Sp Sy 8 (5-98)
 
Farm
Labor
     National
     Agricultural
     Statistics
     Service
 
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
 
Released May 22, 1998, 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 7:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. ET.
 
 
 
 Hired Workers Down 1 Percent, Wages Up 7 Percent From a Year Ago
 
There were 1,005,000 hired workers on the Nation's farms and ranches the week of
April 12-18, 1998, down 1 percent from a year ago.  There were 803,000 workers
hired directly by farm operators.  Agricultural service employees on farms and
ranches made up the remaining 202,000 workers.  Migrant workers accounted for
6.6 percent of the April hired workforce compared to 6.3 percent last year.
 
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $7.50 per hour during
the April 1998 survey week, up 47 cents from a year earlier.  Field workers
received an average of $7.00 per hour, up 36 cents.  Livestock workers earned
$6.99 per hour compared with $6.40 a year earlier.
 
During the survey week rain continued to delay spring field preparations, and
muddy fields delayed the traditional beginning of the corn-planting season
across most of the Cornbelt. Strong thunderstorms caused localized flooding and
delayed fieldwork in parts of the Southeast. In the Central and Northern Plains,
rainfall was considerably lighter, allowing farmers to make substantial progress
in their fields.  Fieldwork also advanced in the Delta States. The Southern
Plains and most of Florida remained dry.  Farmers in the Northeast enjoyed dry
weather most of the week and made rapid progress preparing fields for planting.
 
Weather conditions in California and the Southwest improved slightly, but
continued wet soils and unseasonably low temperatures caused delays in planting
the cotton crop.  Field activities in California gradually resumed during the
week as drier conditions and warmer weather prevailed in most areas.  Seedbed
preparations for planting corn, cotton, and dry beans were slowly increasing as
soils dried.  Sugar beets were thinned and hand weeded in the San Joaquin Valley
while they were harvested in the Imperial Valley.  Normal cultural activities
continued in orchards and vineyards.  Navel orange picking was winding down,
while Valencia orange picking gathered momentum.  Grapefruit, lemons, and
tangerines were also harvested.  Vegetable fieldwork increased as fields dried.
Spring melon harvest progressed in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys.
 
Florida field preparation for spring planted crops was active.  Dry conditions
allowed vegetable work to progress normally.  Valencia harvest for processing
was very active.  Movement of seedless grapefruit was most active on the lower
East Coast.
 
In Texas, land preparation and planting operations were active for most of the
week in the Plains.  Cultivation and chemical applications occurred in most
other areas.  Cotton land preparations were mostly complete in the Plains.
Producers were cultivating fields in the Coastal Bend area.  In the Rio Grande
Valley, irrigation activity remained steady due to prolonged dry conditions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             Farm Labor:  Employment and Wage Rates, United States,
                     April 12-18, 1998, with Comparisons 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :  April 6-12,   : January 11-17, :  April 12-18,
       Farm Employment       :      1997      :      1998      :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :                      1,000
                             :
Hired Workers                :       *808             661              803
  Expected to be Employed    :
    150 Days or More         :        654             528              619
    149 Days or Less         :        154             133              184
                             :
Agricultural Services        :
  Workers Working on Farms   :        207             141              202
                             :
Hired Farm & Service Workers :     *1,015             802            1,005
                             :
                             :                     Percent
                             :
Migrant Workers Percent of   :
 Hired Farm & Service Workers:        6.3             7.3              6.6
                             :
                             :                  Hours per Week
                             :
Hours Worked                 :
 Hired                       :      *40.4            36.6             40.0
                             :
                             :                 Dollars per Hour
                             :
Wage Rates for               :
 All Hired Workers 2/ 3/     :      *7.03            7.61             7.50
                             :
Type of Workers              :
 Field & Livestock Combined  :      *6.57            6.98             7.00
   Field                     :       6.64            6.99             7.00
   Livestock                 :       6.40            6.97             6.99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   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, April 12-18, 1998 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     :       37              26              11            37.6
Northeast II    :       29              21               8            39.3
                :
Appalachian I   :       26              19               7            38.3
Appalachian II  :       28              20               8            32.9
                :
Southeast       :       35              26               9            40.9
FL              :       57              43              14            39.9
                :
Lake            :       59              46              13            33.7
                :
Cornbelt I      :       47              37              10            37.8
Cornbelt II     :       32              27               5            37.3
                :
Delta           :       31              27               4            46.6
                :
Northern Plains :       41              36               5            43.1
                :
Southern Plains :       58              47              11            39.7
                :
Mountain I      :       20              16               4            46.8
Mountain II     :       19              14               5            39.9
Mountain III    :       19              15               4            42.5
                :
Pacific         :       64              46              18            39.1
CA              :      194             147              47            42.7
                :
HI              :        7               6               1            35.2
                :
US 3/           :      803             619             184            40.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 13.
3/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
      Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Workers and All Hired Workers
                by Region and United States, April 12-18, 1998 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     :     7.76           6.09           7.13             7.42
Northeast II    :     7.23           6.20           7.00             7.53
                :
Appalachian I   :     6.51           6.96           6.65             7.13
Appalachian II  :     6.47           6.09           6.35             6.53
                :
Southeast       :     6.20           6.26           6.21             6.48
FL              :     6.75           7.20           6.78             7.57
                :
Lake            :     7.39           7.43           7.41             8.06
                :
Cornbelt I      :     7.39           8.13           7.62             8.14
Cornbelt II     :     7.49           7.23           7.37             7.64
                :
Delta           :     5.87           6.74           6.04             6.30
                :
Northern Plains :     7.55           6.62           7.15             7.60
                :
Southern Plains :     6.20           6.29           6.25             6.72
                :
Mountain I      :     6.51           5.92           6.21             6.46
Mountain II     :     6.80           7.12           6.95             7.46
Mountain III    :     6.32           6.52           6.36             7.02
                :
Pacific         :     7.00           8.49           7.21             7.89
CA              :     7.30           8.08           7.39             7.87
                :
HI 4/           :     9.06                          8.95            10.43
                :
US 3/           :     7.00           6.99           7.00             7.50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 13.
3/  Excludes AK.
4/  Insufficient data for livestock.
 
