Farm
Labor
 
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service
 
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
 
Released November 20, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of
Agriculture. For information on "Farm Labor" call Steve Logan at
202-690-3228, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
 
 
 
 Hired Workers Down 3 Percent, Wages Up 4 Percent From a Year Ago
 
There were 1.25 million hired workers on the Nation's farms and ranches
the week of October 11-17, 1998, down 3 percent from a year ago. There
were 983 thousand workers hired directly by farm operators. Agricultural
service employees on farms and ranches made up the remaining 263,000
workers. Migrant workers accounted for 11.0 percent of the October hired
workforce compared to 11.2 percent last year.
 
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $7.60 per
hour during the October 1998 survey week, up 29 cents from a year
earlier. Field workers received an average of $7.15 per hour, up 21
cents from last October. Livestock workers earned $7.28 per hour
compared with $6.80 a year earlier. The Field and Livestock worker
combined wage rate was up 26 cents from last year.
 
Number of hours worked averaged 42.7 hours for hired workers during the
survey week compared with 40.9 hours a year ago.
 
The largest increases in number of hired farm workers over last year
occurred in California, Mountain III (Arizona and New Mexico), Southeast
(Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina), and Mountain I (Idaho, Montana,
and Wyoming). In California, grape harvest was very active and
harvesting of vegetables, fruit/nuts, and other crops was also active.
Increases in the Mountain III region were attributable to late
harvesting because of cool, wet weather earlier in the year. Drier
weather enabled farmers to make good harvest progress in the Southeast
region. Ranchers were busy moving livestock off summer ranges in the
Mountain I region.
 
The largest declines in number of hired farm workers from a year ago
were in the Appalachian II (Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia), Corn
Belt II (Iowa and Missouri) and Northern Plains (North Dakota, South
Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas). In the Appalachian II region, corn,
soybean, and tobacco harvest was well ahead of average and nearing
completion. Stripping of tobacco continued at a slow pace due to lack of
humidity and rainfall. Late-week heavy rains halted fieldwork in most of
the Corn Belt II region following several days of favorable harvest
weather. Cool, wet weather in the Dakotas slowed harvest there. Fall
harvest was ahead of schedule in Kansas and Nebraska.
 
The 1998 annual averages for the Nation's self employed, unpaid, and
hired workers were 1.49 million, 460.5 and 879.5 thousand respectively.
The self employed and unpaid worker annual averages were down from last
year at 3 and 1 percent respectively. The hired workers annual average
was virtually unchanged from a year ago.
 
The 1998 U.S. hired worker annual average wage rate was $7.47, up 2
percent from the 1997 annual average wage rate of $7.35. The Field and
Livestock worker combined annual average wage rate was $6.98,up 5
percent from the previous year's annual average wage rate of $6.64.
 
 
Sp Sy 8  (11-98)
 
 
 
             Farm Labor:  Employment and Wage Rates, United States,
                    October 11-17, 1998, with Comparisons 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             : October 12-18, :  July 12-18,   : October 11-17,
       Farm Employment       :      1997      :      1998      :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :                      1,000
                             :
Hired Workers                :
  Expected to be Employed    :     1,004            1,071              983
    150 Days or More         :       648              712              696
    149 Days or Less         :       356              359              287
                             :
Agricultural Services        :
  Workers Working on Farms   :       283              379              263
                             :
Hired Farm & Service Workers :     1,287            1,450            1,246
                             :
                             :
                             :                     Percent
                             :
Migrant Workers Percent of   :
 Hired Farm & Service Workers:      11.2             13.7             11.0
                             :
                             :
                             :                  Hours per Week
                             :
Hours Worked                 :
 Hired                       :      40.9             40.7             42.7
                             :
                             :
                             :                 Dollars per Hour
                             :
Wage Rates for               :
 All Hired Workers 2/ 3/     :      7.31             7.24             7.60
                             :
Type of Worker               :
 Field & Livestock Combined  :      6.91             6.80             7.17
   Field                     :      6.94             6.78             7.15
   Livestock                 :      6.80             6.91             7.28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes AK.
2/  Benefits, such as housing and meals, are provided some workers but the
    values are not included in the wage rates.
3/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
 
 
 
