Farm Labor Publication

Farm Labor
ISSN: 1949-0909

Released November 20, 2014, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).

October Hired Workers Down 10 Percent, Wage Rates Increase 1 Percent From Previous Year
Workers hired directly by farm operators numbered 782,000 for the reference week of October 12-18, 2014, down
10 percent from the October 2013 reference week. There were 838,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on the
Nation’s farms and ranches during the week of July 6-12, 2014, down 8 percent from the July 2013 reference week.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $12.12 per hour during the October 2014 reference week, up
1 percent from a year earlier. Field workers received an average of $11.52 per hour, up 1 percent from a year earlier.
Livestock workers earned $11.29, up 3 percent. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $11.46 per hour,
was up 19 cents from October 2013. Hired laborers worked an average of 41.3 hours during the October 2014 reference
week, compared with 41.7 hours a year earlier.
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $11.96 per hour during the July 2014 reference week, up
2 percent from a year earlier. Field workers received an average of $11.36 per hour, up 3 percent. Livestock workers
earned $11.26 per hour, up 3 percent. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $11.33 per hour, was up
34 cents from July 2013. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.5 hours during the July 2014 reference week, compared
with 40.9 hours a year earlier.
The 2014 U.S. all hired worker annual average wage rate was $12.07 per hour, up 2 percent from the 2013 annual average
wage. The 2014 U.S. field worker annual average wage rate was $11.29 per hour, up 2 percent from the 2013 annual
average. The 2014 U.S. annual average combined wage for field and livestock workers was $11.29, up 2 percent from the
2013 annual average of $11.10 per hour.
October Reference Week
For the October 2014 reference week, the Appalachian II (Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia) exhibited a slight
increase in the number of hired workers from the previous year.
The largest percentage decreases in the number of hired workers from the previous year occurred in the Cornbelt I
(Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio), Northeast I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island,
and Vermont), and Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina) regions.
The largest percentage increases in average wage rates for all hired workers occurred in the California, Delta (Arkansas,
Louisiana, and Mississippi), and Mountain I (Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming) regions.
July Reference Week
For the July 2014 reference week, the largest percentage increases in the number of hired workers from the previous year
occurred in the Appalachian I (North Carolina and Virginia), Appalachian II (Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia),
and Northern Plains (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota) regions.
The largest percentage decreases in the number of hired workers from the previous year occurred in the Cornbelt I
(Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio), Cornbelt II (Iowa and Missouri), and Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina)
regions.

The largest percentage increases in average wage rates for all hired workers occurred in the California, Mountain I (Idaho,
Montana, and Wyoming), and Northern Plains regions.

2

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Contents
Hired Workers and Wage Rates – United States .................................................................................................................... 5
Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: October 12-18, 2014 ................................................. 6
Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: October 12-18, 2014 .............................................................. 7
Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: July 6-12, 2014 ......................................................... 8
Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: July 6-12, 2014 ...................................................................... 9
Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: April 6-12, 2014...................................................... 10
Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: April 6-12, 2014 .................................................................. 11
Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: January 12-18, 2014................................................ 12
Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: January 12-18, 2014 ............................................................ 13
Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: October 6-12, 2013 ................................................. 14
Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: October 6-12, 2013 .............................................................. 15
Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: July 7-13, 2013 ....................................................... 16
Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: July 7-13, 2013 .................................................................... 17
Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region and 48 States:
October 12-18, 2014 ............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region and 48 States: July 6-12, 2014 ............... 18
Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region and 48 States:
October 6-12, 2013 ............................................................................................................................................................... 19
Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region and 48 States: July 7-13, 2013 ............... 19
All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region and 48 States: October 12-18, 2014........................ 20
All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region and 48 States: July 6-12, 2014 ................................ 20
All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region and 48 States: October 6-12, 2013.......................... 21
All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region and 48 States: July 7-13, 2013 ................................ 21
Field and Livestock Workers by Type of Farm .................................................................................................................... 22
Hired Workers by Economic Class of Farm ......................................................................................................................... 22
Hired Workers by Number of Workers on Farm .................................................................................................................. 22
Annual Average Number of Hired Workers and Hours Worked - Region and United States: 2013 and 2014 .................... 23

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Annual Average Wage Rates - Region and United States: 2013 and 2014........................................................................... 24
Farm Labor Regions–Map ................................................................................................................................................... 25
Farm Labor Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................ 26
Survey Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................ 28
Information Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................. 30

4

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Hired Workers and Wage Rates – United States
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Farm employment

July 7-13,
2013

October 6-12,
2013

January 12-18,
2014

April 6-12,
2014

July 6-12,
2014

October 12-18,
2014

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Hired workers
150 days or more .....................
149 days or less .......................
Total ..............................................

634
272
906

619
252
871

459
81
540

558
132
690

583
255
838

561
221
782

(hours per week) (hours per week) (hours per week) (hours per week) (hours per week) (hours per week)
Hours worked by hired workers ..........

40.9

41.7

38.9

40.1

40.5

41.3

(dollars per hour) (dollars per hour) (dollars per hour) (dollars per hour) (dollars per hour) (dollars per hour)
Wage rate 1
Field and livestock combined .........
Field .........................................
Livestock ..................................
All hired workers ............................
1

10.99
11.02
10.88
11.68

11.27
11.38
10.93
11.96

11.20
11.10
11.36
12.23

11.12
11.02
11.35
12.01

11.33
11.36
11.26
11.96

11.46
11.52
11.29
12.12

Benefits, such as housing and meals, are provided to some workers but the values are not included in the wage rates.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: October 12-18, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Hired
Region 1

Expected to be employed

Number
of
workers

150 days
or more

149 days
or less

Number
of hours
worked

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(hours per week)

Northeast I .............................
Northeast II ............................

45
34

32
23

13
11

41.0
37.9

Appalachian I .........................
Appalachian II ........................

43
28

28
19

15
9

41.7
37.8

Southeast ..............................
Florida ....................................

24
40

19
33

5
7

40.4
38.3

Lake .......................................

63

42

21

38.5

Cornbelt I ...............................
Cornbelt II ..............................

38
25

24
17

14
8

37.8
37.5

Delta ......................................

28

20

8

39.3

Northern Plains ......................

36

27

9

43.5

Southern Plains ......................

