HDR1012000170051113961500FARM LABOR                                             
Farm                                                                            
Labor                                                                           
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
United States                                                                   
Department of                                                                   
Agriculture                                                                     
                                                                                
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released November 13, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service     
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Farm Labor" call Eddie Oaks at (202) 690-3228, office hours     
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural statistics,
information about NASS, its products or services, contact the Agricultural      
Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.             
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Hired Workers Down 2 Percent, Wages Up 6 Percent                       
                                                                                
There were 1.23 million hired workers on the Nation's farms and ranches during  
the week of October 6-12, 1996. There were 935,000 workers hired directly by    
farm operators.  Agricultural service employees on farms and ranches made up the
remaining 291,000 workers.  Migrant workers accounted for 11.1 percent of the   
hired workforce.                                                                
                                                                                
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $6.97 per hour       
during the October 1996 survey week, up 39 cents from a year earlier.  Field    
workers received an average of $6.58 per hour, up 39 cents.  Livestock workers  
earned $6.57 per hour compared with $6.17 a year earlier.                       
                                                                                
During the survey week of October 6 - 12, 1996, heavy rains from Tropical Storm 
Josephine saturated Florida's citrus groves and slowed fieldwork across the     
Southeast.  Wet weather in the mid-Atlantic States saturated fields, prevented  
some farmers from entering fields, and delayed small grain seeding and row crop 
harvest activity.  Elsewhere, precipitation was limited to showers from the     
Great Lakes to the Central Plains early in the week, and rain in the Pacific    
Northwest at the end of the week.  Row crop harvest activity in the Midwest was 
slightly affected by showers early in the week.  Warm, dry weather in the       
Western States allowed small grain seeding to advance, with some reseeding      
reported in the Pacific Northwest.  In California, seedbed preparation and      
planting of small grains was ongoing in a few areas.  Rice and pumpkin harvests 
and cotton defoliation were in full swing in the San Joaquin and Sacramento     
Valleys.  Raisin grape harvest is virtually complete while table and wine grape 
harvest was  active.  Crop and vegetable harvests were delayed in Florida       
because of heavy rain early in the week.  Fruit harvest picked up later in the  
week.  In Texas, small grain seeding and cotton and sorghum harvests were       
active.  Cotton defoliation activity increased while harvest activity picked up 
in the Plains.  Early citrus harvest was active.                                
                                                                                
A new quarterly data series on the percent of the U.S. hired workforce that are 
migrant farm workers begins with this publication.  Also new to this report are 
annual employment data for self employed and unpaid workers for the U.S.,       
regions, and selected States.                                                   
                                                                                