 
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region
                    and United States, October 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     :       43              31              12            39.6
Northeast II    :       32              24               8            38.4
                :
Appalachian I   :       44              27              17            37.5
Appalachian II  :       27              12              15            31.5
                :
Southeast       :       38              30               8            38.6
FL              :       47              42               5            43.0
                :
Lake            :       59              38              21            39.6
                :
Cornbelt I      :       53              34              19            39.6
Cornbelt II     :       28              20               8            38.6
                :
Delta           :       40              29              11            49.2
                :
Northern Plains :       33              21              12            39.7
                :
Southern Plains :       53              37              16            39.0
                :
Mountain I      :       33              21              12            48.3
Mountain II     :       23              19               4            47.0
Mountain III    :       25              21               4            46.8
                :
Pacific         :       85              41              44            37.2
CA              :      312             242              70            47.7
                :
HI              :        8               7               1            36.6
                :
US 3/           :      983             696             287            42.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 16.
3/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
 
      Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Workers and All Hired Workers
               by Region and United States, October 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     :     7.52           6.90           7.32             7.82
Northeast II    :     7.11           6.74           6.98             7.59
                :
Appalachian I   :     6.60           7.38           6.73             7.08
Appalachian II  :     6.23           6.92           6.40             6.73
                :
Southeast       :     6.46           6.45           6.46             6.63
FL              :     7.10           7.30           7.13             7.82
                :
Lake            :     8.23           7.40           7.99             8.45
                :
Cornbelt I      :     7.43           7.76           7.49             7.90
Cornbelt II     :     7.23           8.20           7.56             8.03
                :
Delta           :     5.85           7.07           6.05             6.48
                :
Northern Plains :     7.65           6.03           7.24             7.57
                :
Southern Plains :     6.14           6.58           6.28             6.77
                :
Mountain I      :     6.89           6.72           6.85             7.03
Mountain II     :     6.37           7.33           6.82             7.32
Mountain III    :     6.55           6.33           6.52             7.00
                :
Pacific         :     7.76           8.76           7.86             8.25
CA              :     7.29           7.99           7.34             7.75
                :
HI 4/           :     9.20                          9.17            10.65
                :
US 3/           :     7.15           7.28           7.17             7.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 16.
3/  Excludes AK.
4/  Insufficient data for livestock.
 
 
 
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region
                     and United States, July 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     :        48             34              14            39.8
Northeast II    :        47             30              17            40.7
                :
Appalachian I   :        66             33              33            34.8
Appalachian II  :        38             18              20            26.7
                :
Southeast       :        45             30              15            39.5
FL              :        45             40               5            41.5
                :
Lake            :        72             40              32            37.3
                :
Cornbelt I      :        50             28              22            32.1
Cornbelt II     :        28             21               7            28.7
                :
Delta           :        40             28              12            40.9
                :
Northern Plains :        45             25              20            42.3
                :
Southern Plains :        63             45              18            44.4
                :
Mountain I      :        31             20              11            44.7
Mountain II     :        30             20              10            41.4
Mountain III    :        22             16               6            47.7
                :
Pacific         :        95             43              52            43.9
CA              :       298            234              64            44.5
                :
HI              :         8              7               1            36.6
                :
US 3/           :     1,071            712             359            40.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 16.
3/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
 
       Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Worker and All Hired Workers
                By Region and United States, July 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     :     7.27           6.80           7.12            *7.59
Northeast II    :     6.95           6.20           6.75             7.22
                :
Appalachian I   :     6.24           7.12           6.34             6.70
Appalachian II  :     6.07           6.54           6.24             6.59
                :
Southeast       :     6.02           5.82           5.99             6.22
FL              :     7.25           6.90           7.21             8.08
                :
Lake            :     6.95           6.41           6.77             7.01
                :
Cornbelt I      :     7.45           7.52           7.47             7.84
Cornbelt II     :     6.61           7.62           7.02             7.52
                :
Delta           :     6.20           6.83           6.36             6.75
                :
Northern Plains :     6.73           6.51           6.69             7.08
                :
Southern Plains :     5.98           5.98           5.98             6.32
                :
Mountain I      :     6.05           6.47           6.13             6.26
Mountain II     :     6.13           7.08           6.39             6.95
Mountain III    :     6.11           6.74           6.22             6.65
                :
Pacific         :     6.77           8.70           6.91             7.27
CA              :     7.10           8.05           7.19             7.72
                :
HI 4/           :     8.82                          8.91            10.30
                :
US 3/           :     6.78           6.91           6.80             7.24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 16.
3/  Excludes AK.
4/  Insufficient data for livestock.
 