55

42

13

38.6

Mountain I ..............................
Mountain II .............................
Mountain III ............................

28
18
20

21
14
17

7
4
3

46.2
46.0
48.6

Pacific ....................................
California ...............................

81
169

44
133

37
36

39.5
45.1

Hawaii ....................................

7

6

1

37.6

United States .........................

782

561

221

41.3

1

6

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: October 12-18, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Type of worker
Region 1

Field

Livestock

Field and livestock
combined

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Wage rates for
all hired workers
(dollars per hour)

Northeast I ........................
Northeast II .......................

11.77
11.27

10.74
11.20

11.45
11.25

12.09
11.88

Appalachian I ....................
Appalachian II ...................

10.32
10.42

10.45
10.83

10.35
10.55

10.87
11.11

Southeast .........................
Florida ..............................

9.93
10.25

10.76
10.45

10.10
10.28

10.82
11.00

Lake .................................

12.09

11.35

11.75

12.24

Cornbelt I ..........................
Cornbelt II .........................

11.82
12.24

11.19
12.12

11.65
12.20

12.08
13.07

Delta .................................

10.34

9.94

10.25

10.50

Northern Plains .................

14.55

13.17

14.05

14.52

Southern Plains ................

10.61

10.48

10.55

10.91

Mountain I .........................
Mountain II ........................
Mountain III .......................

11.43
11.01
9.67

10.85
11.10
11.21

11.15
11.05
10.15

11.66
11.68
10.98

Pacific ...............................
California ..........................

13.04
11.45

12.55
12.05

13.00
11.56

13.42
12.54

Hawaii ..............................

12.30

13.95

12.46

15.04

United States ....................

11.52

11.29

11.46

12.12

1

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: July 6-12, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Hired
Region 1

Expected to be employed

Number
of
workers

150 days
or more

149 days
or less

Number
of hours
worked

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(hours per week)

Northeast I .............................
Northeast II ............................

47
44

36
25

11
19

39.7
38.9

Appalachian I .........................
Appalachian II ........................

46
31

28
22

18
9

39.8
35.4

Southeast ..............................
Florida ....................................

27
36

19
31

8
5

39.7
38.8

Lake .......................................

61

43

18

38.4

Cornbelt I ...............................
Cornbelt II ..............................

35
19

23
15

12
4

37.5
38.2

Delta ......................................

27

18

9

39.3

Northern Plains ......................

36

27

9

40.9

Southern Plains ......................

59

42

17

37.0

Mountain I ..............................
Mountain II .............................
Mountain III ............................

28
20
20

22
14
17

6
6
3

44.8
45.9
43.9

Pacific ....................................
California ...............................

118
177

52
143

66
34

40.2
43.9

Hawaii ....................................

7

6

1

37.7

United States .........................

838

583

255

40.5

1

8

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: July 6-12, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Type of worker
Region 1

Field

Livestock

Field and livestock
combined

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Wage rates for
all hired workers
(dollars per hour)

Northeast I ........................
Northeast II .......................

11.60
10.52

10.73
11.17

11.30
10.70

12.04
11.25

Appalachian I ....................
Appalachian II ...................

10.09
9.99

10.33
11.07

10.15
10.35

10.69
10.99

Southeast .........................
Florida ..............................

9.80
10.05

10.86
10.65

10.00
10.13

10.68
11.03

Lake .................................

11.30

11.40

11.35

11.87

Cornbelt I ..........................
Cornbelt II .........................

11.39
11.77

11.27
11.84

11.35
11.80

11.92
13.01

Delta .................................

10.20

9.99

10.15

10.47

Northern Plains .................

14.09

12.99

13.65

14.09

Southern Plains ................

10.15

10.35

10.25

10.74

Mountain I .........................
Mountain II ........................
Mountain III .......................

11.53
11.00
9.91

11.03
10.99
11.25

11.30
11.00
10.35

11.74
11.49
11.25

Pacific ...............................
California ..........................

12.70
11.50

12.78
11.90

12.70
11.57

13.03
12.42

Hawaii ..............................

12.35

13.75

12.48

14.96

United States ....................

11.36

11.26

11.33

11.96

1

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: April 6-12, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Hired
Region 1

Expected to be employed

Number
of
workers

150 days
or more

149 days
or less

Number
of hours
worked

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(hours per week)

Northeast I .............................
Northeast II ............................

36
35

30
28

6
7

41.8
36.8

Appalachian I .........................
Appalachian II ........................

27
20

24
15

3
5

40.1
36.6

Southeast ..............................
Florida ....................................

28
50

23
39

5
11

38.4
39.2

Lake .......................................

53

40

13

36.9

Cornbelt I ...............................
Cornbelt II ..............................

32
21

26
15

6
6

39.8
31.8

Delta ......................................

28

24

4

38.9

Northern Plains ......................

34

28

6

39.7

Southern Plains ......................

49

37

12

37.7

Mountain I ..............................
Mountain II .............................
Mountain III ............................

24
16
13

20
12
12

4
4
1

46.1
47.7
50.3

Pacific ....................................
California ...............................

54
163

39
140

15
23

43.3
41.0

Hawaii ....................................

7

6

1

37.6

United States .........................

690

558

132

40.1

1

Region map on page 25.

10

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: April 6-12, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Type of worker
Region 1

Field

Livestock

Field and livestock
combined

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Wage rates for
all hired workers
(dollars per hour)

Northeast I ........................
Northeast II .......................

11.28
11.59

10.96
12.10

11.15
11.75

12.20
12.55

Appalachian I ....................
Appalachian II ...................

10.59
9.86

10.13
10.30

10.45
10.10

11.30
11.02

Southeast .........................
Florida ..............................

9.82
10.10

9.64
10.65

9.78
10.16

10.50
11.28

Lake .................................

11.42

11.57

11.50

12.23

Cornbelt I ..........................
Cornbelt II .........................

12.34
13.22

11.08
13.41

11.80
13.30

12.59
14.25

Delta .................................

10.12

9.85

10.05

10.30

Northern Plains .................

13.43

12.82

13.15

13.84

Southern Plains ................

9.75

10.58

10.10

10.66

Mountain I .........................
Mountain II ........................
Mountain III .......................