      Farm Labor:  Employment and Wage Rates, United States,                    
              October 6-12, 1996 with Comparisons 1/                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :  October 8-14, :   July 7-13,   : October 6-12,  
       Farm Employment       :      1995      :      1996      :      1996      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :                      1,000                       
                             :                                                  
Hired Workers                :       954            1,015              935      
  Expected to be Employed    :                                                  
    150 Days or More         :       607              652              625      
    149 Days or Less         :       347              363              310      
                             :                                                  
Agricultural Services        :                                                  
  Workers Working on Farms   :       302              331              291      
                             :                                                  
Hired Farm & Service Workers :     1,256            1,346            1,226      
                             :                                                  
                             :                     Percent                      
Migrant Workers Percent of   :                                                  
 Hired Farm & Service Workers:      11.6             13.1             11.1      
                             :                                                  
                             :                  Hours per Week                  
Hours Worked                 :                                                  
  Hired                      :      41.9             40.9             40.4      
                             :                                                  
                             :                 Dollars per Hour                 
Wage Rates for               :                                                  
  All Hired Workers 2/ 3/    :      6.58             6.55             6.97      
                             :                                                  
Type of Worker               :                                                  
 Field & Livestock Combined  :      6.19             6.17             6.58      
   Field                     :      6.19             6.16             6.58      
   Livestock                 :      6.17             6.20             6.57      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 6-12, 1996 1/                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             Hired                             
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
      U.S.      :               :    Expected to be Employed    :               
       and      :    Number     :-------------------------------:    Number     
    Region 2/   :      of       :   150 Days    :   149 Days    :   of Hours    
                :    Workers    :    or More    :    or Less    :    Worked     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             1,000                             
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :        52             39              13            30.7      
Northeast II    :        38             28              10            40.1      
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :        42             23              19            35.3      
Appalachian II  :        33             16              17            29.5      
                :                                                               
Southeast       :        36             28               8            34.6      
FL              :        45             40               5            37.0      
                :                                                               
Lake            :        67             40              27            37.7      
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :        50             32              18            36.9      
Cornbelt II     :        40             26              14            33.9      
                :                                                               
Delta           :        42             32              10            50.7      
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :        47             31              16            47.3      
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :        63             42              21            41.2      
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :        23             17               6            50.6      
Mountain II     :        23             18               5            45.0      
Mountain III    :        19             17               2            45.1      
                :                                                               
Pacific         :       101             51              50            44.0      
CA              :       206            138              68            40.9      
                :                                                               
HI              :         8              7               1            39.7      
                :                                                               
US 3/           :       935            625             310            40.6      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Excludes AK.                                                                
Hired Workers:  Wage Rates for Type of Workers and All Hired Workers            
        by Region and United States, October 6-12, 1996 1/                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Type of Worker               :                  
      U.S.      :--------------------------------------------:  Wage Rates for  
       and      :              :              :Field & Lvstk :All Hired Workers 
     Region 2/  :    Field     :  Livestock   :   Combined   :                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :     7.21           6.28           6.92             7.36       
Northeast II    :     6.91           5.57           6.58             7.10       
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :     5.98           6.35           6.04             6.38       
Appalachian II  :     5.84           5.73           5.82             5.97       
                :                                                               
Southeast       :     6.54           5.71           6.45             6.82       
FL              :     6.31           6.65           6.35             7.35       
                :                                                               
Lake            :     7.56           6.47           7.13             7.41       
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :     6.48           7.19           6.58             7.02       
Cornbelt II     :     6.34           6.58           6.43             6.74       
                :                                                               
Delta           :     5.57           6.02           5.65             5.78       
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :     7.02           6.46           6.93             7.22       
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :     5.38           6.00           5.56             5.85       
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :     6.16           7.31           6.60             6.57       
Mountain II     :     6.11           6.95           6.34             6.98       
Mountain III    :     5.94           6.37           6.11             6.53       
                :                                                               
Pacific         :     7.29           7.28           7.29             7.58       
CA              :     6.67           7.25           6.74             7.22       
                :                                                               
HI              :     8.60             3/           8.65             9.73       
                :                                                               
US 4/           :     6.58           6.57           6.58             6.97       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Insufficient data.                                                          
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
        Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region                       
              and United States, July 7-13, 1996 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     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :        49             34              15            39.1      
Northeast II    :        43             31              12            41.9      
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :        57             26              31            32.4      
