Opinion ID: 452961
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Best Data Available Requirement

Text: 19 The best data available requirement is difficult to analyze in this instance. 34 Unfortunately, no one knows the exact extent or location of eligible seasonal and migrant farmworkers. Neither the Social Security nor the Census data provide a direct answer--approximations must be deduced from sets of classifications or codes. While Census data do not include those who fail to respond to the Census questionaires, Social Security data do not include those whose Social Security taxes are not accounted for. 20 Even the different kinds of classifications or codes within these data bases result in either under- or over-inclusiveness. The appellants point out that because the DOL used Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, the data are overinclusive. Occupational codes include self-employed individuals who are not wage-earners, contrary to eligibility requirements. On the other hand, industrial codes are also overinclusive by counting non-farmworkers such as clerical, administrative, and technical employees of agricultural firms. 35 The DOL, furthermore, explained that because the allocation data base specifies only poverty-level agricultural workers, the resulting approximation using occupational classifications would include poverty-level tenant farmers and share-croppers who supplement their marginal farming receipts with farm wages. 36 These poor have been traditionally served by the program. Given the uncertainty surrounding these statistics, as well as the promised on-going review of the data base by the DOL, we cannot find the Department's actions unreasonable.