University of California
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Experiment Station
Berkeley, California
SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Progress Report No. 44
by
R. L. Adams
Preliminary -- Subject to Correction
October, 1P36
Contribution from the
Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
Mimeographed Report No. 53
I
(Farm Labor Survey January- June , 1936)
Progress Report #44
Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops
Santa Cruz County
Scope of Presentation .-- The following considerations govern the presenta-
tion of this progress report:
1. The data are confined to the area indicated above.
2. The data are confined solely to crops, livestock needs being ignored.
3. The findings apply only to occasional or seasonal labor requirements as
distinquished from labor contributed by farm operators and by workers employed on
a year-round or regular basis of employment.
4. Attention is concentrated upon workers required for hand tasks -- plant-
ing, thinning, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting — without including teamsters,
tractor drivers, irrigators, hay balers, threshernen, and shed packers of vegetables
or fruits.
5. The presentation includes the so-called migratory, transient, or roving
workers which comprise an important source of help needed in connection with certain
tasks and at "peak" times which seasonally arise in connection with many field,
truck, and fruit crops commercially produced in California,
6. This report is confined to California's need for seasonal agricultural
workers because of the more pressing problems liable to arise in connection there-
with. A later study is planned which will deal with other kinds of labor involved
in the oroduction of California's many crops.
Brief Description of the Area. Under Review .-- Santa Cruz County is one of
the central coast counties of California. Its northern boundary lies about thirty
miles southeast of San Francisco. On the north it is bounded by San Mateo County,
and on the south by Monterey County, from which it is separated by the Pajaro River.
The eastern boundary is the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains which divide it from
Santa Clara County. On the west it is bounded for its full length by the shores of
the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay.
There are several different farming areas. The most highly developed agri-
cultural region is in the Pajaro Valley in the southern end of the county. This is
a district about 8 miles long, and from 1 to 2 miles wide, opening upon the ocean
on the west and includes that portion of the valley north of the Pajaro River. It
surrounds the city of Watsonville and is devoted largely to the production of apples,
lettuce, sugar beets, and other crops.
Another area lies along the coast from Santa Cruz to a short distance north
of Davenport. This is a narrow strip of land about 15 miles long and varying in
width up to about one-half mile, directly bordering the ocean, and used almost
wholly for artichokes and Brussels sprouts.
A third district is located in the high rolling country, generally known as
the "Skylend District" in the eastern portion and is mostly used for pears and
prunes, and a few cherries and plums. It is irregular in shape and extends for
several miles in length.
2.
Much of the rolling land, particularly in the southern part, is used for
orchards, berries, and vegetables, and there are also many smaller areas of good
farm land along several of the smaller streams, as at Soquel where most of the
cherries and plums are grown. Hay and grain, and peas are raised near the coast on
the rolling land in the San Andreas district west of Watsonville.
A large part of the county is rough and mountainous and covered by forests
of pine and redwood.
The county contains a total of 278,400 acres, of which 58,215 are classed as
"crop land" by the 1935 Census. This crop land is further classified as follows by
the census 5
Acreage
Crop land harvested in 1934 41,995
Crop failure 502
Crop land idle or fallow 3,616
Plowable pasture 12,102
Total 50,215
Crop acreages are estimated to be about as follows:
Acreage
Field crops 11,069
Vegetable crops 14,719
Orchards (bearing) 17,563
Berries ^25
Total 43,776
The farming area in the Pajaro Valley is practically all below 100 feet in
elevation. The coastal strip from Santa Cruz to Davenport is mostly from 100 to
200 feet above sea level, and the "Skyland District" farms are from 1,500 to 2,000
feet in elevation. Farming is done on much of the rolling land, especially in the
southern part of the county, up to 300 feet or more above the sea. A variety of
soils is represented of several different series. Most of them are of the lighter
textures, ranging from sands to sandy loams and loams, although a considerable area
of clay loam adobe occurs in portions of the Pajaro Valley. They are generally 6
feet or more in depth.
Crops, Acreages, and Production .-- The basis used in calculating occasional
or seasonal need for labor in addition to that furnished by farm operators and
regularly employed workers appears as table 1.
TABLE 1
Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor --Requirements — Santa Cruz Ceunty
Crops
Acreage
Production
Field crops:*
Alfalfa
151
729 tons
Hay, other than alfalfa
8,114
11,121 tons
Barley
532
10,160 bushels
Wheat
63
860 bushels
Oats
644
12,127 bushels
Corn, for grain
429
9,515 bushels
Corn, other
180
Sugar beets
390
6,296 tons (average 16.1 ton)
Table continued on next page.
3.
Table 1 continued.