Appalachian II  :        37             15              22            28.6      
                :                                                               
Southeast       :        30             18              12            39.6      
FL              :        43             38               5            37.5      
                :                                                               
Lake            :        81             51              30            35.5      
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :        54             31              23            31.8      
Cornbelt II     :        46             24              22            37.5      
                :                                                               
Delta           :        40             31               9            45.2      
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :        43             24              19            49.8      
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :        70             50              20            45.9      
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :        30             22               8            48.3      
Mountain II     :        21             14               7            47.8      
Mountain III    :        20             17               3            50.9      
                :                                                               
Pacific         :       109             55              54            40.6      
CA              :       235            165              70            44.7      
                :                                                               
HI              :         7              6               1            36.1      
                :                                                               
US 3/           :     1,015            652             363            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             
                        July 7-13, 1996 1/                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Type of Worker               :                  
      U.S.      :--------------------------------------------:  Wage Rates for  
       and      :              :              :Field & Lvstk :All Hired Workers 
    Region 2/   :    Field     :  Livestock   :   Combined   :                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                             1,000                             
                :                                                               
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :     6.80           5.97           6.55             6.98       
Northeast II    :     6.28           5.94           6.16             6.51       
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :     5.36           6.09           5.53             5.73       
Appalachian II  :     5.35           6.04           5.46             5.90       
                :                                                               
Southeast       :     5.62           5.25           5.58             5.85       
FL              :     6.35           7.10           6.45             7.40       
                :                                                               
Lake            :     6.51           6.02           6.31             6.57       
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :     6.70           6.65           6.69             7.09       
Cornbelt II     :     5.97           5.48           5.84             6.34       
                :                                                               
Delta           :     5.96           5.75           5.91             6.13       
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :     6.30           5.78           6.20             6.46       
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :     5.17           5.84           5.36             6.01       
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :     6.06           5.75           5.90             5.94       
Mountain II     :     5.88           6.05           5.92             6.27       
Mountain III    :     5.80           5.99           5.87             6.39       
                :                                                               
Pacific         :     6.30           8.20           6.43             6.78       
CA              :     6.33           7.27           6.42             6.82       
                :                                                               
HI              :     8.74             3/           8.74             9.85       
                :                                                               
US 4/           :     6.16           6.20           6.17             6.55       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Insufficient data.                                                          
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
        Hired Workers:  Number and Hours Worked by Region                       
             and United States, October 8-14, 1995 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                             
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :        49             30              19            41.7      
Northeast II    :        37             25              12            39.1      
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :        46             26              20            38.2      
Appalachian II  :        28             15              13            30.7      
                :                                                               
Southeast       :        38             25              13            36.5      
FL              :        60             53               7            35.5      
                :                                                               
Lake            :        76             38              38            40.2      
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :        55             35              20            38.8      
Cornbelt II     :        37             25              12            39.6      
                :                                                               
Delta           :        46             31              15            51.3      
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :        44             29              15            46.5      
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :        64             50              14            42.1      
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :        37             23              14            52.9      
Mountain II     :        14              8               6            44.0      
Mountain III    :        21             17               4            46.9      
                :                                                               
Pacific         :        74             40              34            39.8      
CA              :       220            130              90            44.5      
                :                                                               
HI              :         8              7               1            37.4      
                :                                                               
US 3/           :       954            607             347            41.9      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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             
                      October 8-14, 1995 1/                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :               Type of Worker               :                  
      U.S.      :--------------------------------------------:  Wage Rates for  
       and      :              :              :Field & Lvstk :All Hired Workers 
     Region 2/  :    Field     :  Livestock   :   Combined   :                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast I     :     6.70           5.98           6.47             6.87       
Northeast II    :     6.47           5.33           6.15             6.54       
                :                                                               
Appalachian I   :     5.92           6.39           5.99             6.25       
Appalachian II  :     5.61           5.83           5.67             5.94       
                :                                                               
Southeast       :     5.52           5.50           5.52             5.99       
FL              :     6.02           6.40           6.06             6.98       
                :                                                               
Lake            :     6.70           5.92           6.51             6.88       
                :                                                               
Cornbelt I      :     6.52           5.97           6.40             6.70       
Cornbelt II     :     5.85           5.91           5.86             6.06       
                :                                                               