 
 
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region
                    and United States, January 11-17, 1998 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     :       32              28               4            38.0
Northeast II    :       20              17               3            38.7
                :
Appalachian I   :       20              16               4            35.1
Appalachian II  :       23              14               9            30.9
                :
Southeast       :       31              24               7            35.1
FL              :       51              41              10            38.3
                :
Lake            :       41              35               6            32.1
                :
Cornbelt I      :       32              28               4            34.1
Cornbelt II     :       26              17               9            31.5
                :
Delta           :       27              20               7            29.2
                :
Northern Plains :       33              28               5            39.4
                :
Southern Plains :       52              44               8            38.5
                :
Mountain I      :       19              16               3            33.6
Mountain II     :       14              12               2            35.8
Mountain III    :       17              15               2            42.0
                :
Pacific         :       36              31               5            36.0
CA              :      180             136              44            38.9
                :
HI              :        7               6               1            35.3
                :
US 3/           :      661             528             133            36.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 13.
3/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
       Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Worker and All Hired Workers
               By Region and United States, January 11-17, 1998 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     :     8.60           6.22           6.96             7.54
Northeast II    :     7.45           6.08           6.80             7.51
                :
Appalachian I   :     6.50           6.66           6.57             6.97
Appalachian II  :     6.44           5.71           6.10             6.33
                :
Southeast       :     7.13           6.09           6.70             7.23
FL              :     7.45           8.00           7.49             8.22
                :
Lake            :     7.74           7.16           7.35             8.32
                :
Cornbelt I      :     7.51           7.62           7.57             8.31
Cornbelt II     :     6.82           6.43           6.50             7.08
                :
Delta           :     6.94           6.30           6.70             7.21
                :
Northern Plains :     8.34           7.38           7.65             8.22
                :
Southern Plains :     6.59           6.65           6.61             7.04
                :
Mountain I      :     6.53           6.80           6.74             7.26
Mountain II     :     7.22           6.89           7.00             7.65
Mountain III    :     6.63           6.61           6.63             7.34
                :
Pacific         :     7.67           8.16           7.81             8.86
CA              :     6.62           8.36           6.85             7.38
                :
HI 4/           :     8.88                          8.84            10.24
                :
US 3/           :     6.99           6.97           6.98             7.61
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 13.
3/  Excludes AK.
4/  Insufficient data for livestock.
 