 
 
 
                Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region
                    and United States, October 12-18, 1997 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             Hired
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      U.S.      :               :    Expected to be Employed    :
       and      :    Number     :-------------------------------:    Number
    Region 2/   :      of       :   150 Days    :   149 Days    :   of Hours
                :    Workers    :  or More 3/   :  or Less 3/   :    Worked
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :     --------------- 1,000 --------------       Hours per Week
                :
Northeast I     :        46             32              14            40.4
Northeast II    :        43             34               9            37.1
                :
Appalachian I   :        53             22              31            31.3
Appalachian II  :        52             18              34            29.9
                :
Southeast       :        32             25               7            39.4
FL              :        45             41               4            39.9
                :
Lake            :        80             48              32            41.3
                :
Cornbelt I      :        56             33              23            41.3
Cornbelt II     :        46             29              17            39.9
                :
Delta           :        52             35              17            45.4
                :
Northern Plains :        52             35              17            45.8
                :
Southern Plains :        66             45              21            38.8
                :
Mountain I      :        28             20               8            41.5
Mountain II     :        26             21               5            40.3
Mountain III    :        20             16               4            41.5
                :
Pacific         :        79             42              37            41.0
CA              :       220            145              75            45.6
                :
HI              :         8              7               1            36.4
                :
US 3/           :     1,004            648             356            40.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 16.
3/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
 
       Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Worker and All Hired Workers
               By Region and United States, October 12-18, 1997 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Type of Worker               :
      U.S.      :--------------------------------------------:  Wage Rates for
       and      :              :              :Field & Lvstk :All Hired Workers
    Region 2/   :    Field     :  Livestock   :   Combined   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour
                :
Northeast I     :     7.39           6.45           7.09             7.49
Northeast II    :     6.68           6.18           6.50             7.06
                :
Appalachian I   :     6.51           6.77           6.55             6.73
Appalachian II  :     6.14           6.16           6.14             6.27
                :
Southeast       :     6.38           6.27           6.36            *6.88
FL              :     7.10           7.65           7.19             7.75
                :
Lake            :     7.85           6.01           7.28             7.73
                :
Cornbelt I      :     7.17           7.46           7.21             7.81
Cornbelt II     :     7.08           7.08           7.08             7.23
                :
Delta           :     5.92           6.40           5.99             6.22
                :
Northern Plains :     7.05           6.59           6.91             7.22
                :
Southern Plains :     6.10           6.73           6.41             6.70
                :
Mountain I      :     6.28           6.74           6.43             6.65
Mountain II     :     6.74           7.23           6.85             7.25
Mountain III    :     6.17           6.66           6.25             6.85
                :
Pacific         :     7.55           8.14           7.60             8.11
CA              :     7.06           7.84           7.13             7.55
                :
HI 4/           :     8.49                          8.55             9.98
                :
US 3/           :     6.94           6.80           6.91             7.31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   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/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      October 12-18, 1997      :      October 11-17, 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       : 6.80    6.98    6.41    6.70    7.49    7.15    6.75    7.05