Delta           :     4.97           5.46           5.04             5.23       
                :                                                               
Northern Plains :     6.49           6.49           6.49             6.64       
                :                                                               
Southern Plains :     5.15           6.22           5.53             5.83       
                :                                                               
Mountain I      :     5.61           6.12           5.71             5.78       
Mountain II     :     5.87           5.46           5.76             6.31       
Mountain III    :     5.61           5.96           5.72             6.08       
                :                                                               
Pacific         :     7.28           7.47           7.29             7.59       
CA              :     6.32           7.40           6.39             6.94       
                :                                                               
HI              :     8.40             3/           8.39             9.43       
                :                                                               
US 4/           :     6.19           6.17           6.19             6.58       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Insufficient data.                                                          
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
    Field and Livestock Workers Combined:  Wage Rates, by Type                  
               of Farm, by Region and 48 States 1/                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      October 8-14, 1995       :      October 6-12, 1996       
                :---------------------------------------------------------------
    Region 2/   : Field : Other :L'stk &:  All  : Field : Other :L'stk &:  All  
                : Crops : Crops :Poultry: Farms : Crops : Crops :Poultry: Farms 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                       Dollars per Hour                        
                :                                                               
Northeast       : 6.01    6.77    5.90    6.34    6.19    7.36    5.96    6.76  
Appalachian     : 5.44    6.23    5.87    5.89    5.83    6.39    5.85    5.93  
Southeast       : 5.42    5.53    5.43    5.49    5.75    6.25    5.59    6.11  
Lake            : 6.72    6.97    5.69    6.51    8.09    7.89    6.08    7.13  
Cornbelt        : 6.09    6.49    6.11    6.17    6.53    6.36    6.62    6.52  
Delta           : 4.87    8.39    5.59    5.04    5.50    6.24    6.12    5.65  
Northern Plains : 6.44    6.60    6.53    6.49    7.07    6.67    6.44    6.93  
Southern Plains : 5.09    4.99    6.06    5.53    5.27    5.76    5.76    5.56  
Mountain        : 5.55    6.08    5.93    5.72    6.12    5.99    6.91    6.37  
Pacific         : 6.78    6.56    6.88    6.61    6.58    6.97    7.03    6.93  
48 States       : 5.81    6.38    6.05    6.14    6.26    6.83    6.34    6.54  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
    All Hired Workers:  Wage Rates, by Economic Class of Farm                   
                    by Region and 48 States 1/                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :        October 8-14, 1995         :         October 6-12, 1996       
  Region :----------------------------------------------------------------------
    2/   : Gross Value Sales-$1000's  : All  : Gross Value Sales-$1000's  : All 
         : <40  :40-99 :100-249 :250+ :Farms : <40 :40-99 :100-249 : 250+ :Farms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :                           Dollars per Hour                           
         :                                                                      
N. East  : 6.53   5.78    5.84   7.26   6.73   6.63   5.83   5.90   7.85   7.25 
Appal.   : 5.30   6.41    5.84   6.35   6.15   5.98   6.13   5.85   6.48   6.18 
S. East  : 5.04   5.01    4.92   5.95   5.70   5.08   4.42   6.12   6.47   6.31 
Lake     : 4.22   5.30    6.03   7.50   6.88   4.78   6.30   6.87   7.94   7.41 
Cornbelt : 5.79   6.55    5.98   6.70   6.43   6.97   6.08   6.27   7.43   6.91 
Delta    : 5.29   5.23    5.15   5.25   5.23   6.04   5.22   5.58   5.86   5.78 
N. Plains: 6.31   6.72    6.00   7.03   6.64   6.38   5.43   7.15   7.49   7.22 
S. Plains: 5.67   6.22    5.43   5.92   5.83   5.66   5.49   5.24   6.27   5.85 
Mountain : 6.94   5.87    5.61   6.01   5.96   5.81   5.83   6.47   6.86   6.71 
Pacific  : 7.61   7.97    7.07   7.02   7.09   5.74   7.98   7.55   7.37   7.34 
48 States: 5.90   6.39    5.95   6.65   6.58   5.89   6.32   6.51   7.14   6.97 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Regions consist of the following States.                                    
      Northeast: CT, DE, MD, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT.                    
      Appalachian:  KY, NC, TN, VA, WV.                                         
      Southeast:  AL, FL, GA, SC.                                               
      Lake:  MI, MN, WI.                                                        
      Cornbelt:  IA, IL, IN, MO, OH.                                            
      Delta:  AR, LA, MS.                                                       
      Northern Plains:  KS, NE, ND, SD.                                         
      Southern Plains:  OK, TX.                                                 
      Mountain:  AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY.                                
      Pacific:  CA, OR, WA.                                                     
      48 States:  All States, excluding AK and HI.                              
            Field and Livestock Workers: Distribution                           
               by Type of Farm, 48 States 1/ 2/ 3/                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Type of      :   October 8-14,     :    July 7-13,    :  October 6-12,   
        Farm        :        1995         :       1996       :       1996       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :           Percent of Field and Livestock Workers          
                    :                                                           
Field Crops         :         26                  26                 27         
Other Crops         :         50                  48                 48         
Livestock, Dairy,   :                                                           
 & Poultry          :         24                  26                 25         
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Hired Workers:  Distribution by Economic                           
                  Class of Farm, 48 States 1/ 3/                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Gross Value    :   October 8-14,     :    July 7-13,    :   October 6-12,  
      of Sales      :        1995         :       1996       :       1996       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                  Percent of Hired Workers                 
                    :                                                           
Less than $40,000   :          9                  11                 13         
$40,000-$99,999     :         10                  10                  9         
$100,000-$249,999   :         17                  16                 17         
$250,000 and over   :         64                  63                 61         
                    :        100.0               100.0              100.0       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
  Hired Workers:  Distribution by Category, United States 1/ 3/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             : October 8-14,  :   July 7-13,   :  October 6-12, 
                             :      1995      :      1996      :      1996      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :             Percent of Hired Workers             
                             :                                                  
Employed on Farms Hiring     :                                                  
  1 Worker                   :      11               14               10        
  2 Workers                  :       9               11               10        
  3-6 Workers                :      18               24               21        
  7-10 Workers               :      10                9               10        
  At least 11 Workers        :      52               42               49        
                             :     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 291,000 workers for the Nation's farms   
and ranches during the week of October 6-12, 1996. Service workers in California
numbered 88,000 compared with 98,000 during the October 1995 survey week.       
Florida's number of service workers was 7,000, compared to 5,500 last year.     
                                                                                