CroDs
Acreage
Production
Field crops (continued)
Potatoes, Irish 1"
Garlic
Hops
Vegetable crops:
Artichokes
Brussels sprouts
Lettuce
Peas
Tomatoes
Fruit crops:
Apples
Apricots
Cherries, mostly shipcing
Grapes, wine varieties
Peaches, freestone
Pears
Prunes
Table grapes
Walnuts
Strawberries
Bush berries
326
200
40
1,500
1,000
10,000
(1,000 market
(219 canning
1,000 (330 canning
(660 shipping
11,773
1,355
395
1,183
110
1,165
1,348 l|
128
106
205 (bearing)
175
23,812 bushels = 44,650 boxes
13,000 sacks
160 tons = 40 tons dried
150,000 boxes
2,000 tons * 160,000 drums of
25 pounds each
1,500,000 crates
60,000 hampers
135,374 pounds
1,650 tons
2,640 tons
4,400,000 boxes
700 tons
200 tons <f
1,200 tons
2,500 tons %
300 tons
250,000 crates
175,000 crates
* Data on field crops, except garlic, hops, and sugar beets, are from 1935
Census,
t Data from potato control program shows 457 acres in 1935, which produced
41,000 bushels.
t Apricot crop was very light in 1935 (about 25 per cent of normal). About
75 per cent is dried.
Cherry crop estimated to have been about 25 per cent of normal in 1935.
c$ Pear crop was light (about 50 per cent of normal) in 1935.
II A large part of the prune acreage is neglected and nonbearing. Probably
not over 1,000 acres of bearing orchard, possibly much less. Crop was very light
in 1935.
Operations Requiring Seasonal Labor and Times of Need .-- Farm operations
requiring the use of seasonal or occasional labor for the various crops raised in
Santa Cruz County are indicated in table 2, This tabulation does not include the
employing of shed workers needed to wash, pack, and prepare various commodities
for shipping and marketing.
4.
TABLE 2
Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Needs by Crops
Santa Cruz County
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Field crops:
Hay, other than
alfalfa
Grain (barley,
wheat, and oats)
Mowing --
25 per cent by
seasonal workers
Raking --
25 per cent by
seasonal workers
Bunching --
25 per cent by
seasonal workers
Trimming —
25 per cent by
seasonal workers
Baling
Threshing by stationary
June — 75 per cent of acreage
July — 25 per cent of acreage
June -- 75 per cent of acreage
July -- 25 per cent of acreage
June 75 per cent of acreage
July -- 25 per cent of acreage
June — 75 per cent of acreage
July — 25 per cent of acreage
August. 90 per cent of crop
August — 50 Der cent of crop (from
15th to 30th)
September — 50 per cent of crop
Corn -- use of seasonal help inconsequential and hence ignored. ( from l** 5 to 15th)
Sugar beets
Potatoes
Thinning
Hoeing (once)
Topping and loading
Hoeing --
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
Digging, picking up,
and putting in boxes
75 per cent by
seasonal workers
Planting
February -- one-third of acreage
March -- one-thira of acreage
April -- one-third of acreage
March — one-third of acreage
April -- one-third of acreage
May -- one -third of acreage
August — one-third of crop
September -- one-third of crop
October -- one-third of crop
March
April — 75 per cent of crop
May — 15 per cent of crop
June -- 5 per cent of crop) amount
July -- 5 per cent of crop) of sea-
sonal labor in these months
too small to be of any
consequence .
November -- one-third of acreage
December -- one-third of acreage
January -- one-third of acreage
Table continued on next page,
5.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Field crops:
Potatoes ( contd. )
Hops
Pulling and throwing in
piles
Clipping tops and roots,
and putting in sacks
Pruning —
5C per cent by
seasonal workers
Training --
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
Picking
Drying --
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
Brush burning
August -- one-half of acreage
September -- one-half of acreage
August -- one-half of crop
September -- one-half of crop
March
all acreage
June 1-30 -- 90 per cent of acreage
July 1-4 -- 10 per cent of acreage
September -- all of orop
September -- all of crop
November -- all acreage
Vegetable crops:
Artichokes -- practically no seasonal labor required and hence ignored.
Brussels sprouts
Lettuce
Picking
Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting
October -- 5 per cent of crop
November 15 per cent of crop
December -- 20 per cent of crop
January -- 30 per cent of croc
February — 20 per cent of crop
March --10 per cent of crop
February -- 16 oer cent of acreage
March -- 19 per cent of acreage
April -- 12 per cent of acreage
May -- 13 per cent of acreage
June -- 10 per cent of acreage
July -- 8 per cent of acreage
August -- 10 per cent of acreage
September 13 per cent of acreage
March -- 16 per cent of acreage
April -- 19 per cent of acreage
May — 12 per cent of acreage
June -- 13 per cent of acreage
July -- 10 per cent of acreage
August -- 8 per cent of acreage
September -- 10 per cent of acreage
October -- 13 per cent of acreage
April -- 15 per cent of croo
May --19 per cent of crop
June -- 12 per cent of crop
July -- 13 per cent of crop
Table continued on next page,
6.