 
 
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region
                     and United States, April 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 3/   :  or Less 3/   :    Worked
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :     --------------- 1,000 --------------       Hours per Week
                :
Northeast I     :       40              31               9             41.0
Northeast II    :       41              32               9             40.7
Appalachian I   :       38              29               9             41.4
Appalachian II  :       25              17               8             34.1
Southeast       :      *42             *34               8            *32.9
FL              :       60              52               8             41.0
Lake            :       63              50              13             33.5
Cornbelt I      :       55              45              10             35.7
Cornbelt II     :       27              20               7             36.2
Delta           :       39              32               7             38.7
Northern Plains :       27              24               3             43.0
Southern Plains :       55              44              11             40.6
Mountain I      :       20              16               4             50.8
Mountain II     :       22              16               6             40.8
Mountain III    :       16              14               2             43.2
Pacific         :       61              46              15             42.3
CA              :      171             147              24             45.1
HI              :        6               5               1             37.6
US 3/           :     *808            *654             154            *40.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 13.
3/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
       Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Worker and All Hired Workers
                By Region and United States, April 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     :     7.11           5.67           6.59             7.22
Northeast II    :     6.62           5.81           6.27             6.99
Appalachian I   :     6.04           6.85           6.28             6.49
Appalachian II  :     5.69           6.28          *5.85            *6.27
Southeast       :     6.14           5.70           6.02            *6.40
FL              :     6.51           6.30           6.49             7.19
Lake            :     7.50           6.56           6.91             7.31
Cornbelt I      :     7.28           7.47           7.33             7.91
Cornbelt II     :     6.76           6.43           6.57             6.64
Delta           :     5.91           6.33           6.02             6.50
Northern Plains :     7.96           6.61           7.07             7.72
Southern Plains :     5.37           5.78           5.57             5.98
Mountain I      :     6.59           4.95           5.65             5.94
Mountain II     :     6.58           5.99           6.40             6.95
Mountain III    :     5.78           5.90           5.81             6.24
Pacific         :     6.71           7.64           6.88             7.36
CA              :     6.90           8.06           6.99             7.35
HI 4/           :     8.81                          8.82             9.98
US 3/           :     6.64           6.40          *6.57            *7.03
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 13.
3/  Excludes AK.
4/  Insufficient data for livestock.
 
 
 
           Field and Livestock Workers Combined:  Wage Rates, by Type
                       of Farm, by Region and 48 States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :       April 6-12, 1997        :       April 12-18, 1998
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
    Region 2/   : Field : Other :L'stk &:  All  : Field : Other :L'stk &:  All
                : Crops : Crops :Poultry: Farms : Crops : Crops :Poultry: Farms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour
                :
Northeast       : 6.87    6.68    5.77    6.30    8.13    7.43    5.75    6.79
Appalachian     : 5.55    7.01    6.90    6.35    5.81    6.96    6.77    6.53
Southeast       : 5.35    7.02    4.98    6.51    5.57    6.78    6.62    6.61
Lake            : 7.87    6.75    6.89    6.91    7.48    7.16    7.58    7.41
Cornbelt        : 7.70    6.94    6.91    6.96    7.42    7.17    7.93    7.54
Delta           : 6.02    6.47    6.04    6.06    5.73    6.14    6.92    6.04
Northern Plains : 7.62    5.91    6.89    7.08    7.59    8.01    6.65    7.15
Southern Plains : 5.69    5.11    5.82    5.57    5.82    5.61    6.78    6.25
Mountain        : 6.16    6.54    5.31    5.91    6.87    6.31    6.58    6.51
Pacific         : 7.21    7.43    7.83    7.33    8.20    7.56    8.50    7.70
48 States       : 6.30    6.89    6.34    6.60    6.60    7.02    7.19    7.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
            All Hired Workers:  Wage Rates, by Economic Class of Farm
                           by Region and 48 States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :         April 6-12, 1997          :         April 12-18, 1998
 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 :   3/   6.90    6.33    7.23  7.08  6.85   6.72    7.21    7.76   7.47
Appal.  : 5.95   5.74    6.64    6.88  6.57  5.79   6.68    6.70    7.27   6.84
S. East : 5.89   6.41    6.20      3/  8.11  6.29   7.82    6.52    7.22   7.15
Lake    : 7.27   6.32    6.05    6.89  7.31  7.35   6.53    7.15    7.37   8.06
Cornbelt: 7.15   7.23    7.59    7.48  7.22  6.57   7.17    7.88    8.18   7.94
Delta   : 5.91   6.57    6.73    6.56  6.50  7.83   6.24    5.67    6.39   6.30
N. Plain: 5.84     3/    6.98      3/  7.73  6.48   6.39    6.58    8.08   7.60
S. Plain: 5.19   5.84    5.89    6.21  5.98  6.13   4.78    5.95    7.30   6.72
Mountain: 6.32   5.54    5.66    6.67  6.27  5.63   7.36    6.80    7.11   6.94
Pacific : 5.04   6.70    7.25    7.41  7.16  7.97   7.35    7.59    7.90   7.87
48 State: 5.96   6.35    6.49    7.45  7.16  6.58   6.79    6.97    7.71   7.50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/ 2/ 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Type of      :     April 6-12,     :  January 11-17,  :   April 12-18,
        Farm        :        1997         :       1998       :       1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :          Percent of Field and Livestock Workers
                    :
Field Crops         :         21                  14                 14
Other Crops         :         49                  52                 55
 & Poultry          :         30                  34                 31
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
                    Hired Workers:  Distribution by Economic
                         Class of Farm, 48 States 1/ 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Gross Value    :     April 6-12,     :  January 11-17,  :   April 12-18,
      of Sales      :        1997         :       1998       :       1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                 Percent of Hired Workers
                    :
Less than $40,000   :          8                  10                  9
$40,000-$99,999     :          7                   6                  7
$100,000-$249,999   :         15                  13                 14
$250,000 and over   :         70                  71                 70
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
         Hired Workers:  Distribution by Category, United States, 1/ 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :  April 6-12,   : January 11-17, :  April 12-18,
                             :      1997      :      1998      :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :             Percent of Hired Workers
  1 Worker                   :      11               14               14
  2 Workers                  :      10               10                8
  3-6 Workers                :      20               22               20
  7-10 Workers               :       9                7                8
  At least 11 Workers        :      50               47               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 202,000 workers for the Nation's farms
and ranches the week of April 12-18, 1998.  Service workers in California
numbered 76,000 compared with 90,000 during the April 1997 survey week.
Florida's number of service workers was 13,000, the same as last year.
 