The average wages received by agricultural service workers in California and    
Florida were $6.63 and $7.20 per hour, respectively.  Comparable wages in       
October 1995 were $6.93 in California and $7.05 in Florida.                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Agricultural Service Workers:  Number, Hours Worked, and Wage Rates,            
          for California, Florida, and United States 1/                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :    Number of Workers    :        Hours 2/       :          Wage         
      :    Working on Farms     :         Worked        :       Rates 2/ 3/     
 State:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :  Oct  :   Jul  :   Oct  :  Oct  :  Jul  :  Oct  :  Oct  :  Jul  :  Oct  
      : 1995  :  1996  :  1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :   ------ 1,000 -----          --- Hours ---         Dollars per Hour    
      :                                                                         
CA    :  98.0    98.0     88.0    33.0    40.0    36.3    6.93    7.17    6.63  
FL    :   5.5     3.5      7.0    31.0    43.5    24.1    7.05     4/     7.20  
      :                                                                         
US    : 302.0   331.0    291.0                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                              
4/  Insufficient data.                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
  Migrant Workers: Percent of all Hired Workers, United States,                 
  By Quarter (includes Agricultural Service Workers), 1995-96 1/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Year    :      Jan       :       Apr       :      Jul      :      Oct        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                               Percent                              
           :                                                                    
   1995 2/ :      N/A               N/A             12.4            11.6        
   1996    :      4.8               7.5             13.1            11.1        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, 1995-96 1/                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                  Number                      :    Hours Worked      
   State  :----------------------------------------------:----------------------
    and   :     Self      :               :              :                      
 Region 2/:    Employed   :     Unpaid    :     Hired    :    Hired Workers     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  1995 :  1996 :  1995 : 1996  :  1995 : 1996 :    1995   :   1996   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  ----------------   1,000   ---------------   --- Hours per Week ---
          :                                                                     
NY        :  27.5    31.5     12.3   12.8     22.3   20.5      42.4       41.1  
NE I      :  47.5    50.0     18.0   17.5     45.0   40.5      40.8       40.2  
          :                                                                     
PA        :  41.8    45.3     19.5   22.3     21.0   20.0      40.8       40.8  
NE II     :  62.5    63.3     26.5   28.8     36.0   34.3      40.5       40.0  
          :                                                                     
NC        :  46.5    45.0     11.3   10.0     31.5   27.8      34.4       34.6  
VA        :  31.0    36.3      8.0    6.5     18.3   12.3      39.0       39.8  
APP I     :  77.5    81.3     19.3   16.5     49.8   40.0      36.1       36.2  
          :                                                                     
APP II    : 123.0   132.8     32.3   31.8     32.0   26.5      31.7       30.6  
SE        :  65.5    67.8     13.0   11.5     38.0   30.0      37.9       36.6  
FL        :  21.8    29.0      4.8    5.3     54.0   46.3      38.1       38.0  
          :                                                                     
MI        :  38.0    39.8     11.8   10.3     25.0   17.8      39.2       34.5  
MN        :  66.8    67.3     23.3   25.8     17.0   16.8      38.4       36.6  
WI        :  64.0    59.0     33.8   25.5     29.5   27.3      36.0       36.2  
LAKE      : 168.8   166.0     68.8   61.5     71.5   61.8      37.8       35.9  
          :                                                                     
CB I      : 170.8   172.5     49.0   52.0     46.8   45.3      38.0       34.9  
CB II     : 152.3   150.0     46.0   45.5     34.8   34.8      36.9       34.7  
DELTA     :  77.5    75.8     19.5   18.0     37.0   36.8      40.5       42.9  
NPlains   : 139.0   133.5     54.0   54.3     32.3   38.3      43.3       44.3  
          :                                                                     
OK        :  52.8    56.3     17.0   16.0     10.8   12.0      37.8       37.2  
TX        : 160.0   167.5     32.0   37.3     48.8   49.0      41.2       43.8  
Splains   : 212.8   223.8     49.0   53.3     59.5   61.0      40.5       42.4  
          :                                                                     
MT I      :  33.3    37.8     15.0   14.5     25.8   25.3      45.5       46.9  
MT II     :  29.3    28.0     10.8   11.0     15.3   17.5      42.3       43.6  
          :                                                                     
AZ        :   4.3     4.3      3/    11.3     13.0   13.3      47.0       47.8  
NM        :  11.3    10.8      3/    13.3      6.0    5.8      44.0       46.6  
MT III    :  15.5    15.0     24.5   24.5     19.0   19.0      46.0       47.4  
          :                                                                     
OR        :  32.0    34.0      3/    12.8     29.0   28.3      39.1       39.5  
WA        :  19.3    22.0      3/     8.3     40.5   45.0      38.3       41.3  
PAC       :  51.3    56.0     15.8   21.0     69.5   73.3      38.6       40.6  
          :                                                                     
CA        :  39.8    47.8      9.3    9.3    195.3  194.5      42.4       43.3  
HI        :   3.0     3.0      1.0    1.0      7.3    7.3      37.2       37.5  
          :                                                                     
US 4/     :1490.8  1533.0    476.3  477.0    868.5  832.0      40.0       40.3  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  Insufficient data.                                                          
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
            Hired Workers:   Annual Average Wage Rates                          
            by Region and United States, 1995-96 1/ 3/                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                            Type of Worker                           
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Region 2/:        All Hired     :         Field        :    Field & Livestock  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :    1995   :   1996   :    1995   :   1996   :    1995   :   1996    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                           Dollars per Hour                          