Table £ continued. ,
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Vegetable crops:
Lettuce ( contd. )
Cutting (contd.)
August -- 10 per cent of crop
September -- 8 per cent of crop
nr»"h r\H*»v» — — 10 npy of* f*l"On
U <j v O U *- 1 JL\J UCX vCli l> VJ i. \J >
November 11 per cent of crop
December -- 2 per cent of crop (for
?n Have ^
Da o c f rr» f"i v»l/" cj + 1
rcao \ ujoL"a c L /
n uts x rig,
flnril -- 75 npr cent of acreage
May — 25 per cent of acreage
Picking-
May
Peas (canning)
Harvesting with viner--
75 per cent by
seasonal workers
May — 75 per cent of crop
June — 25 per cent of crop
j. omauoes
it dnsp xan u ing in dcus
April — 50 per cent of job
(allow 25 per cent extra
p X cul IS/
Transplanting to field
May -- one-half of acreage
Tnrvo nnp — Viol f r\f ft T* P a £*" p
Replanting
May -- 50 per cent of job
June — 50 per cent of job
Hoeing
May -- one-third of acreage
June -- one-third of acreage
July -- one-third of acreage
Picking for shipping
August -- 3 per cent of crop
September -- 39 per cent of crop
f ov» _ . no y p ki+ c\-f f*y» on
Picking for cannery
September -- 33 per cent of crop
October -- 66 per cent of crop
Orchard crops:
Apples
Pruning
uecemuer — - onc-iiuru u± ei^r ett^c
January -- one- third of acreage
February -- one-sixth of acreage
March -- one-sixth of acreage
Brush disposal
uecemoer — — one-1-n.irQ oi t±v>r rvdgc
January -- one-third of acreage
February -- one-sixth of acreage
March -- one- sixth of acreage
Spraying --
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
February -- one-half of acreage
March -- one-half of acreage
April -- all acreage
Table continued on next page.
i
7.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Orchard crops:
Apples (contd. )
Spraying (contd.)
May -- two-thirds of acreage
June -- two-thirds of acreage
July — two-thirds of acreage
> 1 warn >i v*i wi i m .T
ininning
May — one-T-niirQ oi onryc-i ouruno
of acreage
June — two-thirds of three-fourths
of acreage
ricking
August — 15 per cent of crop
September -- 40 per cent of crop
October -- 40 per cent of crop
November -- 5 per cent of crop
Apricots
Pruning --
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
November -- 40 per cent of acreage
December -- 40 per cent of acreage
January -- 20 per cent of acreags
Thinning*
April -- one-third of acreage
May -- tv/o-thirds of acreage
Picking
July -- two-thirds of crop
August -- one-third of crop
1/Uxx.ing i or arying
(90 per cent of crop)
juxy — xwo — inirus oi per uciil
of crop
August -- one-third of 90 per cent
of crop
Other labor in dry yard
July -- one-half of one-seventh of
total cutting labor
August -- one-half of one-seventh of
total cutting labor
Cherries
Picking
May 22-31 10 per cent of crop
June 1-30 -- 80 per cent of crop
July 1-15 -- 10 per cent of crop
Grapes (wine
varieties)
Picking --
75 per cent by
seasonal workers
October — all of crop
Grapes (table
varieties) -- use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.
Peaches -- use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.
Pears
Pruning —
November -
- 20 per cent of acreage.
50 per cent by
December -
- 30 per cent of acreage
seasonal workers
January --
30 per cent of acreage
February -
- 20 per cent of acreage
Table continued on next page.
8.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Orchard crops:
Pears (contd.)
Prunes
Operation
Spraying — 50 per cent
by seasonal workers
Picking
Pruning --
50 per cent by
seasonal 'workers
Picking
Time of need
February — one-half of acreage
March -- one-half of acreage
April — all acreage
May -- two-thirds of acreage
June -- two-thirds of acreage
July — two-thirds of acreage
August — 50 per cent of crop
September 50 per cent of croD
November — 20 per cent of acreage
December 30 per cent of acreage
January — 30 per cent of acreage
February — 20 per cent of acreage
September -- all acreage
Walnuts -- use of seasonal lacor inconsequential and hence ignored.
Bush berries
(Blackberries ,
youngberries, and
loganberries )
Strawberries
Picking
Picking
Hay 15-30 --10 ner cent of crop
June -- 30 ner cent of crop
July — 35 per cent of crop
August — 10 per cent of cror
September — 8 per cent of crop
October — 5 per cent of cror
November -- 2 per cent of crop
May — 40 per cent of crop
June -- 25 Der cent of crop
July -- 10 per cent of crop
August -- 15 per cent of crop
* Very little thinning done in 1935.
Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs .-- Details and summaries of seasonal
labor requirements of Santa Cruz County agriculture are presented as table 3. The
"size of job" are figures drawn from table 1 in terms of either acreage or output
in tons, crates, boxes, or whatever unit is commonly used. The "output ner man-day"
is an average figure for the entire acreage or output figured in packsd crates,
hampers, or boxes (in case of fruits and vegetables). If the work is of a nature
that requires a crew, different members of which perform different tasks (such as
cutting, trimming, loading, and hauling cauliflower; trimming and crating celery,
etc.), then the average shown is osr man based on the entire crow. Length of day
is 9 hours, November to February; 10 hours, March to October, unless otherwise
stated. Wide variations in output occur between farm and farm, field and field,
and season and season, because of differences in soil type*, climatic conditions,
weeds, yields, and other factors influencing the amount of work that a laborer can
perform in a given day. Moreover, the basis of output is a mature experienced male
worker, without reference to use of women, children, and more or less inexperienced
help that is sometimes used in connection with certain of the tasks requiring use
of seasonal workers. The column headed "available days" reflects (a) limitations
set from the period within which the work must be performed because of the nature
9.
of the task, such as transplanting, thinning, weeding, and cutting, and (b) avail-
able days as determined by weather conditions, inclement weather reducing the number
of days when a required task can be nerformed. The "required number of individuals"
is given in terms of workers as noted above in connection with "output rer man-day."
It is probable that the estimated number of workers required, as recorded
in table 3, will often be too low, for the reason that "peaks" frequently occur,
during which an unusually large proportion of the job is done in a very short period.
This would naturally require a much greater number of workers than when the work is
spread over a longer period, even though the total amount of labor (in man-days)
remains the same.
4
Month
January
February-
March
TABLE 3
Seasonal Labor Needs -- Santa Cruz County — by Months and Tasks
Crop and task
Brussels sprouts: Picking
Garlic: Flanting
Apples: Pruning
Brush disposal
Apricots: Pruning
Pears: Pruning
Prunes: Pruning
Totals
Sugar beets: Thinning
Lettuce: Thinning
Brussels sprouts: Picking
Apples: Pruning
Brush disposal
Spraying
Pears: Pruning
Spraying
Prunes: Pruning
Totals
Sugar beets: Thinning
Boeing
Potatoes: Hoeing
Hops: Pruning
Lettuce: Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting
Tomatoes: Transplanting in beds
Brussels sprouts: Picking
Apples: Pruning
Brush disposal
Spraying
Pears: Spaying
Totals
Size of task
1,200,000 pounds
67 acres
3,924 acres
3,924 acres
136 acres "f"
175 acres •+
150 acres -f
130 acres
1,500 acres
32,000 drums =
800,000 pounds
1,962 acres
1,962 acres
2,943 acres -t
117 acres -f
291 acres +
100 acres-f
130 acres
130 acres
163 acres
20 acres -f
1,900 acres
1,600 acres
350 crates
750,000 plants
400,000 pounds
1,962 acres
1,962 acres
2,943 acresT
291 acres t
Output per man-day
450 pounds
0.16 acre
10 trees =0.2 acre
2 acres
20 trees = 0.2 acre
15 trees = 0.17 acre
0.25 acre
0.4 acre
0.5 acre
450 pounds
10 trees = 0.2 acre
2 acres
1.5 acres
15 trees = 0.17 acre
1.5 acres
0.25 acre
0.4 acre
1 acre
1 acre
0.17 acre
0.5 acre
1 acre
30 packed crates
5,000 plants
450 pounds
10 trees =0.2 acre
2 acres
1.5 acres
1.5 acres
Required
man-days
2,666
402
19,620
1,962
677
1,050
600
26,977
325
3,200
1,777
9,810
981
1,962
699
194
400
19,348
325
130
163
120
3,800
1,600
11
150
888
9,810
981
1,962
194
20.134
Available
days
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
1
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
Required number
of v/orkers*
166
25
1,226
123
43
65
38
1,686 man-months
17
168
94
516
52
103
37
11
21
1,008 man-months
17
7
9
6
200
84
11
8
47
516
52
103
11
(for 1 day)
1.060 man-months
Table continued on next page
•
.' . , 1T> :
TO -fLeea - C*S scx,e
Table a co
iimuea.