11.11
10.86
10.30

10.82
12.12
11.95

10.95
11.58
10.90

11.68
11.91
11.66

Pacific ...............................
California ..........................

11.45
11.00

12.05
11.70

11.55
11.09

12.29
12.28

Hawaii ..............................

13.30

14.65

13.42

15.85

United States ....................

11.02

11.35

11.12

12.01

1

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: January 12-18, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Hired
Region 1

Expected to be employed

Number
of
workers

150 days
or more

149 days
or less

Number
of hours
worked

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(hours per week)

Northeast I .............................
Northeast II ............................

23
25

21
21

2
4

40.3
36.2

Appalachian I .........................
Appalachian II ........................

21
14

19
8

2
6

35.5
31.9

Southeast ..............................
Florida ....................................

19
47

18
38

1
9

35.2
39.0

Lake .......................................

42

36

6

36.1

Cornbelt I ...............................
Cornbelt II ..............................

22
13

20
11

2
2

40.8
34.8

Delta ......................................

22

19

3

36.0

Northern Plains ......................

28

26

2

40.2

Southern Plains ......................

39

31

8

37.4

Mountain I ..............................
Mountain II .............................
Mountain III ............................

18
12
15

17
10
14

1
2
1

41.0
44.8
49.4

Pacific ....................................
California ...............................

42
131

33
111

9
20

39.5
40.5

Hawaii ....................................

7

6

1

37.3

United States .........................

540

459

81

38.9

1

Region map on page 25.

12

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: January 12-18, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Type of worker
Region 1

Field

Livestock

Field and livestock
combined

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Wage rates for
all hired workers
(dollars per hour)

Northeast I ........................
Northeast II .......................

11.46
12.09

10.62
11.64

10.95
11.90

12.38
12.80

Appalachian I ....................
Appalachian II ...................

10.64
9.18

10.33
10.38

10.50
9.75

11.52
10.68

Southeast .........................
Florida ..............................

10.30
10.15

9.99
10.50

10.20
10.20

11.23
11.33

Lake .................................

12.43

11.34

11.65

12.52

Cornbelt I ..........................
Cornbelt II .........................

12.52
14.78

11.16
13.37

11.70
13.90

12.82
15.25

Delta .................................

10.40

10.13

10.30

10.56

Northern Plains .................

14.15

12.60

13.35

14.07

Southern Plains ................

10.29

10.70

10.50

11.15

Mountain I .........................
Mountain II ........................
Mountain III .......................

11.17
11.42
10.67

11.14
12.41
11.54

11.15
12.20
10.95

12.29
12.62
11.60

Pacific ...............................
California ..........................

11.66
10.75

12.06
11.80

11.75
10.92

12.83
12.13

Hawaii ..............................

13.45

14.55

13.55

15.96

United States ....................

11.10

11.36

11.20

12.23

1

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: October 6-12, 2013
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Hired
Region 1

Expected to be employed

Number
of
workers

150 days
or more

149 days
or less

Number
of hours
worked

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(hours per week)

Northeast I .............................
Northeast II ............................

54
38

39
27

15
11

41.0
40.9

Appalachian I .........................
Appalachian II ........................

44
27

29
18

15
9

35.2
42.9

Southeast ..............................
Florida ....................................

30
46

22
38

8
8

36.7
37.5

Lake .......................................

73

52

21

43.4

Cornbelt I ...............................
Cornbelt II ..............................

48
29

32
19

16
10

39.8
38.1

Delta ......................................

32

21

11

43.0

Northern Plains ......................

38

24

14

45.5

Southern Plains ......................

65

45

20

38.1

Mountain I ..............................
Mountain II .............................
Mountain III ............................

32
19
23

22
15
18

10
4
5

47.7
45.1
46.5

Pacific ....................................
California ...............................

85
181

48
144

37
37

42.1
43.8

Hawaii ....................................

7

6

1

37.5

United States .........................

871

619

252

41.7

1

Region map on page 25.

14

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: October 6-12, 2013
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Type of worker
Region 1

Field

Livestock

Field and livestock
combined

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Wage rates for
all hired workers
(dollars per hour)

Northeast I ........................
Northeast II .......................

11.36
11.05

10.74
11.04

11.20
11.05

11.72
11.89

Appalachian I ....................
Appalachian II ...................

9.86
10.02

10.70
9.97

10.05
10.00

10.42
10.92

Southeast .........................
Florida ..............................

9.95
10.40

10.12
11.00

10.00
10.45

10.71
12.14

Lake .................................

12.33

10.60

11.55

12.15

Cornbelt I ..........................
Cornbelt II .........................

12.09
12.71

11.22
12.02

11.85
12.45

12.32
13.27

Delta .................................

9.60

10.42

9.76

10.00

Northern Plains .................

14.73

11.89

14.15

14.67

Southern Plains ................

10.10

10.87

10.40

10.85

Mountain I .........................
Mountain II ........................
Mountain III .......................

10.64
10.88
9.92

10.55
11.25
10.37

10.60
11.05
10.05

11.13
12.07
10.94

Pacific ...............................
California ..........................

12.82
11.15

11.86
11.35

12.75
11.18

13.28
11.95

Hawaii ..............................

12.85

14.30

13.00

15.06

United States ....................

11.38

10.93

11.27

11.96

1

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

15

Number of Workers and Hours Worked – Region and United States: July 7-13, 2013
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Hired
Region 1

Expected to be employed

Number
of
workers

150 days
or more

149 days
or less

Number
of hours
worked

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(hours per week)

Northeast I .............................
Northeast II ............................

55
43

39
29

16
14

38.2
43.4

Appalachian I .........................
Appalachian II ........................

44
27

28
17

16
10

38.3
38.1

Southeast ..............................
Florida ....................................

34
39

24
34

10
5

35.9
39.3

Lake .......................................

72

54

18

40.7

Cornbelt I ...............................
Cornbelt II ..............................

49
25

35
19

14
6

36.8
38.5

Delta ......................................

30

21

9

42.2

Northern Plains ......................

34

23

11

41.7

Southern Plains ......................

74

46

28

37.9

Mountain I ..............................
Mountain II .............................
Mountain III ............................

33
22
22

23
16
18

10
6
4

44.5
42.4
44.4

Pacific ....................................
California ...............................

