HDR1012000170050514961500FARM LABOR
Released May 14, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For information
on "Farm Labor" call Eddie Oaks at (202) 690-3228, office hours 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information
about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS Information Hotline at
1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.


                 April All Hired Wage Rate Higher

There were 2.91 million people working on the Nation's farms and ranches during
the week of April 7-13, 1996. Self-employed farm operators accounted for
1.46 million of the total, along with 455,000 unpaid workers, and
780,000 workers hired directly by farm operators.  Agricultural service
employees on farms and ranches made up the remaining 207,000 workers.

Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $6.76 per hour
during the April 1996 survey week, up 27 cents from a year earlier.  Workers
paid on an hourly basis earned $6.44 per hour compared with $6.20 last April.
Field workers received an average of $6.31 per hour, up 26 cents.  Livestock
workers earned $6.22 per hour compared with $5.88 a year earlier.

Self-employed farm operators worked an average of 35.1 hours, compared to
35.0 hours in the comparable week in 1995.  Unpaid workers averaged 31.7 hours,
compared to 29.8 hours last year.  Hired employees worked 40.7 hours during the
week, the same as last year.

Benefits were provided for 383,000 hired workers.  Farm operators provided
housing for 130,000, meals for 53,000, bonuses for 99,000, health insurance for
206,000, transportation for 61,000, and other benefits for 214,000 hired
workers.

During the survey week of April 7-13 dryness continued in Texas' northern
panhandle.  Rains fell over parts of Kansas and heavy rains and cool weather
delayed fieldwork in the Delta.  Heavy snow blanketed the Northeast.  By week's
end, snowfall became widespread in the Lake States.  Dry, warm weather in much
of the Northwest provided over 5 days suitable for fieldwork.  In California,
ground preparation for planting corn, cotton, and safflower continued in the
Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.  Small grains were irrigated and treated for
weeds.  Thinning of stone fruit progressed.  Navel orange picking was nearly
completed.  Florida farmers were planting peanuts and making preparations for
spring planted crops.  Valencia harvest was very active while other citrus
harvest was winding down.  With warm, windy conditions in Texas, corn, soybean,
and grain sorghum planting was underway.  Vegetable harvest continued in the
Rio Grande Valley.




                           * * * * * *

A Farm Labor Survey program reduction will impact the published data series
effective August 13, 1996; refer to page 21 for details.





Sp Sy 8 (5-96)
             Farm Labor:  Employment and Wage Rates, United States,
                      April 7-13, 1996, with Comparisons 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :  April 9-15,   : January 7-13,  :  April 7-13,
       Farm Employment       :      1995      :      1996      :      1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :                      1,000
                             :
Farm Workers                 :      2,643            2,347            2,699
                             :
  Self-Employed              :      1,435            1,401            1,464
  Unpaid                     :        386              348              455
  Hired                      :        822              598              780
    Expected to be Employed  :
      150 Days or More       :        605              496              599
      149 Days or Less       :        217              102              181
                             :
Agricultural Services        :
  Workers Working on Farms   :        214              115              207
                             :
                             :
Total Farm & Service Workers :      2,857            2,462            2,906
                             :
                             :                  Hours per Week
Hours Worked                 :
  Self-Employed              :       35.0             28.7             35.1
  Unpaid                     :       29.8             27.7             31.7
  Hired                      :       40.7             39.1             40.7
                             :
                             :                 Dollars per Hour
                             :
Wage Rates for               :
 All Hired Workers 2/ 3/     :       6.49             6.89             6.76
                             :
Method of Pay                :
  Hourly                     :       6.20             6.44             6.44
  Piece-Rate                 :       6.33             7.14             6.69
  Other                      :       7.29             7.72             7.56
                             :
Type of Worker               :
  Field & Livestock Combined :       6.01             6.28             6.28
    Field                    :       6.05             6.33             6.31
    Livestock                :       5.88             6.20             6.22
  Supervisory                :      10.58            10.42            10.62
  Other                      :       8.37             8.09             8.18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