Appalachian     : 6.22    7.03    6.42    6.37    6.42    7.08    7.18    6.83
Southeast       : 6.45    6.81    7.40    6.85    6.32    6.80    7.18    6.88
Lake            : 7.16    8.33    6.08    7.28    7.21    8.53    7.68    7.99
Cornbelt        : 7.12    7.46    7.18    7.20    7.00    7.53    8.26    7.61
Delta           : 5.58    6.46    6.22    5.99    5.55    6.52    6.92    6.05
Northern Plains : 7.23    6.97    6.40    6.91    7.45    7.58    6.84    7.24
Southern Plains : 6.12    6.33    6.55    6.41    6.30    5.99    6.50    6.28
Mountain        : 6.40    6.48    7.04    6.63    6.47    6.63    6.94    6.71
Pacific         : 7.52    7.47    8.12    7.66    7.94    7.75    8.41    7.93
48 States       : 6.58    7.10    6.82    6.91    6.66    7.24    7.30    7.17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
            All Hired Workers:  Wage Rates, by Economic Class of Farm
                           by Region and 48 States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :        October 12-18, 1997        :        October 11-17, 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 : 7.94   6.81    6.85   7.33   7.27  6.53   6.85    6.20    8.68   7.72
Appal.  : 5.91   6.36    6.28   7.12   6.40  6.17   6.22    7.02    7.46   6.96
S. East : 6.82   6.53    6.44   7.72   7.45  6.64   7.40    7.73    7.29   7.32
Lake    : 5.94   5.10    8.06   7.02   7.73    3/     3/    8.69    8.38   8.45
Cornbelt: 7.40   7.47    6.82   7.80   7.48  8.14   6.16    8.13    8.11   7.94
Delta   : 6.26   5.91    5.90   6.35   6.22  6.98   6.05    5.46    6.84   6.48
N. Plain:   3/   5.48    6.56   7.32   7.22    3/   6.95    7.11    7.82   7.57
S. Plain: 5.79   6.12    6.42   7.03   6.70  7.06   6.56    6.59    6.80   6.77
Mountain: 6.29   5.77    6.07   7.22   6.87  6.45   6.72    7.23    7.11   7.10
Pacific : 9.92   8.99    8.25   7.88   7.97  7.50   7.75    7.59    7.88   7.84
48 State: 6.82   6.62    6.93   7.51   7.31  7.12   6.90    7.24    7.75   7.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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      :   October 12-18,    :   July 12-18,    :  October 11-17,
        Farm        :        1997         :       1998       :       1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :          Percent of Field and Livestock Workers
                    :
Field Crops         :         24                    17                 14
Other Crops         :         50                    55                 62
Livestock, Dairy,   :
 & Poultry          :         26                    28                 24
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
                    Hired Workers:  Distribution by Economic
                         Class of Farm, 48 States 1/ 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Gross Value    :   October 12-18,    :   July 12-18,    :  October 11-17,
      of Sales      :        1997         :       1998       :       1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                 Percent of Hired Workers
                    :
Less than $40,000   :         12                   *10                 10
$40,000-$99,999     :         10                    *9                  8
$100,000-$249,999   :         15                    16                 15
$250,000 and over   :         63                    65                 67
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
         Hired Workers:  Distribution by Category, United States, 1/ 3/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             : October 12-18, :  July 12-18,   : October 11-17,
                             :      1997      :      1998      :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :             Percent of Hired Workers
Employed on Farms Hiring     :
  1 Worker                   :      11                  9                9
  2 Workers                  :      11                  9                9
  3-6 Workers                :      20                 21               20
  7-10 Workers               :       8                 10                9
  At least 11 Workers        :      50                 51               53
                             :     100.0            100.0            100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.
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 263,000 workers for the Nation's farms
and ranches during the week of October 11-17, 1998.  Service workers in
California numbered 95,000 this October compared with 85,000 last year.
Florida's number of service workers was 5,900, compared to 6,000 last year.
 