120
176

56
146

64
30

42.0
43.9

Hawaii ....................................

7

6

1

37.8

United States .........................

906

634

272

40.9

1

Region map on page 25.

16

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Wage Rates by Type of Worker – Region and United States: July 7-13, 2013
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Type of worker
Region 1

Field

Livestock

Field and livestock
combined

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Wage rates for
all hired workers
(dollars per hour)

Northeast I ........................
Northeast II .......................

11.12
10.65

10.74
11.09

11.00
10.75

11.72
11.44

Appalachian I ....................
Appalachian II ...................

9.78
9.86

10.41
9.96

9.90
9.90

10.38
10.89

Southeast .........................
Florida ..............................

10.20
10.70

9.80
10.75

10.10
10.71

10.74
12.55

Lake .................................

11.71

10.67

11.20

11.90

Cornbelt I ..........................
Cornbelt II .........................

11.73
11.50

10.97
12.30

11.50
11.85

12.31
12.77

Delta .................................

9.65

10.48

9.85

10.10

Northern Plains .................

13.01

11.58

12.60

13.29

Southern Plains ................

10.11

11.02

10.40

10.85

Mountain I .........................
Mountain II ........................
Mountain III .......................

10.85
10.60
9.82

10.40
10.15
10.66

10.65
10.40
10.05

11.09
11.27
11.16

Pacific ...............................
California ..........................

12.01
10.85

11.92
11.30

12.00
10.91

12.38
11.62

Hawaii ..............................

12.95

14.10

13.07

15.19

United States ....................

11.02

10.88

10.99

11.68

1

Region map on page 25.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

17

Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region
and 48 States: October 12-18, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
Region 1

Field
crops

Other
crops

Livestock
and poultry

All
farms

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

2

Northeast ..........................................................
Appalachian 3 ......................................................
Southeast and Florida .........................................
Lake ....................................................................
Cornbelt 4 ............................................................
Delta ...................................................................
Northern Plains ...................................................
Southern Plains ...................................................
Mountain 5 ...........................................................
Pacific and California ..........................................

11.92
10.27
10.14
14.04
12.32
10.62
14.20
12.57
12.66
13.19

11.35
10.39
10.13
11.39
11.21
9.80
14.65
10.44
9.95
11.94

11.37
10.57
10.55
11.47
11.62
10.09
13.80
10.12
11.13
12.00

11.37
10.42
10.21
11.75
11.86
10.25
14.05
10.55
10.81
11.99

48 States 6 ..........................................................

12.15

11.32

11.35

11.46

1

Region map on page 25.
2
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
3
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii

Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region
and 48 States: July 6-12, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
Region 1

Field
crops

Other
crops

(dollars per hour)

Livestock
and poultry

(dollars per hour)

All
farms

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Northeast 2 ..........................................................
Appalachian 3 ......................................................
Southeast and Florida .........................................
Lake ....................................................................
Cornbelt 4 ............................................................
Delta ...................................................................
Northern Plains ...................................................
Southern Plains ...................................................
Mountain 5 ...........................................................
Pacific and California ..........................................

11.46
9.88
10.18
13.36
12.11
10.25
13.41
11.39
12.26
11.69

10.91
10.35
9.88
10.47
10.52
10.13
15.02
10.35
10.16
12.04

11.11
10.37
10.70
11.59
11.65
9.94
13.71
9.95
11.22
11.89

11.01
10.22
10.07
11.35
11.50
10.15
13.65
10.25
10.95
12.01

48 States 6 ..........................................................

11.44

11.36

11.23

11.33

1

Region map on page 25.
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
2
3

18

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region
and 48 States: October 6-12, 2013
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
Region 1

Field
crops

Other
crops

Livestock
and poultry

All
farms

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

2

Northeast ...........................................................
Appalachian 3 ......................................................
Southeast and Florida ..........................................
Lake ....................................................................
Cornbelt 4 .............................................................
Delta ....................................................................
Northern Plains ....................................................
Southern Plains ...................................................
Mountain 5 ...........................................................
Pacific and California ...........................................

13.49
9.78
9.67
13.83
12.47
9.58
14.82
10.66
10.85
12.27

11.00
10.14
10.28
11.88
11.41
9.35
14.73
9.87
10.34
11.70

10.91
10.18
10.37
10.72
11.90
10.70
11.37
10.51
10.73
11.28

11.14
10.03
10.27
11.55
12.07
9.76
14.15
10.40
10.56
11.67

48 States 6 ...........................................................

11.98

11.25

10.85

11.27

1

Region map on page 25.
2
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
3
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.

Combined Field and Livestock Worker Wage Rates by Type of Farm – Region
and 48 States: July 7-13, 2013
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
Region 1

Field
crops

Other
crops

(dollars per hour)

Livestock
and poultry

(dollars per hour)

All
farms

(dollars per hour)

(dollars per hour)

Northeast 2 ...........................................................
Appalachian 3 ......................................................
Southeast and Florida ..........................................
Lake ....................................................................
Cornbelt 4 .............................................................
Delta ....................................................................
Northern Plains ....................................................
Southern Plains ...................................................
Mountain 5 ...........................................................
Pacific and California ...........................................

12.62
9.66
9.82
13.24
12.45
9.60
13.24
11.11
10.49
12.16

10.72
10.03
10.52
11.28
10.86
9.54
12.16
10.08
10.22
11.33

10.74
9.99
10.14
10.76
11.51
10.75
11.46
10.29
10.47
11.15

10.88
9.90
10.42
11.20
11.62
9.85
12.60
10.40
10.37
11.34

48 States 6 ...........................................................

11.41

11.04

10.68

10.99

1

Region map on page 25.
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
2
3

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

19

All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region
and 48 States: October 12-18, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
Gross value sales-$1,000
<50

50-99

100-249

250-499

500-999

1,000+

All
farms

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

Northeast 2 .....................................................
Appalachian 3 .................................................
Southeast and Florida ....................................
Lake ...............................................................
Cornbelt 4 .......................................................
Delta ..............................................................
Northern Plains ..............................................
Southern Plains ..............................................
Mountain 5 ......................................................
Pacific and California .....................................