                   Workers on Farms:  Number by Region, State,
                     and United States, April 7-13, 1996 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :         :         :        :               Hired
               :         :         :        :-----------------------------------
     State     :   All   :  Self-  :        :         : Expected to be Employed
      and      :  Farm   :Employed : Unpaid : Number  :-------------------------
   Region 2/   : Workers :   3/    :   3/   :   of    :  150 Days  :  149 Days
               :         :         :        : Workers : or More 3/ : or Less 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                             1,000
               :
NY             :     57                          19
Other 4/       :     34                          14
Northeast I    :     91        42      16        33         27            6
               :
PA             :     82                          23
Other 4/       :     33                          12
Northeast II   :    115        56      24        35         30            5
               :
NC             :     75                          22
VA             :     57                          16
Appalachian I  :    132        76      18        38         27           11
               :
Appalachian II :    168       122      26        20         13            7
Southeast      :    101        56      13        32         23            9
FL             :     82        25       7        50         43            7
               :
MI             :     64                          18
MN             :     99                          13
WI             :    111                          28
Lake           :    274       159      56        59         44           15
               :
Cornbelt I     :    264       177      44        43         35            8
Cornbelt II    :    212       147      38        27         20            7
Delta          :    131        69      18        44         32           12
Northern Plains:    224       131      57        36         28            8
               :
OK             :     80                          14
TX             :    264                          50
Southern Plains:    344       226      54        64         48           16
               :
Mountain I     :     78        38      13        27         21            6
Mountain II    :     50        25      10        15         11            4
               :
AZ             :     27                          14
NM             :     28                           5
Mountain III   :     55        13      23        19         16            3
               :
OR             :     73                          21
WA             :     54                          25
Pacific        :    127        54      27        46         30           16
               :
CA             :    240        45      10       185        145           40
HI             :     11         3       1         7          6            1
               :
US 5/          :  2,699     1,464     455       780        599          181
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Published at regional and U.S. level only.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Excludes AK.
      Workers on Farms:  Hours Worked and Wage Rates for All Hired Workers
            by Region, State, and United States, April 7-13, 1996 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :           Hours Worked           :
     State     :----------------------------------:       Wage Rates for
      and      :   Self-   :           :          :      All Hired Workers
   Region 2/   :Employed 3/: Unpaid 3/ :  Hired   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :   ------ Hours per Week ------          Dollars per Hour
               :
NY             :                           42.1                 6.91
Other 4/       :                           39.0                 7.80
Northeast I    :   41.8        28.9        40.8                 7.27
               :
PA             :                           38.0                 6.29
Other 4/       :                           39.2                 7.74
Northeast II   :   41.3        30.7        38.4                 6.78
               :
NC             :                           35.7                 6.00
VA             :                           40.0                 6.07
Appalachian I  :   30.9        34.2        37.5                 6.03
               :
Appalachian II :   26.2        26.1        33.6                 6.29
Southeast      :   32.5        31.1        37.2                 5.96
FL             :   32.0        34.5        38.5                 7.05
               :
MI             :                           34.8                 7.10
MN             :                           36.6                 8.26
WI             :                           37.9                 6.42
Lake           :   37.8        33.9        36.7                 7.02
               :
Cornbelt I     :   34.1        32.6        37.2                 7.14
Cornbelt II    :   34.2        28.8        34.7                 6.89
Delta          :   31.2        29.8        41.8                 5.65
Northern Plains:   48.4        33.4        40.5                 6.51
               :
OK             :                           31.0                 6.00
TX             :                           44.6                 6.18
Southern Plains:   29.8        26.5        41.6                 6.12
               :
Mountain I     :   46.3        37.1        48.9                 5.78
Mountain II    :   43.6        32.2        43.3                 6.53
               :
AZ             :                           50.0                 6.50
NM             :                           46.9                 5.89
Mountain III   :   35.1        32.1        49.2                 6.34
               :
OR             :                           39.1                 7.32
WA             :                           42.0                 7.53
Pacific        :   32.8        37.1        40.7                 7.44
               :
CA             :   36.7        40.3        43.9                 7.14
HI             :   30.5        24.5        37.5                10.13
               :
US 5/          :   35.1        31.7        40.7                 6.76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Published at regional and U.S. level only.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Excludes AK.