          :                                                                     
NE I      :    6.92       7.19        6.80       7.14        6.36       6.71    
NE II     :    6.41       6.78        6.35       6.60        5.97       6.26    
APP I     :    6.10       6.07        5.71       5.63        5.80       5.79    
APP II    :    5.73       6.00        5.51       5.62        5.54       5.68    
SE        :    5.77       6.33        5.39       5.98        5.40       5.92    
FL        :    7.48       7.30        6.57       6.29        6.54       6.36    
LAKE      :    6.64       6.95        6.53       6.96        6.19       6.56    
CB I      :    6.60       7.11        6.29       6.64        6.23       6.66    
CB II     :    6.20       6.55        5.87       6.17        5.90       6.22    
DELTA     :    5.50       5.91        5.16       5.65        5.27       5.70    
NPlains   :    6.46       6.84        6.44       6.73        6.29       6.55    
SPlains   :    5.83       6.01        5.32       5.29        5.50       5.48    
MT I      :    5.94       6.15        5.66       5.99        5.76       6.01    
MT II     :    6.20       6.66        5.77       5.99        5.64       6.09    
MT III    :    6.39       6.42        5.78       5.70        5.87       5.82    
PAC       :    7.16       7.25        6.77       6.80        6.82       6.87    
CA        :    6.83       7.01        6.16       6.44        6.26       6.53    
HI        :    9.76       9.83        8.62       8.61        8.60       8.62    
          :                                                                     
US 4/     :    6.54       6.78        6.13       6.34        6.09       6.33    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Region map on page 16.                                                      
3/  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.                                          
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
            Hired Workers:   Annual Average Wage Rates                          
            By State and United States, 1995-96 1/ 2/                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State  :        All Hired     :         Field        :    Field & Livestock  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :    1995   :   1996   :    1995   :   1996   :    1995   :   1996    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                           Dollars per Hour                          
          :                                                                     
AL        :    5.53       5.49        5.21       5.47        5.23      5.34     
AZ        :    6.50       6.62        5.78       5.77        5.82      5.89     
AR        :    5.63       6.20        5.34       6.04        5.47      6.04     
CA        :    6.83       7.01        6.16       6.44        6.26      6.53     
CO        :    6.48       6.59        5.81       5.83        5.83      5.98     
DE        :    6.36       6.90        6.01       6.16        5.91      6.18     
FL        :    7.48       7.30        6.57       6.29        6.54      6.36     
GA        :    6.11       6.83        5.58       6.36        5.61      6.34     
HI        :    9.76       9.83        8.62       8.61        8.60      8.62     
ID        :    6.09       6.64        5.72       6.02        5.90      6.53     
IL        :    6.66       7.32        6.47       6.73        6.34      6.84     
IN        :    6.85       7.12        6.24       6.88        6.37      6.78     
IA        :    6.28       6.69        5.99       6.19        6.03      6.34     
KS        :    6.84       7.12        6.64       6.71        6.60      6.81     
KY        :    5.72       6.14        5.40       5.67        5.52      5.78     
LA        :    5.53       5.85        5.19       5.39        5.28      5.61     
MD        :    6.26       7.20        6.27       7.14        5.84      6.71     
MI        :    6.64       6.96        6.40       6.73        6.33      6.61     
MN        :    6.91       7.85        6.84       7.75        6.61      7.44     
MS        :    5.34       5.66        4.88       5.28        5.05      5.42     
MO        :    6.10       6.42        5.78       6.16        5.74      6.11     
MT        :    5.66       5.99        5.50       5.70        5.54      5.67     
NE        :    6.32       6.77        6.34       6.65        6.25      6.48     
NV        :    6.10       6.48        5.67       6.18        5.47      6.15     
NJ        :    7.42       7.56        6.74       6.58        6.77      6.83     
NM        :    6.16       5.98        5.77       5.41        5.97      5.69     
NY        :    6.54       6.73        6.68       6.55        6.20      6.27     
NC        :    5.99       6.04        5.52       5.58        5.66      5.78     
ND        :    6.44       6.82        6.47       7.27        6.27      6.74     
OH        :    6.39       6.83        6.08       6.32        6.00      6.27     
OK        :    6.27       6.29        5.72       5.59        5.81      5.73     
OR        :    6.74       6.95        6.33       6.40        6.33      6.39     
PA        :    6.07       6.38        6.18       6.47        5.71      5.92     
SC        :    5.28       5.42        5.16       5.00        5.18      5.21     
SD        :    5.82       6.24        5.94       6.12        5.68      5.81     
TN        :    5.87       5.88        5.64       5.54        5.67      5.56     
TX        :    5.74       5.95        5.25       5.24        5.45      5.42     
UT        :    5.59       6.96        5.72       6.58        5.35      6.42     
VA        :    6.28       6.14        6.03       5.77        6.02      5.81     
WA        :    7.48       7.43        7.08       7.02        7.18      7.15     
WV        :    5.15       5.85        5.33       5.81        5.13      5.71     
WI        :    6.46       6.39        6.47       6.64        5.79      6.01     
WY        :    5.80       5.09        5.58       6.15        5.58      5.00     
Oth Sts 3/:    7.34       7.69        6.93       7.65        6.56      7.21     
          :                                                                     
US 4/     :    6.54       6.78        6.13       6.34        6.09      6.33     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Excludes Agricultural Service Workers.                                      
2/  Annual rates are averages of the wage rates for each survey week weighted by
    the number of hours worked during the week. The annual average is based on  
    data collected for January, April, July, and October.                       
3/  Includes CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT.                                        
4/  Excludes AK.                                                                
                        Farm Labor Regions                                      
                                                                                