Required
Available
Required number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
days
of workers*
April
Sugar beets: Thinning
130 acres
u acre
?2
15
Hoeing
xou acres
1 Sfl
22
c
Q
Lettuce: Thinning
~\ O r> n v.rt rt
1 , <iUu acres
u . o acre
> a on
109
Hoeing
1,900 acres
1 acre
i , yuu
pp
Cutting
225,000 crates
30 packed crates
7 , 500
Tomatoes: Transplanting in beds
7bu,00u plants
j,000 plants
PP
7
1
T
Pees: Hoeing
750 acres
1.0 acre
/bu
oo
tS&
Potatoes (early): Picking up
( from 15th
and putting in boxes
25,086 boxes -J-
120 boxes
210
11
19
to "30th)
Apples: Spraying
b ,oo / acres T
1.5 acres
pp
180
(from 15th
Apricots: Thinning^
86 acres
0.25 acre
li
31
to 30th)
Pears: Spraying
Totals
boo acres /
1.5 acre s
PP
18
i r npp
PP
82C
mfi n-monT
May
Sugar beets: Hoeing
130 acres
1 acre
i jU
U
Lettuce: Thinning
1,500 acres
C .5 acre
p enn
P^
104
Hoeing
T OO/^ rt rt M rt rt
1 ,<£(JU acres
1 acre
i onn
i , cuu
ps;
*x (J
Cutting
285,000 crates
30 packed crates
y , buu
pc;
cb
Tomatoes: Transplanting to
fields
500 crates
1 acre
bUU
Ok
Replanting misses
500 crates
4 acres
lc;D
oc
cib
5
Hoeing
333 crates
0.66 acre
500
25
20
Peas (canning): Harvesting with
f f nr 1 ^
ds.ys )
viner
124 acres
C*iO
1 7
Peas (market): Hoeing
250 acres
1.0 aero
p^
69
i n
XVJ
f from 19th
^ X A Will -L J Uli
to 31st)
Picking
55,000 hampers
10 hampers
5 , 500
1U T>
Potatoes (early): Digging,
picking up, and boxing
5 ,025 boxes T
120 boxes
A O
<ib
2
Apples: Spraying
3 ,924 acres t
1.5 acres
2,616
25
105
(from 20th
Thinning
2,943 acres
0.17 acre
17,658
10
1,766
to 31st)
Apricots: Thinning
173 acres'^
0.25 acre
690
12
57
(from 1st
to 15th)
Table continued on next page.
Tabl e 3 continued.
Month
May
(contd . )
June
July
Crop and task
Cherries: Picking
Pears: Spraying
Bush berries: Picking
Strawberries: Picking
Totals
Kay: Mowing
Raking
Bunching
Trimming
Hops: Training
Sugar beets: Thinning
Hoeing
Lettuce: Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting
Peas (canning): Harvesting
with viner
Tomatoes: Tranplanting to
field
Replanting misses
Hoeing
Apples: Spraying
Thinning
Cherries: Picking
Pears: Spraying
Bush berries: Picking
Strawberries: Picking
Totals
Hay: Mowing
Raking
Required
Available
Required number
Oii£ C {J J. UClCA
Out nut, npr man— dav
man- day s
days
of workers*
OC\ + r\Y\c*
200
6
33 "(from 24th
•->'-■ \ ,l i. Will I vll
to 31st)
3ftfi acrsfi f
h_J \J \J K-Ki 1 \-S t_J f
1.5 acres
259
25
11
17 500 crates
20 crates
875
12
73 (from 15th
to 31st)
75,000 crates "f
20 crates
3.750
25
150 **
46 . 643
25
1,866 man-mo fit hs
1 0 flrrrp 1 !
150
25
6
1 SOO ap.rp 1 ? "f"
20 acres
75
25
3
t son fittY*? 1 ^ - ^*
X j w V \J ClU ICO (
30 acres
50
18
3
1 500 acrfes *+
J. J \J 'w/ Vr vj* Vi 1
10 acres
150
18
8
40 acres 1"
-- ft
135
(of 5 hrs.)
25
6
12 acres
0.4 acre
30
3
10 (for 3 days)
47 acres
1 acre
47
5
10 (for 5 days)
1 000 acres
0.5 acre
2,000
25
80
1 300 acres
1 acre
1,300
25
52
180 000 crates
30 packed crates
6 ,000
25
240
42 acres f
0.5 acre
84
5
17 (for 5 days)
500 acres
1 acre
500
25
20
500 acres
4 acres
125
25
5
333 acres
0.66 acre
500
25
20
X • «J CLUI C
25
105
D , OOO dCicS
O 17 fir* vp
U«l / CIO X c
35 6
20
1 765 (from 1st
to 21st)
1 AO t nn c?
P00 nnnnHs
1 , 600
25
64 II
776 acres
1.5 acres
518
25
11
52,500 crates
20 crates
2,625
25
105
46,875 crates f
20 crates
2.344
25
94 **
56.165
25
2.247 man-months
500 acres "f"
10 acres
50
8
6 (from 1st
to 10th)
500 acres "t
20 acres
25
8
3 (from 1st
to 10th)
Table continued on next page,
ro
Table 5 continued.