                  Hired Workers:  Wage Rates by Region, State,
                     and United States, April 7-13, 1996 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :           Type of Worker 5/            :   Method of Pay 6/
     State     :----------------------------------------------------------------
      and      :      :         : Field &  :Super-:     :       : Piece :
   Region 2/   :Field :Livestock:Livestock :visory:Other:Hourly : Rate  : Other
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                        Dollars per Hour
               :
NY             : 7.12               6.72                  6.88
Other 4/       : 7.85               7.24                  7.85
Northeast I    : 7.47     6.20      6.93     9.49   7.54  7.27     7.25    7.28
               :
PA             : 6.46               5.76                  6.56
Other 4/       : 6.86               6.84                  7.14
Northeast II   : 6.62     5.31      6.11    10.42   8.37  6.79     7.22    6.72
               :
NC             : 5.52               5.76                  5.69
VA             : 5.70               5.80                  5.88
Appalachian I  : 5.60     6.21      5.78     8.98   7.25  5.78       3/    6.96
               :
Appalachian II : 5.84     5.75      5.80    11.69   7.29  5.71       3/    8.03
Southeast      : 5.52     5.63      5.56    10.09   9.32  5.86     5.84    6.18
FL             : 6.12     7.10      6.27    13.05   9.35  6.35     6.50   10.65
               :
MI             : 6.85               6.87                  6.85
MN             : 8.20               8.13                  8.15
WI             : 6.10               5.78                  6.09
Lake           : 6.78     6.39      6.56    10.48   8.40  6.77     8.75    7.41
               :
Cornbelt I     : 6.57     6.76      6.61    10.52   8.07  6.64       3/    8.35
Cornbelt II    : 6.47     7.00      6.67     9.76   6.38  6.43       3/    7.35
Delta          : 5.38     5.74      5.46     8.43   6.20  5.45     5.01    6.18
Northern Plains: 6.76     5.79      6.32     7.60   6.90  6.50       3/    6.51
               :
OK             : 5.50               5.57                  5.70
TX             : 5.32               5.37                  5.82
Southern Plains: 5.38     5.53      5.45     9.11   6.73  5.79     5.05    6.62
               :
Mountain I     : 5.54     5.29      5.42     8.28   5.38  5.69     5.03    5.90
Mountain II    : 5.60     5.88      5.73    10.37   8.55  6.24     4.18    7.38
               :
AZ             : 5.65               5.79                  6.00
NM             : 5.72               5.59                  5.88
Mountain III   : 5.67     6.03      5.74    11.39   9.98  5.97     5.59    7.51
               :
OR             : 6.75               6.71                  6.80
WA             : 6.89               6.99                  6.93
Pacific        : 6.83     7.22      6.87    11.65  10.60  6.87     8.14   10.88
               :
CA             : 6.53     7.50      6.64    12.58  10.51  6.69     6.93    9.99
HI             : 8.79       3/      8.76    16.45     3/  9.04       3/   14.83
               :
US 5/          : 6.31     6.22      6.28    10.62   8.18  6.44     6.69    7.56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Insufficient data.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Livestock, Supervisory, and Other published at regional and U.S. level only.
6/  Piece Rate and Other published at regional and U.S. level only.
7/  Excludes AK.
         Workers on Farms:  Number by Region, State, and United States,
                              January 7-13, 1996 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :         :         :        :               Hired
               :         :         :        :-----------------------------------
     State     :   All   :  Self-  :        :         : Expected to be Employed
      and      :  Farm   :Employed : Unpaid : Number  :-------------------------
   Region 2/   : Workers :   3/    :   3/   :   of    :  150 Days  :  149 Days
               :         :         :        : Workers : or More 3/ : or Less 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                             1,000
               :
NY             :     57                          15
Other 4/       :     29                          13
Northeast I    :     86        48      10        28         24            4
               :
PA             :     66                          13
Other 4/       :     25                           8
Northeast II   :     91        50      20        21         19            2
               :
NC             :     62                          15
VA             :     45                           8
Appalachian I  :    107        68      16        23         20            3
               :
Appalachian II :    151       115      20        16          9            7
Southeast      :     91        62       7        22         19            3
FL             :     77        24       6        47         40            7
               :
MI             :     52                          13
MN             :     83                           9
WI             :     97                          18
Lake           :    232       149      43        40         33            7
               :
Cornbelt I     :    229       163      32        34         30            4
Cornbelt II    :    207       151      30        26         20            6
Delta          :    107        68      18        21         18            3
Northern Plains:    189       123      39        27         23            4
               :
OK             :     76                          10
TX             :    239                          37
Southern Plains:    315       219      49        47         40            7
               :
Mountain I     :     59        31       7        21         20            1
Mountain II    :     39        22       6        11         10            1
               :
AZ             :     30                          13
NM             :     28                           5
Mountain III   :     58        16      24        18         14            4
               :
OR             :     52                          17
WA             :     41                          20
Pacific        :     93        46      10        37         28            9
               :
CA             :    205        43      10       152        123           29
HI             :     11         3       1         7          6            1
               :
US 5/          :  2,347     1,401     348       598        496          102
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Published at regional and U.S. level only.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Excludes AK.
      Workers on Farms:  Hours Worked and Wage Rates for All Hired Workers,
           by Region, State, and United States, January 7-13, 1996 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :           Hours Worked           :
     State     :----------------------------------:       Wage Rates for
      and      :   Self-   :           :          :      All Hired Workers
   Region 2/   :Employed 3/: Unpaid 3/ :  Hired   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :   ------ Hours per Week ------          Dollars per Hour
               :
NY             :                           41.5                6.99
Other 4/       :                           39.0                7.30
Northeast I    :   37.5        33.0        40.3                7.12
               :
PA             :                           44.0                6.12
Other 4/       :                           32.3                7.94
Northeast II   :   37.0        28.4        39.5                6.76
               :
NC             :                           37.7                6.69
VA             :                           43.0                6.07
Appalachian I  :   26.8        27.9        39.5                6.51
               :
Appalachian II :   20.3        26.5        30.4                5.94
Southeast      :   22.5        25.1        34.9                6.60
FL             :   24.5        26.5        39.0                7.43
               :
MI             :                           34.7                6.95
MN             :                           30.8                8.15
WI             :                           34.8                6.10
Lake           :   36.8        28.8        33.9                6.80
               :
Cornbelt I     :   28.0        31.0        33.7                7.27
Cornbelt II    :   30.3        23.3        32.5                6.33
Delta          :   25.9        35.4        33.8                6.43
Northern Plains:   35.1        29.1        39.7                7.20
               :
OK             :                           34.0                6.65
TX             :                           43.0                6.07
Southern Plains:   25.0        23.6        41.1                6.17
               :
Mountain I     :   26.6        32.6        39.8                6.61
Mountain II    :   29.9        26.4        38.3                7.09
               :
AZ             :                           43.0                6.70
NM             :                           47.7                5.91
Mountain III   :   33.0        26.3        44.3                6.43
               :
OR             :                           37.3                7.32
WA             :                           37.0                7.57
Pacific        :   19.3        25.5        37.1                7.46
               :
CA             :   29.7        28.3        43.8                6.95
HI             :   28.6        31.4        36.5                9.63
               :
US 5/          :   28.7        27.7        39.1                6.89
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Published at regional and U.S. level only.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Excludes AK.
         Hired Workers:  Wage Rates by Region, State, and United States,
                              January 7-13, 1996 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :           Type of Worker 5/            :   Method of Pay 6/
     State     :----------------------------------------------------------------
      and      :      :         : Field &  :Super-:     :       : Piece :
   Region 2/   :Field :Livestock:Livestock :visory:Other:Hourly : Rate  : Other
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                        Dollars per Hour
               :
NY             : 6.95               6.06                  7.06
Other 4/       : 8.20               6.67                  7.80
Northeast I    : 7.53     5.63      6.30    10.11   7.73  7.38       3/    6.81
               :
PA             : 6.11               5.44                  6.77
Other 4/       : 7.42               6.93                  7.75
Northeast II   : 6.53     5.54      6.04     8.45   7.39  7.19       3/    6.46
               :
NC             : 6.00               6.28                  6.34
VA             : 5.90               5.77                  6.00
Appalachian I  : 5.97     6.20      6.13    10.22   7.60  6.24       3/    7.16
               :
Appalachian II : 5.41     5.93      5.62    10.17   7.38  5.70       3/    6.92
Southeast      : 6.00     6.13      6.04     9.64   9.05  6.18       3/    7.35
FL             : 6.40     6.25      6.38    12.65  11.00  6.45     6.70   10.60
               :
MI             : 6.75               6.45                  7.00
MN             : 7.55               6.93                  7.35
WI             : 7.09               5.34                  6.41
Lake           : 6.97     5.68      5.97    10.81   8.25  6.82       3/    6.80
               :
Cornbelt I     : 7.15     6.47      6.81    10.85   7.08  6.91       3/    7.82
Cornbelt II    : 5.89     6.23      6.10     8.87   5.96  6.10       3/    6.67
Delta          : 6.04     5.92      5.97     9.25   6.96  5.64       3/    7.27
Northern Plains: 7.46     6.59      6.79     9.22   7.14  6.99       3/    7.34
               :
OK             : 6.00               5.78                  6.30
TX             : 5.22               5.56                  5.62
Southern Plains: 5.31     5.89      5.59    10.27   6.48  5.73       3/    6.69
               :
Mountain I     : 6.75     6.31      6.42     7.31   6.25  6.08     6.50    6.80
Mountain II    : 6.80     6.29      6.49     8.93   9.17  6.74       3/    7.43
               :
AZ             : 5.55               5.73                  5.80
NM             : 4.95               5.26                  5.87
Mountain III   : 5.42     5.90      5.57    10.62   8.52  5.81       3/    7.59
               :
OR             : 6.66               6.59                  6.70
WA             : 7.14               7.29                  7.09
Pacific        : 6.95     7.26      7.00    10.75   9.33  6.90     7.83    9.21
               :
CA             : 6.25     7.21      6.35    11.70  10.67  6.35     7.14   10.18
HI             : 8.34       3/      8.34    15.17     3/  8.67       3/   13.93
               :
US 7/          : 6.33     6.20      6.28    10.42   8.09  6.44     7.14    7.72
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Insufficient data.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Livestock, Supervisory, and Other published at regional and U.S. level only.
6/  Piece Rate and Other published at regional and U.S. level only.
7/  Excludes AK.