     Region                   States                                            
                                                                                
     Northeast I              CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT.                       
     Northeast II             DE, MD, NJ, PA.                                   
     Appalachian I            NC, VA.                                           
     Appalachian II           KY, TN, WV.                                       
     Southeast                AL, GA, SC.                                       
     Lake                     MI, MN, WI.                                       
     Cornbelt I               IL, IN, OH.                                       
     Cornbelt II              IA, MO.                                           
     Delta                    AR, LA, MS.                                       
     Northern Plains          KS, NE, ND, SD.                                   
     Southern Plains          OK, TX.                                           
     Mountain I               ID, MT, WY.                                       
     Mountain II              CO, NV, UT.                                       
     Mountain III             AZ, NM.                                           
     Pacific                  OR, WA.                                           
               Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates                              
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  These data were collected by the National Agricultural      
                    Statistics Service during the last two weeks of October     
using sampling procedures to ensure every employer of agricultural workers had a
chance of being selected.                                                       
                                                                                
Two samples of farm operators are selected.  First, NASS maintains a list of    
farms that hire farm workers.  Farms on this list are classified by size and    
type.  Those expected to employ large numbers of workers are selected with      
greater frequency than those hiring few or no workers.  A second sample consists
of segments of land scientifically selected from aerial photography.  Each June,
highly trained interviewers locate each selected land segment and identify every
farm operating land within the sample segment's boundaries.  The names of farms 
found in these area segments are matched against the list of farms; those not   
found on the list are included in the labor survey sample to represent all farms
not on the NASS list.  This methodology is known as multiple frame sampling,    
with an area sample used to measure the incompleteness of the list.             
Additionally, a list of agricultural service firms was sampled in California and
Florida.  The survey reference week was October 6-12 1996.                      
                                                                                