1
Required
Available
Required number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man- day
man- days
days
of workers*
J uiy
x ^ i rom lsi
^ c onx.a . /
Juu auTco /
T A
i ^
^OO o r+ y*q o T
+ n T St n ^
Lv 1 J Oil/
T 1 y» 7 mm t Ki rr
1 1 ximiix rig
X»J CtO I Co
&v
*^ ^ r rnrn let
+ #"
( r
"^O
^ UI O 111 b*/
o (i rom x o l-
to 5th)
Sugar beets: Hoeing
12 acres
1 acre
12
12
-i
X
aoo a a t*p q
0 S p fyp
i a on
CO
AP
1 acre
± , u^u
CD
oy
Hutt i riff
"^O f» A ft m> + o o
\J jja.uis.cu. alcb
ft ^nn
PA
PSO
Tomatoes: Hoeing
333 acres
0.66 acre
500
26
20
Ancles: Soravinc
3 92^ acres
J- * O '■ - O . O
2 , 616
26
mi
RP [VwMi 7t h
OC \ I X Ulu run
oO ijiSl/ J
Anri ^nt^ • Pif^Virtcr
X X v U Uo i 1 X OAXilg
! 0 O 0 nAtttuI o
1 f uvU r' u U liu o
flntt i riff f nr rlyiri no-
uuli/X life? 1 UI UI j
APO tnno
OUt COUiiGb
1 H
< c
Ot Hoy rl "fir v.a v»H 1 ahni*
IDC
10
y
Cherries: Picking
20 tons
200 pounds
200
13
16 f f rom 1 st
to 15th)
Pears: Spraying
388 acres
1.5 acres
260
26
10
Bush berries: Picking
61,250 crates
20 crates
3,063
26
114
Strawberries: Picking
20 crates
1 , 300
26
sn qq
Totals
19 . 720
26
7^.0 ma ri _ mfin 1" H*5
August
Hay: Baling
10.000 tons
5 tons f npr ~i 7i hou**
Ha v }
? nnn
PS
ftO
(of 13 hr"?^
CtT*r 1 n : Thrp<?hi hv citfltinnarv
APO fti"*r»oQ
C CXUI C O
i n
1 p
cc ^ i rom x d xn
to 51st )
S u ffar hpp t 5 Tonn i ncr anH ~\ ntk A *i n&
6 uo» J. up j.iif. CJ- 1 lvj lUaUlIlp
P 100 tnriQ
D t-UIlo
oou
CD
Garl 5 c : Pu 1 1 i ncr anH t h^n'ui ncr in
-L. J- ^* • * Ull„ Ai CT will W t ill)' ill
piles
100 acres
1 acre
100
10
10 (for 10
Clipping roots and tops, and
days)
sacking
6,500 sacks
10 sacks
650
25
26
Lettuce: Thinning
1,000 acres
0.5 acre
2,000
25
80
Hoeing
800 acres
1 acre
800
25
32
Cutting
— 1 ,
150,000 crates
30 packed crates
5,000
25
200
Table continued on next page. 04
•
Table 3 continued.
Required
Available
Re qui
red number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man-days
days
of
v/orksrs*
August
Tomatoes: Picking for shipping
80 tons
1,800 pounds
90
12
9
(from 15th
(contd . ;
Apples: Picking
660,000 boxes
60 boxes
11,000
12
917
to 31st)
(from 15th
to ^l^t)
P* 2 ^ tones
T 000 noundq
X j \J \J IJ «-* t-t i 1 i_l o
466
12
39
(from 1st
to 15th)
Cutting for drying
<;U» tons
600 pounds
ic
0 0
^ i rom x s t
L.O IDLU/
Other dry -yard labor
— —
83
18
5
(from 1st
to 21st)
Pears: Picking
1,250 tons
1 ton
1,250
25
50
Bush berries: Picking
17,500 crates
20 crates
675
25
35
Strawberries: Picking
20 crates
1.875
25
75
Totals
27.546
25
1,102
man-months
o c p UCUlUCl
ft PO a {"* T*P C!
310
12
26
Si i ct'a y» Vip p + c* * Tnhni ncr nnrl 1 fiflH t n<r
OUp.CLl UC C I/O • 1 UJJ^illg CXI 1 Li X <J t>u J. I its
tnr* 1 ?