                   Workers on Farms:  Number by Region, State,
                     and United States, April 9-15, 1995 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :         :         :        :               Hired
               :         :         :        :-----------------------------------
     State     :   All   :  Self-  :        :         : Expected to be Employed
      and      :  Farm   :Employed : Unpaid : Number  :-------------------------
   Region 2/   : Workers :   3/    :   3/   :   of    :  150 Days  :  149 Days
               :         :         :        : Workers : or More 3/ : or Less 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                             1,000
               :
NY             :     50                          17
Other 4/       :     49                          25
Northeast I    :     99        41      16        42         35            7
               :
PA             :     75                          21
Other 4/       :     36                          12
Northeast II   :    111        56      22        33         26            7
               :
NC             :     84                          29
VA             :     54                          15
Appalachian I  :    138        76      18        44         30           14
               :
Appalachian II :    177       115      32        30         16           14
Southeast      :    113        59      12        42         30           12
FL             :     72        19       3        50         43            7
               :
MI             :     70                          29
MN             :     89                          11
WI             :    118                          24
Lake           :    277       160      53        64         46           18
               :
Cornbelt I     :    242       166      30        46         36           10
Cornbelt II    :    206       143      30        33         26            7
Delta          :    133        84      16        33         25            8
Northern Plains:    196       133      40        23         19            4
               :
OK             :     74                           9
TX             :    243                          45
Southern Plains:    317       219      44        54         44           10
               :
Mountain I     :     68        32      17        19         16            3
Mountain II    :     47        25       9        13         11            2
               :
AZ             :     27                          13
NM             :     30                           6
Mountain III   :     57        14      24        19         16            3
               :
OR             :     58                          19
WA             :     61                          37
Pacific        :    119        50      13        56         37           19
               :
CA             :    260        40       6       214        143           71
HI             :     11         3       1         7          6            1
               :
US 5/          :  2,643     1,435     386       822        605          217
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Published at regional and U.S. level only.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Excludes AK.

