The relative sampling error for all hired farm workers and the combined  
field and livestock worker wage rates generally ranged between 2 and 6 percent  
at the regional level and 2 to 10 percent at the State level.                   
                                                                                
The February 20th report will have information for the survey week of January   
11-17, 1998.  The report will include the number of All Hired Workers, Average  
Hours Worked by Hired Workers and the All Hired Worker Wage Rates regional and  
U.S. levels. The wage rate for field, livestock, and combined field and         
livestock workers will be available for the regional and U.S. level. The number 
of Agricultural Service Workers and the corresponding wage rates will be        
published for Florida and California.                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                               Index                                            
                                                                                
                                                               Page             
                                                                                
U.S. Hired Workers on Farms, Wage Rates and Hours Worked . . . . .3             
                                                                                
Number of Workers and Average Hours Worked by Region and U.S.                   
     October 1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4             
     July 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6             
     October 1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8             
                                                                                
Wage Rates by Region and U.S.                                                   
     October 1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5             
     July 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7             
     October 1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9             
                                                                                
Agricultural Services: Workers, Average Hours Worked, and Wages                 
     October 1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12             
     July 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12             
     October 1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12             
                                                                                
Annual Averages 1996 - 1997                                                     
     Number of Workers and Average Hours Worked by Selected States,             
          Regions, and U.S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13             
     Hired Workers Wage Rates by Region and U.S. . . . . . . . . 14             
     Hired Workers Wage Rates by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15             
                                                                                
Other Labor Estimates                                                           
     U.S. Distribution of Workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11             
     Wage Rates by Type of Farm, by Region, State, 48 States . . 10             
     Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm, by Region, State, 48 States10        
     Migrant Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12             
                                                                                
Farm Labor Region Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16             
                                                                                
Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17             
                                                                                
Revision Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17             
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Farm Labor" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on February          
20, 1998.                                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
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discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national            
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital          
or familial status.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative          
means for communication of program information (braille, large print,           
audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600        
(voice and TDD).                                                                
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA,                  
Washington, D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127         
(TDD).  USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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                USDA Announces Data Users Meeting                               
                Embassy Suites (near KCI Airport)                               
                      Kansas City, Missouri                                     
                         January 7, 1998                                        
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service will be organizing an open         
forum for Data Users.  The purpose will be to provide updates on                
pending changes in the USDA statistical and information programs                
including the status of the 1997 Census of Agriculture, and to seek             
comments and input from data users.  Other agencies to be represented           
will include the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Economic Research          
Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the World Agricultural           
Outlook Board.                                                                  
                                                                                
                     For registration details                                   
            NASS home page:  http://www.usda.gov/nass/                          
               Bob Milton (NASS) at (202) 720-3570                              
                       rmilton@nass.usda.gov                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          USDA Announces Agricultural Outlook Forum  98                         
                     February 23 and 24, 1998                                   
                         Washington, D.C.                                       
         Presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture                        
                                                                                
Survey the New Frontiers.                                                       
Survey the frontiers of agriculture at USDA's seventy-fourth outlook            
forum.  Catch the latest commodity prospects for 1998 and beyond and            
receive new long-term projections to the year 2007.  Hear noted                 
experts and farm leaders tackle front line issues: managing risk,               
selling bio-engineered products, ensuring food safety, marketing                
organic foods, honing export strategies, and more.                              
                                                                                
Act Now To Attend. For program and registration details check the               
Forum home page, call (202) 720-3050, or dial (202) 694-5700 from               
your fax machine handset and retrieve document 66666.  Call (202)               
401-9421 to register.                                                           
                                                                                
  Ag Forum home page:  http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm                 
                   e-mail: agforum@oce.usda.gov