The average wage received by agricultural service workers in California and
Florida were $6.97 and $8.07 per hour, respectively.  Comparable wages in
October 1997 were $7.37 in California and $8.30 in Florida.
 
 
 
      Agricultural Service Workers:  Number, Hours Worked, and Wage Rates,
                  for California, Florida, and United States 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :    Number of Workers    :         Hours         :         Wage
      :    Working on Farms     :       Worked 2/       :      Rates 2/ 3/
 State:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :  Oct  :  Jul   :  Oct   :  Oct  :  Jul  :  Oct  :  Oct  :  Jul  :  Oct
      : 1997  :  1998  :  1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      : -------- 1,000 -------    ------- Hours ------      Dollars per Hour
      :
CA    :  85.0   110.0     95.0     34.5   38.3    39.7     7.37   7.19    6.97
FL    :  *6.0     5.0      5.9    *27.0   32.0    30.0    *8.30   8.60    8.07
      :
US    : 283.0   379.0    263.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.
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           13.7            11.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Definition "Migrant Worker" is a farm worker whose employment required
    travel that prevented the farm worker from returning to his/her permanent
    place of residence the same day.
2/  Data first collected during July 1995 survey.
 
 
 
 
                Workers:  Annual Average Number and Hours Worked
                 By Region, State, and United States, 1997-98 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                    Number                     : Hours Worked
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      State     :     Self      :               :               :
       and      :   Employed    :    Unpaid     :     Hired     : Hired Workers
    Region 2/   :---------------------------------------------------------------
                : 1997  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998  : 1997  : 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :-------------------- 1,000 -------------------  Hours per Week
                :
NY              :   30.0    31.0   11.3    13.0    20.0    20.5   41.4    39.7
Northeast I     :   54.5    56.8   15.8    20.5    41.0    40.0   39.3    38.9
                :
PA              :   51.5    46.5   27.8    30.5    22.5    17.7   41.3    39.7
Northeast II    :   71.3    64.7   33.8    35.1    40.5    32.0   41.3    39.5
                :
NC              :   50.5    39.8    9.3     9.1    32.8    27.5   30.8    35.6
VA              :   31.8    30.0    8.5     8.2    12.4    11.4   36.8    37.4
Appalachian I   :   82.3    69.8   17.8    17.3    45.3    38.9   36.4    36.1
                :
Appalachian II  :  142.3   140.8   36.4    32.2    35.0    29.0   30.8    35.6
Southeast       :   77.0    73.8   13.5    14.6    39.0    37.3   36.7    38.7
FL              :   28.8    25.5    5.3     5.8    50.3    50.0   39.4    40.6
                :
MI              :   38.3    36.8    8.5     8.0    21.8    23.8   36.9    38.6
MN              :   68.8    67.8   25.0    22.8    16.8    16.6   42.5    36.4
WI              :   54.0    54.0   25.5    31.5    25.8    17.4   33.3    32.2
Lake            :  161.0   158.5   59.0    62.3    64.3    57.8   37.0    36.0
                :
Cornbelt I      :  167.3   152.8   50.3    48.6    51.8    45.5   36.3    36.1
Cornbelt II     :  144.8   138.8   44.0    37.0    33.5    28.5   37.0    34.2
Delta           :   68.0    70.0   17.2    17.3    41.8    34.5   40.9    42.3
Northern Plains :  126.3   127.0   53.5    52.3    38.8    38.0   43.1    41.3
                :
OK              :   57.3    61.0   16.5    18.8    14.8    13.3   41.9    40.3
TX              :  165.3   172.8   23.5    27.8    47.8    43.3   40.7    40.6
Southern Plains :  222.5   233.8   40.0    46.5    62.5    56.5   40.9    40.6
                :
Mountain I      :   40.5    36.4   19.0    14.3    21.3    25.8   44.1    44.2
Mountain II     :   26.4    31.0    9.8     9.8    22.8    21.6   43.3    41.7
                :
AZ              :    5.4     5.2   10.8    10.8    13.2    15.8   42.0    45.6
NM              :    9.6     9.0   13.8    12.5     5.8     5.0   42.0    43.5
Mountain III    :   15.0    14.2   24.5    23.3    19.0    20.8   42.0    45.1
                :
OR              :   32.8    30.0   10.4     5.5    29.5    24.8   40.3    40.3
WA              :   24.5    23.0    6.0     6.0    44.8    45.2   41.0    39.5
Pacific         :   57.3    53.0   16.4    11.5    74.3    70.0   40.7    39.8
                :
CA              :   38.8    36.5    6.3    11.5   188.8   246.0   43.6    44.1
HI              :    3.0     3.0    1.0     1.0     7.0     7.5   36.7    36.0
                :
US 3/           :1,526.7 1,486.1  463.2   460.5   876.5   879.5   40.0    40.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 16.
3/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
 
                    Hired Workers:  Annual Average Wage Rates
                   By Region and United States, 1997-98 1/ 4/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      All Hired      :       Field       :  Field & Livestock
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :   1997   :   1998   :  1997   :  1998   :   1997   :   1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour
                :
Northeast I     :   7.63       7.63      7.23      7.65       6.84       7.18
Northeast II    :   7.24       7.40      6.60      7.07       6.33       6.84
Appalachian I   :   6.35       6.90      6.00      6.41       6.16       6.54
Appalachian II  :   6.23       6.56      5.88      6.29       5.92       6.28
Southeast       :   6.81       6.58      6.37      6.35       6.30       6.30
FL              :   7.47       7.91      6.76      7.11       6.78       7.13
Lake            :   7.30       7.87      7.42      7.53       6.85       7.34
Cornbelt I      :   7.84       8.02      7.06      7.43       7.18       7.53
Cornbelt II     :   7.10       7.61      7.02      7.14       6.86       7.17
Delta           :   6.36       6.61      5.87      6.05       5.98       6.21
Northern Plains :   7.41       7.57      7.14      7.30       7.01       7.12
Southern Plains :   6.31       6.68      5.67      6.21       5.92       6.25
Mountain I      :   6.72       6.71      6.19      6.49       6.54       6.48
Mountain II     :   6.85       7.26      6.31      6.42       6.39       6.73
Mountain III    :   6.67       6.97      6.07      6.39       6.08       6.42
Pacific         :   7.56       7.87      7.00      7.18       7.08       7.34
CA              :   7.32       7.71      6.79      7.13       6.87       7.23
HI              :  10.15      10.41      8.81      8.99       8.83       8.97
                :
US 3/           :   7.35       7.47      6.66      6.97       6.64       6.98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Region map on page 16.
3/  Excludes AK.
4/  Annual rates are averages of the published wage rates for each survey week
    weighted by the number of hours worked during the week.  The annual average
    for all States, Regions, and the U.S. is based on data collected for
    January, April, July, and October.
 