      Workers on Farms:  Hours Worked and Wage Rates for All Hired Workers
            by Region, State, and United States, April 9-15, 1995 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :         Hours Worked 3/          :
     State     :----------------------------------:       Wage Rates for
      and      :   Self-   :           :          :      All Hired Workers
   Region 2/   : Employed  :  Unpaid   :  Hired   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :   ------ Hours per Week ------          Dollars per Hour
               :
NY             :                           42.0                 6.45
Other 4/       :                           39.0                 7.55
Northeast I    :   44.8        32.7        40.2                 7.08
               :
PA             :                           41.0                 6.06
Other 4/       :                           41.3                 7.07
Northeast II   :   38.3        34.2        41.1                 6.44
               :
NC             :                           33.7                 5.95
VA             :                           41.0                 6.27
Appalachian I  :   31.3        33.2        36.2                 6.08
               :
Appalachian II :   27.2        25.8        36.4                 5.75
Southeast      :   30.3        29.5        40.3                 5.57
FL             :   27.0        29.0        38.0                 7.86
               :
MI             :                           42.6                 6.86
MN             :                           37.5                 7.65
WI             :                           36.9                 6.70
Lake           :   41.5        29.3        39.6                 6.93
               :
Cornbelt I     :   31.4        29.8        37.2                 6.67
Cornbelt II    :   33.2        26.9        37.7                 6.05
Delta          :   32.6        25.2        38.8                 5.62
Northern Plains:   43.9        37.5        41.1                 6.22
               :
OK             :                           37.0                 6.50
TX             :                           41.3                 5.71
Southern Plains:   33.7        25.0        40.6                 5.82
               :
Mountain I     :   46.3        32.3        46.5                 5.71
Mountain II    :   38.1        29.5        41.3                 6.20
               :
AZ             :                           42.0                 6.41
NM             :                           45.6                 6.43
Mountain III   :   31.1        27.6        43.1                 6.42
               :
OR             :                           39.6                 6.88
WA             :                           38.0                 7.03
Pacific        :   31.4        29.6        38.5                 6.98
               :
CA             :   31.5        34.7        44.8                 6.55
HI             :   30.4        29.1        36.5                10.02
               :
US 5/          :   35.0        29.8        40.7                 6.49
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Self employed and unpaid published at regional and U.S. level only.
4/  Other States in the same region.
5/  Excludes AK.

                  Hired Workers:  Wage Rates by Region, State,
                     and United States, April 9-15, 1995 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :           Type of Worker 5/            :   Method of Pay 6/
     State     :----------------------------------------------------------------
      and      :      :         : Field &  :Super-:     :       : Piece :
   Region 2/   :Field :Livestock:Livestock :visory:Other:Hourly : Rate  : Other
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                        Dollars per Hour
               :
NY             : 6.76               5.95                  6.95
Other 4/       : 7.00               6.60                  7.50
Northeast I    : 6.90     5.71      6.30    10.13   8.67  7.29       3/    6.65
               :
PA             : 6.19               5.67                  6.18
Other 4/       : 6.91               6.69                  7.04
Northeast II   : 6.53     5.30      6.06     9.53   8.13  6.56       3/    6.22
               :
NC             : 5.37               5.58                  5.75
VA             : 5.85               5.89                  6.10
Appalachian I  : 5.54     6.17      5.69     9.04   7.54  5.87       3/    6.61
               :
Appalachian II : 5.68     5.48      5.61       3/   7.89  5.92       3/    5.26
Southeast      : 5.16     5.56      5.24     9.69   6.94  5.31     4.70    6.14
FL             : 7.05     6.20      6.97    12.70  11.65  7.25     7.50   10.90
               :
MI             : 6.41               6.41                  6.48
MN             : 8.34               7.26                  7.80
WI             : 7.05               5.73                  6.90
Lake           : 6.70     5.79      6.28    10.78   8.45  6.76       3/    7.23
               :
Cornbelt I     : 6.25     5.94      6.19     9.81   6.99  6.40       3/    7.46
Cornbelt II    : 6.16     5.63      5.77     8.70   6.50  5.69       3/    7.15
Delta          : 5.23     5.84      5.41     9.18   6.28  5.33       3/    6.28
Northern Plains: 6.63     5.66      6.12       3/     3/  6.37       3/    6.07
               :
OK             : 5.95               5.86                  6.00
TX             : 5.38               5.49                  5.57
Southern Plains: 5.44     5.67      5.54     8.44   6.64  5.63       3/    6.00
               :
Mountain I     : 5.61     5.38      5.51       3/   6.18  5.60       3/    5.77
Mountain II    : 5.65     5.53      5.58     8.27     3/  5.47       3/    6.91
               :
AZ             : 5.75               5.86                  6.00
NM             : 5.55               6.21                  5.60
Mountain III   : 5.71     6.53      5.98    10.13     3/  5.94       3/    7.19
               :
OR             : 6.30               6.35                  6.23
WA             : 6.43               6.56                  6.62
Pacific        : 6.39     7.37      6.49    10.79   9.23  6.50       3/    9.53
               :
CA             : 5.94     7.25      6.03    12.76   9.62  6.00     6.21   10.81
HI             : 8.75       3/      8.73    15.40     3/  9.00       3/   14.16
               :
US 7/          : 6.05     5.88      6.01    10.58   8.37  6.20     6.33    7.29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 17.
3/  Insufficient data.
4/  Other States in the same region
5/  Livestock, Supervisory, and Other published at regional and U. S. level
    only.
6/  Piece Rate and Other published at regional and U. S. level only.
7/  Excludes AK.

