Workers hired directly by farm operators numbered 703,000 for the reference week of April 10-16, up 2 percent from the corresponding week a year earlier. Hired laborers worked an average of 40.4 hours during the week, compared with 39.9 hours a year earlier.
The largest percentage increases in the number of hired workers compared to a year earlier occurred in the eastern Corn Belt (Illinois, Indiana and Ohio), Lake (Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin) and Pacific (Oregon and Washington) regions.
Largest percentage decreases in the number of hired workers occurred in the Appalachian (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) and western Corn Belt (Iowa and Missouri) regions.
Wage rates increase
Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $12.75 per hour during the April 2016 reference week, up 4 percent from the corresponding week a year earlier. By work type:
• Field workers (those planting, tending and harvesting crops and operating farm machinery on crop farms) received an average of $12 per hour, 6 percent from a year earlier.
• Livestock workers (those tending livestock and milking cows) earned $12.01 per hour, up 4 percent.
• The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $12 per hour, was up 5 percent.
The largest percentage increases in average wage rates for all hired workers occurred in the Florida, western Corn Belt and Mountain (Arizona and New Mexico) regions.
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. Wages paid by piece rate (per quantity of produce picked, etc.) are also converted to an hourly basis.
Benefits, such as cash bonuses, housing or meals, are not included in the average wages.
For individual state information, go to the USDA National Ag Statistics Service Farm Labor report. 
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Dave Natzke
- Editor
- Progressive Forage
- Email Dave Natzke