 
 
 
                    Hired Workers:  Annual Average Wage Rates
                             By State, 1997-98 1/ 2/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      All Hired      :       Field       :  Field & Livestock
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
                :   1997   :   1998   :  1997   :  1998   :   1997   :   1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour
                :
AL              :   6.17       6.20      5.89      5.84       5.74       5.86
AZ              :   6.74       7.08      6.08      6.46       6.09       6.51
AR              :   6.58       6.51      6.02      5.89       6.13       6.01
CA              :   7.32       7.71      6.79      7.13       6.87       7.23
CO              :   6.91       7.39      6.36      6.50       6.45       6.78
DE              :   7.87       8.24      7.64      7.50       7.48       7.48
FL              :   7.47       7.91      6.76      7.11       6.78       7.13
GA              :   7.35       6.93      6.89      6.64       6.85       6.61
HI              :  10.15      10.41      8.81      8.99       8.83       8.97
ID              :   6.80       6.98      6.25      6.62       6.54       6.80
IL              :   8.04       8.03      7.23      7.62       7.41       7.57
IN              :   8.10       8.37      7.22      7.21       7.33       7.69
IA              :   7.68       8.32      7.60      7.69       7.43       7.81
KS              :   7.62       8.07      7.30      7.54       7.29       7.52
KY              :   6.30       6.58      5.75      6.11       5.95       6.26
LA              :   6.25       6.46      6.03      6.33       6.00       6.38
MD              :   7.77       7.56      7.64      7.15       7.02       6.82
MI              :   7.14       7.87      6.78      7.39       6.62       7.39
MN              :   8.16       8.68      8.38      8.10       7.73       8.01
MS              :   6.17       6.86      5.53      5.97       5.80       6.35
MO              :   6.44       6.71      6.43      6.42       6.25       6.39
MT              :   6.20       6.42      6.21      6.43       5.91       6.20
NE              :   7.56       7.45      7.28      7.24       6.94       7.00
NV              :   6.88       6.90      6.28      6.29       6.45       6.47
NJ              :   7.25       7.94      6.39      7.05       6.48       7.15
NM              :   6.49       6.60      6.01      6.05       6.07       6.11
NY              :   7.21       7.10      7.32      7.25       6.80       6.93
NC              :   6.25       6.89      5.96      6.43       6.04       6.53
ND              :   7.34       7.85      7.63      7.70       7.40       7.67
OH              :   7.10       7.56      6.70      7.37       6.70       7.33
OK              :   6.97       7.47      6.10      6.86       6.41       6.77
OR              :   7.46       8.08      6.82      7.29       6.85       7.29
PA              :   6.46       7.07      6.32      7.01       5.98       6.68
SC              :   6.15       6.29      5.65      6.18       5.69       6.14
SD              :   6.39       6.57      5.93      6.31       6.06       6.06
TN              :   6.10       6.52      5.98      6.51       5.84       6.30
TX              :   6.09       6.44      5.55      6.01       5.78       6.10
UT              :   6.60       7.07      6.08      6.22       6.16       6.73
VA              :   6.54       6.94      6.16      6.37       6.40       6.55
WA              :   7.64       7.76      7.10      7.13       7.23       7.37
WV              :   6.65       6.60      6.01      6.25       6.28       6.28
WI              :   6.73       7.02      7.29      7.35       6.33       6.76
WY              :   5.59       6.25      5.89      5.91       5.20       5.75
Oth Sts 3/      :   7.44       8.22      7.15      8.08       6.89       7.46
                :
US 4/           :   7.35       7.47      6.66      6.97       6.64       6.98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.
2/  Annual rates are averages of the published wage rates for each survey week
    weighted by the number of hours worked during the week.  The annual average
    for all States, Regions, and the U.S. is based on data collected for
    January.
3/  Includes CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT.
4/  Excludes AK.
 