11.91
9.92
9.61
9.95
11.99
9.69
10.80
10.15
11.24
10.33

11.87
10.76
12.03
11.27
12.49
9.39
14.66
10.86
9.70
12.35

11.79
10.77
11.26
9.97
11.77
11.11
13.47
10.18
11.23
12.77

10.61
11.27
10.12
12.34
12.01
10.24
14.42
10.52
12.20
12.53

11.31
10.22
10.89
12.66
12.49
9.52
15.68
13.53
12.75
13.38

12.50
11.30
11.11
12.43
12.63
10.72
14.42
11.46
11.25
12.80

12.00
10.96
10.93
12.24
12.47
10.50
14.52
10.91
11.45
12.80

48 States 6 .....................................................

10.30

12.03

11.54

11.93

12.33

12.33

12.09

Region 1

1

Region map on page 25.
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
2
3

All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region
and 48 States: July 6-12, 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
Gross value sales-$1,000
<50

50-99

100-249

250-499

500-999

1,000+

All
farms

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

Northeast 2 .....................................................
Appalachian 3 .................................................
Southeast and Florida ....................................
Lake ...............................................................
Cornbelt 4 .......................................................
Delta ..............................................................
Northern Plains ..............................................
Southern Plains ..............................................
Mountain 5 ......................................................
Pacific and California .....................................

11.41
9.54
10.40
10.18
12.14
8.73
11.27
9.69
11.39
10.80

11.73
9.69
11.29
10.79
12.42
9.60
15.18
11.07
9.73
11.59

11.40
11.37
10.74
9.64
11.77
11.69
10.60
10.10
11.30
12.67

10.68
10.83
9.93
12.05
11.65
10.61
10.97
11.16
12.01
12.90

11.30
10.41
10.97
12.16
12.27
9.38
16.12
12.21
12.34
12.59

12.04
11.24
11.02
12.16
12.50
10.70
14.73
11.55
11.38
12.69

11.66
10.80
10.88
11.87
12.31
10.47
14.09
10.74
11.52
12.65

48 States 6 .....................................................

10.09

11.50

11.36

11.76

12.01

12.26

11.95

Region 1

1

Region map on page 25.
2
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
3
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.

20

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region
and 48 States: October 6-12, 2013
Gross value sales-$1,000
<50

50-99

100-249

250-499

500-999

1,000+

All
farms

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

Northeast 2 ......................................................
Appalachian 3 .................................................
Southeast and Florida .....................................
Lake ...............................................................
Cornbelt 4 ........................................................
Delta ...............................................................
Northern Plains ...............................................
Southern Plains ..............................................
Mountain 5 ......................................................
Pacific and California ......................................

11.94
10.82
10.74
10.84
11.57
9.99
8.32
10.19
9.37
11.41

10.85
11.14
9.72
13.40
14.51
9.46
17.98
10.00
12.04
12.11

11.99
9.72
10.13
9.58
10.74
9.39
12.65
11.77
9.95
11.16

11.61
10.45
12.17
11.67
11.75
9.23
12.82
9.89
12.66
12.44

10.65
9.43
10.32
13.44
11.66
8.99
16.25
10.39
11.89
12.08

12.01
11.15
11.95
12.21
13.17
10.44
14.82
11.49
11.34
12.54

11.79
10.63
11.58
12.15
12.67
10.00
14.67
10.85
11.30
12.36

48 States 6 ......................................................

10.85

11.91

10.89

11.75

11.77

12.27

11.93

Region 1

1

Region map on page 25.
2
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
3
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.

All Hired Worker Wage Rates by Economic Class of Farm – Region
and 48 States: July 7-13, 2013
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
Gross value sales-$1,000
<50

50-99

100-249

250-499

500-999

1,000+

All
farms

Northeast 2 ......................................................
Appalachian 3 .................................................
Southeast and Florida .....................................
Lake ...............................................................
Cornbelt 4 ........................................................
Delta ...............................................................
Northern Plains ...............................................
Southern Plains ..............................................
Mountain 5 ......................................................
Pacific and California ......................................

(dollars per
hour)
12.16
10.71
10.90
10.45
9.56
9.78
10.04
10.77
8.73
11.17

(dollars per
hour)
10.38
11.23
9.64
13.01
9.49
9.39
14.31
8.98
11.91
11.65

(dollars per
hour)
11.89
9.70
10.54
9.08
10.26
9.30
12.25
12.51
10.64
11.85

(dollars per
hour)
12.71
10.30
13.53
10.75
12.44
10.00
11.40
11.68
11.59
12.09

(dollars per
hour)
9.86
9.88
10.18
12.20
11.28
9.47
12.41
10.88
11.65
11.62

(dollars per
hour)
11.60
10.82
11.99
12.14
13.44
10.39
14.63
11.58
11.41
12.00

(dollars per
hour)
11.59
10.57
11.75
11.90
12.47
10.10
13.29
10.85
11.16
11.92

48 States 6 ......................................................

10.70

10.58

11.16

11.85

11.16

12.05

11.65

Region 1

1

Region map on page 25.
Includes Northeast I and Northeast II.
Includes Appalachian I and Appalachian II.
4
Includes Cornbelt I and Cornbelt II.
5
Includes Mountain I, Mountain II and Mountain III.
6
Excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
2
3

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

21

Field and Livestock Workers by Type of Farm
[Excludes agricultural service workers, Alaska and Hawaii]
Type of farm

July 7-13,
2013

October 6-12,
2013

January 12-18,
2014

April 6-12,
2014

July 6-12,
2014

October 12-18,
2014

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Field crops .................................
Other crops ................................
Livestock, dairy, and poultry .......

15
54
31

17
53
30

12
51
37

12
55
33

13
55
32

15
51
34

Hired Workers by Economic Class of Farm
[Excludes agricultural service workers, Alaska and Hawaii]
Gross value of sales

July 7-13,
2013

October 6-12,
2013

January 12-18,
2014

April 6-12,
2014

July 6-12,
2014

October 12-18,
2014

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Less than $50,000 .....................
$50,000-$99,999 ........................
$100,000-$249,999 ....................
$250,000-$499,999 ....................
$500,000-$999,999 ....................
$1,000,000 and over ..................