350
25
14
frft rl i f 1 * Pul 1 1 np finH thrown rtcr i n
piles
100 acres
1 acre
100
10
10
(for 10
days )
bao jsx rig
in q & f*VQ
Pfi
1 fin + one;
? i Sn
c , 1 JO
X*x
1 50
X \J
( for 1 A
ftO tnnq T
L/X J XXIg XII X\XXIlO
P POO nnundq
57
14
X
5
f for 1 4
\ X *J X X ^
ajc iiui/Ci i iixiirixixg
X , \3\J\J cLUI Co
W • u - ^ I c
P fiOP
PS
J. U*i
Hoei ng
i ,uuu acres
1 acre
JL , UUU
/in
Cutting
120,000 crates
30 packed crates
4,000
25
160
Tomatoes: Picking for shipping
1,030 tons
1,800 pounds
1,145
25
46
Picking for cannery
550 tons
2,500 pounds
440
25
18
Apples: Picking
1,760,000 boxes
60 boxes
29 , 333
25
1,173
Pears: Picking
1,250 tons
1 ton
1,250
25
50
Prunes: Picking up
300 tons
1,400 pounds
429
25
18
Totals
43,797
25
1,752
man-months
Table continued
on next page-
4
Table 3 co
ntinued .
Required
Available
Required number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
days
of
workers*
October
Sugar beets: Topping and loading
2,100 tons
6 tons
350
22
16
Lettuce: Hoeing
l r 300 acres
1 acre
1,300
22
59
Cutting
150,000 crates
30 packed crates
5,000
22
228
Tomatoes: Picking for shipping
1,530 tons
1,800 pounds
1,700
22
77
Picking for cannery
1,100 tons
2,500 pounds
880
2.2
40
Brussels sprouts: Picking
200,000 pounds
450 pounds
AAA
21
Apples: Picking
1,760,000 boxes
60 boxes
oo
Kit
(from 15th
Grapes: Picking
900 tons -f
1 ton
yuu
11
82
to 31st)
1 , 814
man-months
November
Totals , „
Sugar beets: Topping and loading
mm
—
--
—
—
Garlic: Planting
67 acres
0.17 acre
400
24
17
(for 2
Hops: Brush burning
40 acres
0.5 acre
80
12
7
weeks)
Lettuce: Cutting
165,000 crates
30 packed crates
5,500
24
230
Brussels sprouts: Picking
24,000 drums =
450 pounds
1,333
24
56
600,000 pounds
( f Tnm 1 fit.
1 1 i Will _L
Apples: Picking
220,000 boxes
60 boxes
3,666
6
271 acres '
to 7th)
Apricots: Pruning
0.2 acre
1 ,355
57
Pears: Pruning
117 acres 7
0.17 acre
700
24
29
Prunes: Pruning
100 acres'''
0.25 acre
4UU
OA
17
Totals
lO , HO*i
OA
560
man-months
December
Garlic: Planting
67 acres
0.17 acre
400
18
23
(from 1st
Lettuce: Cutting
30,000 crates
30 packed crates
1,000
13
77
to 20th)
Brussels sprouts: Picking
800,000 pounds
450 pounds
1,777
18
99
Apples: Pruning
3,924 acres
0.2 acre
19,620
18
1,090
Brush disposal
3,924 acres
2 acres
1,962
18
109
Apricots: Pruning
271 acres *
0.2 acre
1,355
18
76
Pears: Pruning
175 acres *
0.17 acre
1,050
18
59
Prunes: Pruning
150 acres f
0.25 acre
600
18
34
Totals
27.764
18
1.543
man-months
On a monthly basis unless otherwise noted.
Footnotes continued on next page. tn
i HQ ecUaJ.
l,8»i.5s: btnyrvs
peff rices c*ir.fjufi
■
-
^nSjfj. psofat jobbiufi true ^09 , 0j5j& '
Footnotes continued.
f Estimated portion of job done by seasonal workers.
f A crew of about 100 men was used for hoeing peas in 1935.
<f Very little apricot thinning done in 1935. Estimated as 25 per cent of normal.
<fl Pea picking season was abnormally short in 1935 due to poor market conditions. Normally extends over from four to
six weeks.
'/ Cherry crop was very light in 1935. A heavy crop would require three or four times as many pickers.
** At the peak of the strawberry harvest about two pickers are needed per acre, of whom about 75 per cent are
seasonal workers .
■ft Hop training is a continuous operation and can be done only in the warm part of the day. It requires one man to
each three or four acres continuously for about a month.
In years of heavy crops, probably 2,000 or more workers: are needed for apricot picking and drying at the peak,
ebout two-thirds of whom are women engaged in cutting the fruit.
Based on one man to each 2 acres on 40 per cent of bearing acreage.
*<* Based on one man to each 1 1/2 acres on 40 per cent of bearing acreage.
it H Topping and loading of sugar beets practically done by November 1 in 1935, but some years extends later.