 
 
 
                       Farm Labor Regions
 
 
     Region                   States
 
     Northeast I         CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT.
     Northeast II        DE, MD, NJ, PA.
     Appalachian I       NC, VA.
     Appalachian II      KY, TN, WV.
     Southeast           AL, GA, SC.
     Lake                MI, MN, WI.
     Cornbelt I          IL, IN, OH.
     Cornbelt II         IA, MO.
     Delta               AR, LA, MS.
     Northern Plains     KS, NE, ND, SD.
     Southern Plains     OK, TX.
     Mountain I          ID, MT, WY.
     Mountain II         CO, NV, UT.
     Mountain III        AZ, NM.
     Pacific             OR, WA.
 
 
                Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates
 
Survey Procedures:  These data were collected by the National
                    Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
during the last two weeks of October using sampling procedures to ensure
every employer of agricultural workers had a chance of being selected.
 
Two samples of farm operators are selected. First, NASS maintains a list
of farms that hire farm workers. Farms on this list are classified by
size and type. Those expected to employ large numbers of workers are
selected with greater frequency than those hiring few or no workers. A
second sample consists of segments of land scientifically selected from
an area sampling frame. Each June, highly trained interviewers locate
each selected land segment and identify every farm operating land within
the sample segment's boundaries. The names of farms found in these area
segments are matched against the 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 October 11-17, 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 5.0 percent. The relative sampling error
for the number of hired workers generally ranged between 9 and 28
percent at the regional level. The U.S. all hired farm worker wage rate
had a relative sampling error of 0.9 percent. The relative sampling
error was 0.8 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 8 percent at the regional levels.
Relative sampling errors for wage rates published by type of farm and
economic class of farm ranged between 6 and 20 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 July 1998 and October 1997 were subject to revision with
this report. Revisions were made and previous data are reprinted in this
report for your information.
 
 
Annual Average Wage Rates: Included with this report are the annual
                           average wage rates for 1997 and 1998.
Annual rates are the averages of the wage rates for each survey week
weighted by the total number of hours worked during the week. The survey
weeks include the 12th of the month for January, April, July, and
October. Combining data for the four survey weeks provides a large
enough sample to permit publication of some wages at the State level.
Annual average wage rates for both 1997 and 1998 are published at the
State, regional and U.S. level for the all hired wage rate, the field
worker wage rate, and the combined field and livestock worker wage rate.
For 1998, the relative sampling error, at the U.S. level, was 0.97
percent for the all hired worker wage rate. The relative sampling error
was 1.0 percent for the combined field and livestock worker wage rate.
The relative sampling error for all hired farm worker and combined field
and livestock worker wage rates generally ranged between 2 and 6 percent
at the regional level and 2 to 10 percent at the State level.
 
The February 19th report will have information for the survey week of
January 10-16, 1999. The report will include the number of All Hired
Workers, Average Hours Worked by Hired Workers and the All Hired Worker
Wage Rates regional and U.S. levels. The wage rate for field, livestock,
and combined field and livestock workers will be available for the
regional and U.S. level. The number of Agricultural Service Workers and
the corresponding wage rates will be published for Florida and
California.
 
 
 
                               Index
 
                                                               Page
 
U.S. Hired Workers on Farms, Wage Rates and Hours Worked . . . . .3
 
Number of Workers and Average Hours Worked by Region and U.S.
     October 1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
     July 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
     October 1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
 
Wage Rates by Region and U.S.
     October 1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
     July 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
     October 1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
 
Agricultural Services: Workers, Average Hours Worked, and Wages
     October 1998. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     July 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     October 1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
 
Annual Averages 1997 - 1998
     Number of Workers and Average Hours Worked by Selected States,
          Regions, and U.S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
     Hired Workers Wage Rates by Region and U.S. . . . . . . . . 14
     Hired Workers Wage Rates by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
 
Other Labor Estimates
     U.S. Distribution of Workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
     Wage Rates by Type of Farm, by Region, State, 48 States . . 10
     Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm, by Region, State, 48 States10
     Migrant Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
 
Farm Labor Region Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
 
Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 
Revision Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 
 
 
The next "Farm Labor" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on
February 19, 1999.
 
 
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:
 
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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:
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then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or
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All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to
your e-mail address. Send an e-mail message to:
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the word: list.
 
 
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Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax.
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