12
5
7
9
10
57

10
5
8
9
10
58

6
2
10
7
10
65

7
2
11
8
10
62

9
4
8
9
12
58

9
4
7
9
12
59

Hired Workers by Number of Workers on Farm
[Excludes agricultural service workers and Alaska]
Gross value of sales

Employed on farms hiring
1 worker .................................
2 workers ...............................
3-6 workers ............................
7-10 workers ..........................
11-20 workers ........................
21-50 workers ........................
51 or more workers ................

22

July 7-13,
2013

October 6-12,
2013

January 12-18,
2014

April 6-12,
2014

July 6-12,
2014

October 12-18,
2014

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

10
8
17
7
12
13
33

10
9
16
8
12
14
31

10
10
17
8
11
12
32

8
9
18
7
13
13
32

11
7
17
7
12
14
32

11
8
18
8
12
14
29

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Annual Average Number of Hired Workers and Hours Worked - Region and United States:
2013 and 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers]
United States
and region 1

Hired workers

Hours worked

2013

2014

2013

2014

(1,000)

(1,000)

(hours per week)

(hours per week)

Northeast I .......................................

41.8

37.8

39.9

40.7

Northeast II ......................................

38.3

34.5

40.6

37.6

Appalachian I ...................................

33.8

34.3

37.3

39.8

Appalachian II ..................................
Southeast ........................................
Florida .............................................

24.0
30.3
44.0

23.3
24.5
43.3

38.7
36.9
39.4

35.9
38.6
38.9

Lake ................................................

62.0

54.8

39.3

37.6

Cornbelt I .........................................
Cornbelt II ........................................
Delta ................................................
Northern Plains ................................

40.5
27.5
24.3
34.0

31.8
19.5
26.3
33.5

38.2
34.0
41.0
42.1

38.7
35.7
38.5
41.1

Southern Plains ...............................

58.0

50.5

38.4

37.7

Mountain I ........................................
Mountain II .......................................

26.3
19.5

24.5
16.5

45.1
41.7

44.8
46.2

Mountain III ......................................

21.3

17.0

46.1

47.7

Pacific ..............................................

82.3

73.8

41.3

40.5

California .........................................
Hawaii .............................................

163.3
6.5

160.0
7.0

43.4
37.7

42.8
37.6

United States 2 .................................

777.3

712.5

40.6

40.3

1

Region map on page 25.
2
Excludes Alaska.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

23

Annual Average Wage Rates - Region and United States: 2013 and 2014
[Excludes agricultural service workers. Annual rates are averages of the published wage rates for each survey week weighted by the number of hours
worked during the week]
United States
and region 1

All hired
2013

Field

2014

2013

Field and livestock
2014

(dollars per (dollars per (dollars per (dollars per
hour)
hour)
hour)
hour)

2013

2014

(dollars per
hour)

(dollars per
hour)

Northeast I ..................................................................................
(CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT)

11.97

12.15

11.32

11.57

11.22

11.26

Northeast II .................................................................................
(DE, MD, NJ, PA)

12.03

12.00

11.08

11.20

11.06

11.29

Appalachian I ..............................................................................
(NC, VA)

10.46

10.98

9.75

10.32

9.87

10.32

Appalachian II .............................................................................
(KY, TN, WV)

10.93

10.99

10.08

10.04

10.10

10.28

Southeast ...................................................................................
(AL, GA, SC)
Florida .........................................................................................

10.77

10.76

9.89

9.91

10.00

10.00

11.60

11.18

10.20

10.14

10.26

10.19

Lake ............................................................................................
(MI, MN, WI)

12.15

12.18

11.96

11.73

11.49

11.56

Cornbelt I ....................................................................................
(IL, IN, OH)

12.40

12.30

11.90

11.88

11.63

11.61

Cornbelt II ...................................................................................
(IA, MO)

13.07

13.69

12.19

12.60

12.22

12.62

Delta ...........................................................................................
(AR, LA, MS)

10.15

10.45

9.81

10.25

9.87

10.18

Northern Plains ...........................................................................
(KS, NE, ND, SD)

14.05

14.15

13.92

14.10

13.41

13.59

Southern Plains ...........................................................................
(OK, TX)

11.40

10.85

10.25

10.20

10.86

10.35

Mountain I ...................................................................................
(ID, MT, WY)

11.17

11.79

10.71

11.36

10.69

11.14

Mountain II ..................................................................................
(CO, NV, UT)

11.89

11.85

11.09

11.00

10.89

11.37

Mountain III .................................................................................
(AZ, NM)

10.90

11.33

9.72

10.09

9.97

10.54

Pacific .........................................................................................
(OR, WA)
California ....................................................................................
Hawaii .........................................................................................

12.47

12.96

11.92

12.44

11.87

12.42

11.85
14.97

12.36
15.45

10.92
12.80

11.22
12.85

11.01
12.91

11.33
12.98

United States 2 ............................................................................

11.87

12.07

11.08

11.29

11.10

11.29

1

Region map on page 25.
2
Excludes Alaska.

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Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Farm Labor Regions
Pacific

Mountain I
Lake
States

Northern
Plains
Cornbelt
II

Mountain
II

Northeast I
Northeast
II
Cornbelt I

Appalachian
I

California
Appalachian
II
Mountain III
Delta
Southern
Plains

Hawaii

States

Northeast I

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New York, Rhode Island, Vermont.
Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
North Carolina, Virginia.
Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia.
Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina.
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio.
Iowa, Missouri.
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi.
Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Oklahoma, Texas.
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming.
Colorado, Nevada, Utah.
Arizona, New Mexico.
Oregon, Washington.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Florida

USDA/ NASS

Region

Northeast II
Appalachian I
Appalachian II
Southeast
Lake
Cornbelt I
Cornbelt II
Delta
Northern Plains
Southern Plains
Mountain I
Mountain II
Mountain III
Pacific