               Field and Livestock Workers Combined:  Wage Rates,
                   by Type of Farm, by Region and 48 States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :       April 9-15, 1995       :       April 7-13, 1996
                 :--------------------------------------------------------------
    Region 2/    :Field :Other :L'stk & :  All  : Field :Other :L'stk & :  All
                 :Crops :Crops :Poultry : Farms : Crops :Crops :Poultry : Farms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                       Dollars per Hour
                 :
Northeast        : 5.85   6.82    5.74    6.18    6.60    7.34    5.74    6.51
Appalachian      : 5.17   5.87    5.81    5.66    5.48    5.73    6.07    5.78
Southeast        : 4.80   5.68    4.95    5.37    4.63    5.41    5.51    5.29
Lake             : 7.16   6.60    5.71    6.28    5.85    7.35    6.44    6.56
Cornbelt         : 6.36   6.26    5.70    6.01    6.44    6.21    7.36    6.63
Delta            : 5.23   5.35    5.79    5.41    5.38    5.03    5.75    5.46
Northern Plains  : 6.39   6.90    5.80    6.12    6.89    5.49    6.12    6.32
Southern Plains  : 5.47   5.60    5.57    5.54    5.47    5.09    5.56    5.45
Mountain         : 5.75   6.08    5.45    5.70    5.65    5.83    5.43    5.59
Pacific          : 6.39   5.97    7.12    6.11    6.29    6.64    7.29    6.68
48 States        : 5.75   6.05    5.80    5.91    5.81    6.40    6.19    6.19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






            All Hired Workers:  Wage Rates, by Economic Class of Farm
                           by Region and 48 States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :         April 9-15, 1995          :         April 7-13, 1996
  Region :----------------------------------------------------------------------
    2/   : Gross Value Sales-$1000's  : All  : Gross Value Sales-$1000's  : All
         : <40  :40-99 :100-249 :250+ :Farms : <40 :40-99 :100-249 : 250+ :Farms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :                           Dollars per Hour
         :
N. East  : 8.03   6.08    5.82   7.37   6.79  5.62   5.67    5.74    7.84  7.02
Appal.   : 5.36   5.12    5.70   6.32   5.94  5.86   5.75    6.54    6.20  6.11
S. East  : 4.79   4.28    4.70   5.98   5.65  4.96   5.06    5.56    5.70  5.62
Lake     : 5.47   5.79    5.59   7.45   6.93  4.84   6.03    6.65    7.31  7.02
Cornbelt : 5.45   5.88    6.12   7.12   6.41  6.55   5.65    6.90    7.28  7.05
Delta    : 5.61   5.42    5.25   5.84   5.62  5.42   5.60    5.51    5.75  5.65
N. Plains: 5.35   4.74    5.88   6.80   6.22  5.22   7.07    5.24    7.10  6.51
S. Plains: 7.07   5.63    5.32   5.91   5.82  5.07   6.76    6.59    6.21  6.12
Mountain : 5.78   6.58    5.88   6.10   6.08  6.38   5.50    5.76    6.28  6.12
Pacific  : 7.29   6.59    6.67   6.61   6.63  7.11   6.65    7.07    7.23  7.20
48 States: 6.10   5.73    5.77   6.60   6.47  5.81   5.87    6.18    6.87  6.73
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
3/  Insufficient data.
                    Field and Livestock Workers: Distribution
                          by Type of Farm, 48 States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Type of      :     April 9-15,     :  January 7-13,   :   April 7-13,
        Farm        :        1995         :       1996       :       1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :       Percent of Field and Livestock Workers 2/ 3/
                    :
Field Crops         :         19                  19                 23
Other Crops         :         52                  46                 47
Livestock, Dairy,   :
 & Poultry          :         29                  35                 30
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------










                    Hired Workers:  Distribution by Economic
                           Class of Farm, 48 States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Gross Value    :     April 9-15,     :  January 7-13,   :   April 7-13,
      of Sales      :        1995         :       1996       :       1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                Percent of Hired Workers 3/
                    :
Less than $40,000   :         10                   9                  9
$40,000-$99,999     :          8                   8                  9
$100,000-$249,999   :         18                  16                 17
$250,000 and over   :         64                  67                 65
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  48 States, excluding AK and HI.
2/  Field and Livestock Workers combined.
3/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.

             Hired Workers: Distribution by Category, United States,
                                April 7-13 1/ 2/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :  April 9-15,   : January 7-13,  :  April 7-13,
                             :      1995      :      1996      :      1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :             Percent of Hired Workers
                             :
Employed on Farms Hiring     :
  1 Worker                   :      12               14               14
  2 Workers                  :      10               11               11
  3-6 Workers                :      17               24               21
  7-10 Workers               :       9                9               11
  At least 11 Workers        :      52               42               43
                             :     100.0            100.0            100.0
                             :
                             :
Payment Method               :
  Hourly                     :      69               63               70
  Piece-Rate                 :       8                7                6
  Other Methods              :      23               30               24
                             :     100.0            100.0            100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Excludes AK.
3/  Benefits are in priority from highest to lowest.  Each worker is counted one
    time in the highest category, even though benefits in a lower category may
    be received.  Housing and meals is comparable to room and board used in
    previous reports.  Other benefits include transportation, life and health
    insurance, utilities, etc.



