orange

USDA to Gather Data about Farm Labor

Dan Labor and Immigration, USDA-NASS

labor
DepositPhotos image

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in October. More than 1,700 farmers and ranchers in the Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina will be asked to participate in the survey. This is an opportunity for producers to provide accurate information about hired farm labor, including total number of hired farm workers, total hours worked, and total wages paid for the weeks of July 7-13 and October 6-12.

“We ask about two separate time periods each time we collect these data in order to publish biannual data and capture seasonal variation,” said Anthony Prillaman, Director of the NASS Southern Regional Field Office. “This method reduces the number of times we survey farms, while ensuring useful data are available.” 

USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor use the survey data to estimate the demand for and availability of seasonal agricultural workers, establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, and administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs. 

Advertisement

Survey recipients who do not respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail by Oct. 16 may be contacted by NASS to arrange an interview or sent a reminder email. NASS will publish the data in the November 20th Farm Labor Report.  

“When hiring workers and estimating expenses, timely and accurate agricultural labor data are vital,” said Prillaman. “By participating in NASS’s Agricultural Labor Survey, farmers and ranchers help ensure accurate information for farm programs.”