The average wages received by agricultural service workers in California and
Florida were $7.89 and $8.40 per hour, respectively.  Comparable wages in April
1997 were $7.21 in California and $8.44 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:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :  Apr  :  Jan   :  Apr   :  Apr  :  Jan  :  Apr  :  Apr  :  Jan  :  Apr
      : 1997  :  1998  :  1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      : -------- 1,000 -------    ------- Hours ------      Dollars per Hour
      :
CA    :  90.0    59.0     76.0    39.3    35.2    35.7    7.21    7.24    7.89
FL    :  13.0    16.0     13.0    36.0    30.0    40.0    8.44    9.20    8.40
US    : 207.0   141.0    202.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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), 1995-98 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
1998            :       7.3             6.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
 
 
 
                       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 quarterly Farm Labor reports.  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 - continued
 
 
Perquisites:  Benefits, such as 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:  Service on a contract or fee basis such as veterinarian
work, artificial insemination, sheep
                 shearing, milk testing, etc., performing on the farm or
ranch.
 
Contract Labor:  Contract workers are paid by a crew leader, contractor, buyer,
processor, cooperative, or other person who has an oral or
           written agreement with a farmer/rancher.  Pruning, thinning,
weeding or harvesting of fruit, vegetable or berry crops are examples.  A
machine is not a
part of the service activity provided by the contractor.
 
Custom Work:  Work performed by machinges and labor hired as a unit.  Hay
baling, combining, corn or cotton picking, spraying,
              fertilizing, laser leveling are examples of custom work when the
equipment is included in the service activity.
 
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 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 NASS list of farms;
those not found on the list are included in the labor survey sample to represent
all farms.  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 12-18, 1998.
 
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 hired workers at the U.S. level was 3.3 percent.  The relative
sampling error for the number of hired workers generally ranged between 10 and
20 percent at the regional level.  The U.S. all hired farm worker wage rate had
a relative sampling error of 0.8 percent.  The relative sampling error was 0.8
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 5 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 a complete census 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 editing, 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 January and April,
1998 were subject to revision with this report.  Revisions were made and
previous data are reprinted in this report for your information.
 
 
                               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.
    April 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
    January 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
    April 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
 
Wage Rates by Region and U.S.
    April 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
    January 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
    April 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
 
Agricultural Services: Workers, Average Hours Worked, and Wages
    April 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
    January 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
    April 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
 
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
 
Farm Labor Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
 
Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
 
Revision Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
 
The next "Farm Labor" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on August 21, 1998.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion,
age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family
status.  (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)  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 of discrimination, , write USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD).  USDA is an
equal opportunity provider and employer.
 
 
 
 
                        ACCESS TO REPORTS!!
 
 
For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data
products, and services:
 
                          INTERNET ACCESS
 
All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet.  For
access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at:
http://www.usda.gov/nass/.  Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then
Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject.
 
                        E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION
 
All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your
e-mail address.  Send an e-mail message to:
usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu.  In the body of the message type the
word:  list.
 
 
                           AUTOFAX ACCESS
 
NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine.  Please
call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax.  Respond to the voice
prompts.  Document 0411 is a list of available reports.
 
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                            ASSISTANCE
 
For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about
NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at
800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.