TABLE 4
Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months
Santa Cruz County
1935
Month
Required man- days
of seasonal labor
Available worl-c
days
Required man-months
of seasonal labor
J anuary
26,977
16
1,686
February
19,348
19
1,008
March
20,134
19
1,060
April
18,022*
22
620*
May
46,643*
25
1,866*
June
56,165 t
25
2,247 t
July
19,720 4
26 ■
759 f
August
27,546 f
25
1,102 f
September
43,797
25
1,752
October
39,907
22
1,814
November
13,434
24
560
December
27,764
18
1,543
Totals
359,457
l
16,217
* On year* when "set" of apricots is heavy , the April and May
totals given above may be increased by 1,500 man-days and 3,000 man-days
respectively, on account of thinning.
T A normal cherry crop ( 2 tons per acre) would increase the labor
needs in June by about 4,800 man-days above the figure giver, and also add
about 600 man-days each to the 'day and July totals.
f 1 A normal crop of apricots ( 3 tons per acre) would increase
the labor demand in July and August by about 12,400 man-days and 6,20C
man-days respectively for harvesting.
I
18.
Notes
Notes on Table 1 .— Acreage of figures appearing in table 1 are from various
sources as indicated in the footnotes to the table. Where possible, the production
figures are from census data, but in the case of fruits and vegetables are mostly
estimates based on a knowledge of average yields, checked in some cases by car lot
shipments and other sources of information.
Notes on Table 2 . — Data shown concerning "time of need" breaks down season-
al labor into the period when the work is performed, in order to permit a subsequent
determination of labor needs by months (table 3). Some operations are done on only
a part of the acreage in a given crop, for example, only about three-fourths of the
apple acreage is thinned. This having been done in two different months, a portion
was allotted to each.
The amount of work done each month is based on the cropping program followed
during 1935. The allotting of amounts of work is based on findings concerning
local farming practices and required time to "make" a crop, resulting from inquiry
of producers and records of carlot shipments, the latter proving helpful in fixing
dates of planting and of subsequent tasks involved in producing certain crops.
Proportionate amounts of output harvested each month were determined from data of
local practices with respect to harvesting and, in some cases, from carlot shipments
of perishable products.
Notes on Table 3 .— Table 3 is the condensed summary of labor needs as
worked out for Santa Cruz County as a result of findings pertinent to 1935. The
data are presented by months with the tasks which wore performed in each month
indicated by both crop and task. The size of the job was calculated from the data
appearing in table 1 (acreage and production) and table 2 (task, time of performance
and percentage of work pertinent to a given month). The output per man-day was
calculated as indicated in the foreword presenting table 3. The number of required
man-days is a result of dividing the size of task by output per man-day.. The avail
able days for the different tasks involve two variables. The first is the number
of days when field work is possible because of favorable weather conditions. The
basis for this column was determined from a study of the monthly weather charts of
the United States Weather Bureau for the years 1933, 1934, and 1935. These data
indicated available days per month as follows (based on a 26-day working month
without allowance for holidays):
Month
Available
vrork days*
Length of
work day
Month
Available
vrork days*
Length of
work day
hours
hours
January
16
9
July
26
10
February
19
9
August
25
10
March
19
10
September
25
10
April
22
10
October
22
10
May
25
10
November
24
9
June
25
10
December
IS
9
* Based on rainfall record at Watsonville for the years 193S, 1934, and
1935 from the United States Weather Bureau.
4
• -r-r • • 1
i
1
f 1
jl
)\ O'f
=1
.1
19.
The second factor influencing the number of available days was the size of
the job. If the output were but for a few carloads, then the number of days was
limited to the time needed to get out these cars efficiently. If a field operation
had to be performed in a period less than the number of available days in the month,
then the specific number of days was noted. These restrictions are shown in
parentheses. For example, in May, picking of cherries was limited to six days
during the last week of the month; picking peas to ten days, etc.
In cases where a job is done partly by regular men and partly by seasonal
workers, only the estimated portion done by the latter has been included in table 3
under the column" size of task," and only the number of seasonal workers entered
in the last column "required number of workers on a monthly basis."
The totals of table 3 show the total required man-days of needed seasonal
labor, the available days for field work during the month, and the necessary number
of men (as defined in the opening paragraph of table 3) required on a monthly basis
to care for the tasks ordinarily performed by occasional or seasonal workers.
In an area such as Santa Cruz County, involving a substantial acr age of
truck and orchard crops, the findings as set forth in this roport are bound to
fluctuate materially from year to year, because of the influence of market outlook
upon what, when, and how much is planted; because of variable seasonal conditions
affecting yields, times of performing various operations, and available days; and
because of harvesting operations on certain crops being speeded up to supply a good
market, or retarded to avoid a poor one, resulting in marked variations in the need
for harvest labor.
♦
J
i
i
4
»