                 Hired Workers: Receiving Benefits, Distribution
                  by Category, United States, April 7-13 1/ 2/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :  April 9-15,   : January 7-13,  :  April 7-13,
                             :      1995      :      1996      :      1996
                             :--------------------------------------------------
                             : Number  : Pct  : Number  : Pct  : Number  : Pct
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :  1,000            1,000            1,000
                             :
Benefits 3/                  :
  Housing                    :   124      15      102      17      130      17
  Meals                      :    48       6       36       6       53       7
  Bonus                      :    81      10       78      13       99      13
  Health Insurance           :   188      23      173      29      206      27
  Transportation             :    55       7       48       8       61       8
  Other Benefits             :   188      23      191      32      214      28
  Wages Only                 :   450      55      269      45      397      52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Excludes AK.
3/  All benefits received by hired workers are accounted for in each category.
    Other benefits include life insurance, utilities, pension, or retirement
    benefits, etc.


                             Agricultural Services


Crew leaders and custom crews provided 207,000 workers for the Nation's farms
and ranches during the week of April 7-13, 1996. Service workers in California
numbered 63,000 compared with 91,000 during the April 1995 survey week.
Florida's number of service workers was 10,500, compared to 10,000 last year.

The average wages received by agricultural service workers in California and
Florida were $6.58 and $7.68 per hour, respectively.  Comparable wages in April
1995 were $6.39 in California and $7.58 in Florida.





      Agricultural Service Workers:  Number, Hours Worked, and Wage Rates,
                  for California, Florida, and United States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :    Number of Workers    :                       :
      :    Working on Farms     :     Hours Worked      :     Wage Rates 3/
 State:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :  Apr  :  Jan   :  Apr   :  Apr  :  Jan  :  Apr  :  Apr  :  Jan  :  Apr
      : 1995  :  1996  :  1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      : -------- 1,000 -------    ----- Hours 2/ -----     Dollars per Hour 2/
      :
CA    :  91.0    51.0     63.0    31.9    39.1    38.2    6.39    6.39    6.58
FL    :  10.0    15.0     10.5    35.0    33.0    31.5    7.58    8.35    7.68
      :
US    : 214.0   115.0    207.0
      :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                  Method of Pay                  :     Type of Work
      :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         Hourly          :      Piece-Rate       :         Field
      :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :  Apr  :  Jan   :  Apr   :  Apr  :  Jan  :  Apr  :  Apr  :  Jan  :  Apr
      : 1995  :  1996  :  1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996
      :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                          Dollars per Hours 2/
      :
CA    :  5.83    6.02     5.95    7.50    6.85    8.51    6.02    6.13    6.29
FL    :  6.70    7.00     7.03    7.75    8.45    7.50    7.02    7.75    7.10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.




                        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.
                      Farm Labor Definitions

The following definitions are provided to assist in interpreting statistics
published in this report.  To insure consistency in data collection, the
questionnaires and instruction manual used by the interviewers provide more in-
depth explanations of these terms.


Farm or Ranch:  Places that sell, or would normally sell, at least $1000 worth
                of agricultural products during the year.


Agricultural Work:  Work done on a farm or ranch in connection with the
                    production of agricultural products, including nursery and
greenhouse products and animal specialties such as fur farms or apiaries.  Also
included is work done off the farm to handle farm related business, such as
trips to buy feed or deliver products to local market.


Self-employed Worker:  A farm or ranch operator or partner who did at least
                       one hour of unpaid agricultural work on a farm or ranch
during the survey week.


Unpaid Worker:  Anyone, other than a self-employed worker, who did at least
                15 hours of unpaid agricultural work on a farm or ranch
during the survey week.


Hired Worker:  Anyone, other than an agricultural service worker, who was paid
               for at least one hour of agricultural work on a farm or
ranch.  Worker type is determined by what the employee was primarily hired to
do, not necessarily what work was done during the survey week.  Type of workers
include:

     Field Workers:  Employees engaged in planting, tending and harvesting
                     crops including operation of farm machinery on crop farms.


     Livestock Workers:  Employees tending livestock, milking cows or caring
                         for poultry, including operation of farm machinery on
     livestock or poultry operations.


     Supervisors:  Hired managers, range foremen, crew leaders, etc.


     Other Workers:  Employees engaged in agricultural work not included in the
                     other three categories.  Bookkeepers and pilots are
     examples.


Methods of Pay:  Wage rates are calculated based on total wages and hours worked
                 during the survey week.  Definitions for the three categories
are:


     Hourly Wages:  Pay based on hours actually worked.


     Piece-rate Wages:  Pay determined by multiplying the units produced
                       (boxes, crates, bales, etc.) by the rate per unit.