Reliability:  Two types of errors, sampling and nonsampling, are possible in    
              an estimate based on a sample survey.  Both types affect the      
"precision" of the estimates.                                                   
                                                                                
Sampling error occurs because a complete census is not taken.  The sampling     
error measures the variation in estimates from the average of all possible      
samples.  An estimate of 100 with a sampling error of 1 would mean that chances 
are 19 out of 20 that the estimates from all possible samples averaged together 
would be between 98 and 102; which is the survey estimate, plus or minus two    
times the sampling error.  The sampling error expressed as a percent of the     
estimate is called the relative sampling error.  The relative sampling error for
number of all non-salaried workers at the U.S. level was 2.0 percent and 2.8    
percent for all hired workers.  The relative sampling error for number of hired 
workers generally ranged between 9 and 18 percent at the regional and 12 and 25 
percent at the published State level.  The U.S. all hired farm worker wage rate 
had a relative sampling error of 1.3 percent.  The relative sampling error was  
1.2 percent for the combined field and livestock worker wage rate.  Relative    
sampling errors for the all hired farm worker wage rate generally ranged between
2 and 7 percent at the regional and published State levels.  Relative sampling  
errors for wage rates published by type of farm and economic class of farm      
ranged between 2 and 10 percent at the regional level.  The relative sampling   
errors for hired workers benefits ranged between 10 and 20 percent.             
                                                                                
Nonsampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as in sample surveys. 
They are caused by the inability to obtain correct information from each        
operation sampled, differences in interpreting questions or definitions, and    
mistakes in coding or processing the data.  Special efforts are taken at each   
step of the survey to minimize nonsampling errors.                              
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  Farm labor information is subject to revision the next time   
                  the information is published or the year after the original   
publication date.  The basis for revision must be supported by additional data  
that directly affect the level of the estimate.  Worker numbers and wage rates  
for July, 1996 and October, 1995 were subject to revision with this report.     
Revisions were made and previous data are reprinted in this report for your     
information.  There were no revisions made.                                     
Annual Average Wage Rates:  Included with this report are the annual average    
                            wage rates for 1995 and 1996.  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 wage rates for both 1995 and 1996 are published at the 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 1995 and 1996, annual wage  
rate information is published at the State level for the all hired wage rate,   
the field worker wage rate, and the combined field and livestock worker wage    
rate.  For 1996, the relative sampling error, at the U.S. level, was 1.0 percent
for all hired workers.  The relative sampling error was 1.1 percent for the     
combined field and livestock worker wage rate.  The relative sampling error for 
all hired farm workers and the combined field and livestock worker wage rates   
generally ranged between 2 and 6 percent at the regional level and 2 to 10      
percent at the State level.                                                     
                                                                                
The February 13th report will have information for the survey week of January   
7-13, 1997.  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 and livestock workers will be available for
the regional and U.S. level.  The number of self-employed and unpaid workers    
along with the corresponding average hours worked will be available for         
California, Florida, Hawaii, and at the regional and U.S. level.  Wage rates by 
type of worker, type of farm, and economic class of farm will also be available 
at 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, Hours Worked, and Wage Rates ...............     3 
                                                                                
Number of Hired Workers and Average Hours Worked by Region and U.S.             
  October 1996 ..........................................................     4 
  July 1996 .............................................................     6 
  October 1995 ..........................................................     8 
                                                                                
Wage Rates by Region and U.S.                                                   
  October 1996 ..........................................................     5 
  July 1996 .............................................................     7 
  October 1995 ..........................................................     9 
                                                                                
Agricultural Services: Workers, Average Hours Worked, and Wages                 
  October 1996 ..........................................................    12 
  July 1996 .............................................................    12 
  October 1995 ..........................................................    12 
                                                                                
Other Labor Estimates                                                           
  U.S. Distribution of Workers ..........................................    11 
  Wage Rates by Type of Farm, by Region, and 48 States ..................    10 
  Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm, by Region, and 48 States ........    10 
  Migrant Workers, Percent of All Hired Workers .........................    12 
                                                                                
Farm Labor Region Map ...................................................    16 
                                                                                
Reliability of Farm Labor Estimates .....................................    17 
                                                                                
Revision Policy .........................................................    17 
                                                                                
Annual Averages 1995 - 1996                                                     
  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 and U.S. ............................    15 
The next "Farm Labor" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET on February 1?,   
1997.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
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          USDA Announces Agricultural Outlook Forum  97                         
                     February 24 and 25, 1997                                   
              Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
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