Southeast

25

Farm Labor Definitions
The following definitions are provided to assist in interpreting statistics published in Farm Labor reports. To ensure
consistency in data collection, the questionnaires and instruction manual used by the interviewers provide more in-depth
explanations of these terms.
Farm or Ranch: A place that sells, or would normally sell, at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products during the year.
Agricultural Work: Work done on a farm or ranch in connection with the production of agricultural products, including
nursery and greenhouse products and animal specialties such as fur farms or apiaries. Also included is work done off the
farm to handle farm related business, such as trips to buy feed or deliver products to local market.
Hired Worker: Anyone, other than an agricultural service worker, who was paid for at least one hour of agricultural
work on a farm or ranch. Worker type is determined by what the employee was primarily hired to do, not necessarily what
work was done during the survey week. Types of workers include:
Field Workers: Employees engaged in planting, tending and harvesting crops including
operation of farm machinery on crop farms. The Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) codes and titles
associated with field workers are 45-2041: graders and sorters of crop, nursery and greenhouse products; 45-2091:
agricultural equipment operators on crop, nursery and greenhouse operations; 45-2092: farm workers and laborers
on crop, nursery and greenhouse operations; 45-2099: all other agricultural workers on crop, nursery and
greenhouse operations; 53-7064: packers and packagers, hand on crop, nursery and greenhouse operations.
Livestock Workers: Employees tending livestock, milking cows or caring for poultry,
including operation of farm machinery on livestock or poultry operations. SOC codes and titles associated with
livestock workers are 45-2041: graders and sorters, farm, ranch and aquacultural animal products; 45-2093: farm
workers, farms, ranch and aquacultural animal products; 45-2099: all other workers, farms, ranch and aquacultural
animal products; 53-7064: packers and packagers, hand, farms, ranch and aquacultural animal products.
Supervisors: Hired managers, range foremen, crew leaders, etc. SOC codes and titles associated with supervisors
are 11-9013: farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers; 45-1011: first-line supervisors of farming and
fishing workers.
Other Workers: Employees engaged in agricultural work not included in the other three categories. Bookkeepers
and pilots are examples. SOC codes and titles associated with other workers include but are not limited to 45-2011:
agricultural inspectors; 45-2021: animal breeders; 37-2012: pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators,
vegetation.
For more information on the applicable Standard Occupational Classification codes, see “Crosswalk from National
Agricultural Statistics Service Farm Labor Survey to the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification” at the “Surveys and
Programs” page for Farm Labor, on the NASS website (http://www.nass.usda.gov).
Methods of Pay: All wage rates are calculated based on total wages paid and total hours worked during the survey
reference week. Wages paid other than hourly (bi-weekly, monthly, etc.) are converted to an hourly basis prior to
summarization. Wages paid by piece rate (per quantity of produce picked, etc.) are also converted to an hourly basis.
Perquisites: Benefits, such as cash bonuses, housing, or meals, provided to an employee in addition to pay are included in
perquisites. Wage rates published in this release do not include the value of these benefits.
Term of Employment: The length of time during the year the farm operator expects to employ those workers who were
on the payroll during the survey week.
Agricultural Service: Any farm-related service performed on a farm or ranch on a contract or fee basis. This primarily
includes activities performed by contract workers on fruit, vegetable, or berry operations. It also includes custom work,
26

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

veterinarian work, artificial insemination, sheep shearing, milk testing, or any other farm-related activity performed on a
farm or ranch on a “fee per service” basis. The agricultural services component has been discontinued from the Farm
Labor Survey.
Contract Labor: Contract workers are paid by a crew leader, contractor, buyer, processor, cooperative, or other person
who has an oral or written agreement with a farmer/rancher. Pruning, thinning, weeding or harvesting of fruit, vegetable
or berry crops are examples. A machine is not a part of the service activity provided by the contractor. The Farm Labor
Survey excludes measures of contract labor.
Custom Work: Work performed by machines and labor hired as a unit. Hay baling, combining, corn or cotton picking,
spraying, fertilizing, and laser leveling are examples of custom work when the equipment is included in the service
activity. The Farm Labor Survey excludes measures of custom labor.
Type of Farm (or Ranch): An operation is classified in the farm type which accounts for the largest portion of the total
gross value of sales for its agricultural production.
Types of farms broken out in this publication are:
Field Crops: A farm producing wheat, rice, corn, soybeans, barley, dry beans, rye, sorghum, cotton, popcorn,
tobacco, or other such crops.
Other Crops: A farm producing vegetables, melons, berry crops, grapes, tree nuts, citrus fruits, deciduous tree
fruits, avocados, dates, figs, olives, nursery, or greenhouse crops. This category also includes farms producing
potatoes, sugar crops, hay, peanuts, hops, mint, and maple syrup.
Livestock or Poultry: A farm producing cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, milk, chickens, eggs, turkeys, or animal
specialties such as furs, fish, honey, etc.
Gross Value of Sales: This includes all income during a year from the sale of crops, livestock, dairy, poultry, or other
related agricultural products, including the landlord's share and the value of products produced under contract. When
commodities are placed under CCC loan, they are considered sold.