                      Definitions - continued


Other Pay Methods:  All other methods of calculating pay, such as straight
                    salary, regardless of hours worked.


Perquisites:  Benefits, such as a cash bonuses, housing, or meals, provided to
              an employee in addition to pay are included in perquisites.  Wage
rates published in this release do not include the value of these benefits.


Term of Employment:  The length of time during the year the farm operator
                     expects to employ those workers who were on the payroll
during the survey week.


Agricultural Service:  Agricultural work performed on a farm or ranch if the
                       provider of the service is paid on a contract basis for
materials, equipment, or labor.


Type of Farm (or Ranch):  An operation is classified in the farm type which
                          accounts for the largest portion of the total value of
sales for its agriculture production.  The three types of farms are:


     Field Crops:  A farm primarily engaged in the production of: wheat, rice,
                   corn, soybeans, barley, dry beans, rye, sorghum, cotton,
     popcorn, tobacco, potatoes, sugar crops, hay, peanuts, hops, mint, or other
     such crops.


     Other Crops:  A farm primarily engaged in the production of:  vegetables,
     melons, berry crops, grapes, tree nuts, citrus fruits, deciduous tree
     fruits, avocados, dates, figs, olives, nursery, or greenhouse crops.


     Livestock or Poultry:  An operation primarily engaged in production of:
     cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, milk, chickens, eggs, turkeys, or animal
     specialties such as furs, fish, honey, etc.


Gross Value of Sales:  Gross value includes all income during a year from the
                       sale of crops, livestock, dairy, poultry, or other
related agricultural products, including the landlord's share.  When commodities
are placed under CCC loan, they are considered as sold.
                Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates

Survey Procedures:  These data were collected by the National Agricultural
                    Statistics Service (NASS) during the last two weeks of April
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 aerial photography.  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 April 7-13, 1996.


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 of all non-salaried workers at the U.S. level was 3.1 percent and
3.3 percent for all hired workers.  The relative sampling error for number of
hired workers generally ranged between 7 and 20 percent at the regional and
published State level.  The U.S. all hired farm worker wage rate had a relative
sampling error of 1.2 percent.  The relative sampling error was 1.4 percent for
hourly paid workers and 1.3 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 7 percent at the regional and published State
levels.  Relative sampling errors for wage rates published by type of farm and
economic class of farm ranged between 2 and 8 percent at the regional level.
The relative sampling errors for hired workers benefits ranged between 5 and
9 percent.

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 April 1995 and January 1996 were subject to revision with this report.  No
revisions were made but previous data are reprinted in this report for your
information.

Beginning in January 1995, the criteria for publishing livestock, supervisor,
and other wage rates was changed to a wage rate weight greater than 2 percent
and a relative sampling error below 10 percent.  Also, worker and wage rate
indexes were discontinued after the October 1994 publication.  A 1990-92=100 all
hired wage rate index is published in the quarterly Agriculture Prices release
beginning in 1995.
The next "Farm Labor" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on August 13, 1996.


The August 13th report will have information for the survey week of
July 7-13, 1996.  The report will include the number of all hired workers,
average hours worked by hired workers, and the all hired worker wage rates for
California, Florida, and Hawaii along with regional and U.S. level information.
Wage rates for field and livestock workers will be available for the three
States described above and at the regional and U.S. level.  Wage rates by type
of farm and economic class of farm will be available at the regional and U.S.
level. The number of agricultural service workers and corresponding wage rates,
including a field worker wage rate, will be published for California and
Florida.

A Farm Labor Survey program reduction will impact the published data series
effective August 13.  Self employed and unpaid worker data for the U.S.,
regions, and selected States will be published annually rather than quarterly.
The number of hired workers, hours worked, and hired worker wage rates for major
States (except California, Florida, and Hawaii) will be published annually
instead of quarterly.  Wage rates for supervisory, other type of worker, hourly,
piece rate, and other method of pay categories will be discontinued.  Farm
worker benefits data will be collected and published on a periodic basis.  The
annual labor estimates and a new data series on U.S. migrant workers will be
published in the November 13, 1996 Farm Labor Release.

                              Index


                                                                        Page


U.S. Workers on Farms, Wage Rates, Hours Worked, and Indexes .........    3

Number of Workers by Region, State, and U.S.
  April 1996 .........................................................    4
  January 1996 .......................................................    7
  April 1995 .........................................................   10

Average Hours Worked by Region, State, and U.S.
  April 1996 .........................................................    5
  January 1996 .......................................................    8
  April 1995 .........................................................   11

Wage Rates by Region, State, and U.S.
  April 1996 .........................................................    5
  January 1996 .......................................................    8
  April 1995 .........................................................   11

Agricultural Services: Workers, Average Hours Worked, and Wages
  April 1996 .........................................................   16
  January 1996 .......................................................   16
  April 1995 .........................................................   16

Other Labor Estimates
  U.S. Distribution of Workers .......................................   15
  Wage Rates by Type of Farm, by Region, State, 48 States ............   13
  Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm, by Region, State, 48 States...   13

Farm Labor Region Map ................................................   17

Farm Labor Definitions ...............................................   18

Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates ..................................   20

Revision Policy ......................................................   20




The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits 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
Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an equal
employment opportunity employer.




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