NASS Programs - 2014 Farm Labor Survey - Background Info.

NASS Programs

2014 Farm Labor Survey

About the Survey

How NASS Collects Data

Who Uses the Information

USDA’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS) conducts
the Farm Labor Survey twice a
year, in October and April. The
survey collects information
on the number of hired farm
workers, average hours worked
and average wage rates by type
of worker.

NASS will conduct the Farm
Labor Survey in every state
except Alaska.

NASS labor estimates
impact the entire agriculture
community. Federal, state and
local government agencies,
educational institutions, farm
organizations, and private sector
employers all use these data. For
example:

NASS will publish the results of
the survey conducted in October
in the Farm Labor report to be
issued November 20, 2014.
All previous farm labor
publications are available online
at http://bit.ly/FarmLabor.

Response Confidentiality
All information NASS collects in
this survey will be kept strictly
confidential, as required by
federal law. The results of this
survey will be available in
aggregate form only, ensuring
that no individual operation or
producer can be identified.

In October, NASS will mail the
survey to more than 14,000
agricultural operations, asking
them to provide information for
two one-week periods in 2014:
July 6-12 and October 12-18.
The survey asks operators
to provide information on how
many farm workers they hired,
the number of hours worked and
the wages paid each week.
Producers who receive the survey
may respond in either of the
following ways:
• Online – Respond online at
www.agcounts.usda.gov.
Online is the easiest, fastest
way to complete your survey.
The cover letter includes
instructions for this option.
• By mail – Producers fill out
the survey and return it in the
envelope provided.

• The Department of Labor
uses the results of this survey
in establishing minimum
wage rates for agricultural
workers and assisting
legislators in determining
labor policies.
• USDA and the Department
of Labor use the data to
estimate the demand for,
and availability of seasonal
agricultural workers.
• Agencies responsible for
administering farm labor
recruitment and placement
programs use the statistics in
their planning and evaluation.

A NASS representative will
contact producers who do not
respond to offer the option of a
telephone or personal interview.

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.nass.usda.gov