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

27

Survey Methodology
Survey Procedures: The NASS Farm Labor Survey is conducted semi-annually in April and October, in all surveyed
states except California. During the April data collection, data for both January and April reference weeks are collected.
During the October data collection, data for both July and October reference weeks are collected. The quarterly reference
week is the Sunday to Saturday period which includes the 12th day of the month. For California, collection of these data is
currently conducted on a quarterly basis, as part of the California Employment Development Department monthly labor
program.
The target population for the Farm Labor Survey program is all farms and ranches with $1,000 or more in agricultural
sales (or potential sales). An optimal sample is selected in each state with a U.S. sample size of about 12,000.
The Farm Labor Survey is a multiple frame survey, incorporating samples from both the NASS list and area frames to
ensure adequate coverage.
Farms on the list frame are sampled through a hierarchical stratified design, with strata based on measures of size. Those
operations with associated control data indicating peak numbers of workers are stratified based on these values, and those
expected to employ large numbers of workers (higher peak number values) are selected with the greatest frequency.
Farms on the list frame which do not have peak worker control data are stratified and sampled based on farm value of
sales. Farms stratified by farm value of sales are selected at a lower frequency.
In order to provide coverage of farms not currently part of the NASS list frame, a second sample is drawn consisting of
segments of land selected from the NASS area frame. The area frame contains all land in the state and, as such, is
complete. The land is stratified according to intensity of agriculture using satellite imagery. The land in each stratum is
divided into segments of roughly one square mile. Segments are optimally allocated and sampled to effectively measure
crops and livestock. The sampled segments are fully enumerated in June. All farms and ranches found operating tracts in
these segments are checked to see if they are included in the list frame hired labor population. The farms and ranches that
are not included in the list frame labor population, called nonoverlap tracts, are sampled for the Farm Labor Survey so that
the target population is completely represented. The area frame component is enumerated during each semi-annual data
collection period along with the list sample.
Most respondents are first contacted through self-administered mailed questionnaires, which can be completed either by
hand or securely online. All manually completed survey questionnaires are returned to the NASS National Operations
Center, where they are visually reviewed and key entered. Nonresponse follow-up is completed either by computerassisted telephone interviews conducted from NASS Data Collection Centers, or in person by an enumerator.
Throughout the data collection process, steps are taken to minimize the impact of nonsampling errors such as reporting,
recording, and editing errors. These steps include questionnaire testing, comprehensive interviewer training, validation,
and verification of processing systems, application of detailed computer edits, and evaluation of the data via the analysis
tools.
Nonresponse adjustment is necessary to account for producers who refuse to participate in the survey, cannot be located
during the data collection period, or who submit incomplete reports. These nonrespondents must be accounted for if
accurate estimates of farm labor are to be made. For the Farm Labor Survey, nonrespondents are accounted for by
adjusting the weights of the respondents. The adjustment occurs by stratum as all strata represent homogeneous
groupings of similar sized farms. The adjustment is performed by individual item on the questionnaire so adjustments for
item nonresponse (partial reports) and unit nonresponse (refusals and inaccessibles) are done in a single calculation.
For estimation of data items, point estimates called direct expansions are calculated by multiplying the reported value by
the final adjusted weight (initial sampling weight adjusted for nonresponse) and summing to a stratum total. A variance
estimate is also computed at the stratum level. The nonoverlap tracts are treated as an additional stratum. Totals and
variances are additive across strata to form state level point estimates.

28

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USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Ratio estimates are also computed for many items. For example, wage rates are calculated as the ratio of total wages to
total hours worked. Ratio estimates use the reweighted estimator described above for the numerator and denominator
direct expansions. Both the numerator and denominator must be usable in order for that record to be used in the ratio
estimator.
The number of hired workers, average hours worked, average wage rate data, and all associated sub-items are summarized
from the dataset. Because an identical data collection instrument (questionnaire) and follow-up interview are used for all
states, as well as identical editing, analysis, and summarization processes, state data can be summarized and regional and
national survey point estimates computed. For estimation purposes, point estimates are adopted as survey indications for
all data items. The summary results provide multiple direct and ratio indications for each data series being estimated.
The results also provide information used to assess the performance of the current survey and evaluate the quality of the
survey indications. NASS Regional Field Offices interpret the survey indications and submit state level recommendations
for all member states to NASS headquarters, providing justification in cases where recommendations deviate from
summary indications, as well other state specific comments and justifications. NASS headquarters completes the regional
and U.S. level summaries, which utilize the same estimators and produce the same indications as the state level
summaries.
For the final step in the estimation process, NASS assembles a panel of statisticians to serve as the Agricultural Statistics
Board (ASB) for the Farm Labor Survey. The Farm Labor ASB reviews the U.S. level, regional, and state level survey
indications and establishes all final, official estimates for the Farm Labor Survey program. Since larger sample sizes yield
more precise results, the ASB employs the “top-down” approach by determining the U.S. level estimates first and
reconciling the state recommendations to the U.S. and regional numbers for all estimates including number of hired
workers, average hours worked, average wage rates, and associated sub-items. As part of the semi-annual process, the
ASB also considers revised recommendations and issues revisions of previously published estimates where appropriate.
Additionally, the ASB reviews the annual average estimates for the November publication, which are summarized from
the final regional and U.S. level estimates for each of the four quarters. Through examining indications across states and
regions, re-examining outliers, and considering state level recommendations and comments, the ASB is able to establish
all final estimates according to both local conditions and regional and national conditions and trends.
Revision Policy: Farm labor statistics are subject to revision semi-annually and annually. Revisions must be supported by
additional data that directly affect the level of the estimate. Worker numbers and wage rates for July and October 2013,
and April 2014 were subject to revision with this report.

For More Information
For more information on the Farm Labor Survey methodology and quality measures, see “Farm Labor Survey
Methodology and Quality Measures” on the NASS website (http://www.nass.usda.gov).

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

29

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch of the National
Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected].
Troy Joshua, Chief, Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch ................................................. (202) 720-6146
Tony Dorn, Head, Economics Section ............................................................................................................. (202) 690-3223
Rachel Antzak – Cash Receipts, Land Values ........................................................................................... (202) 720-5446
Tynesha Boomer – Production Expenditures ............................................................................................ (202) 720-9168
Daryl Brinkman – Prices Received, Prices Received Indexes ................................................................... (202) 720-8844
Kuan Chen – Prices, Prices Research ........................................................................................................ (202) 690-3347
Liana Cuffman – Land Tenure................................................................................................................... (202) 720-2250
Chris Dickerson – Prices Received, Prices Received Indexes ................................................................... (202) 690-1348
Joe Hagedorn – Cash Rents, Grazing Fees ................................................................................................ (202) 690-3231
Michael Mathison – Production Expenditures........................................................................................... (202) 720-3243
Judy McDermott – Prices Paid, Prices Paid Indexes ................................................................................. (202) 690-3229

Scott Shimmin, Head, Environmental and Demographics Section .................................................................. (202) 690-0684
Stephanie Brennan – Field Crops Chemical Use ....................................................................................... (202) 690-0392
David Colwell – Current Agricultural Industrial Reports.......................................................................... (202) 690-3233
Doug Farmer – Vegetable Chemical Use .................................................................................................. (202) 720-7492
Steve Peterson – Farms, Land in Farms .................................................................................................... (202) 720-5581
Jackie Ross – Census of Agriculture ......................................................................................................... (202) 720-7644
Miste Salmon – Current Agricultural Industrial Reports ........................................................................... (202) 690-3226
Theresa Varner – Farm Labor, Chemical Use ........................................................................................... (202) 690-2284

30

Farm Labor (November 2014)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov
 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free
subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Follow NASS” box under “Receive reports by Email,”
click on “National” or “State” to select the reports you would like to receive.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for
employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where
applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program
or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or
employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or
call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the
form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
[email protected].