University of California College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station Berkeley, California S'CASONAL LABOR NESDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS MENDOCINO COUNTY Progress Report No. 23 by R. L. Adams Preliminary — Subject to Correction December, 1936 Contribution from the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics Mimeographed Report No. 53 UK!' cm (Farm Labor Survey — July- December , 1936) Progress Report No. 25 Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops Mendocino County Scope of Presentation .-- The following considerations govern the present- ation 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 distinguished from labor contributed b'^ 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 — planting, thinning, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting -- without including teamsters, tractor drivers, irrigators, 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 cer- tain 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 production of California's many crops. Brief Description of the Area . — Mendocino County is situated on the . northern half of the California Coast, its southern boundary being about 70 miles northwest of San Francisco Bay, Its coast-line boundary extends for about 80 miles, and it has an average width of 40 miles east and west. It lies in the Coast Range mountains which occupy a belt 50 to 70 miles wide extending from the coast eastward to the Sacramento Valley. A straight line running east and west bounds it from Humbolt and Trinity counties on the north and its southern limits extend to the Sonoma County line. The farming area of the county is located in two distinctly different physiographic regions. The major portion of agricultural land lies in the Russian River drainage basin. It occupies an area about 36 miles long and from 7 to 12 miles wide, including several arable valleys, some of which are part of a large valley basin, and intervening ore rough, hilly areas. Eleva- tions of the various valleys vary from 475 feet above sea level at the lower tnd of Sanel Valley to 1,000 feet above S3a level in the upper part of Potter Vall&y. Hops, grapes, fruits, alfalfa, grain, and grain hay are the principal crops. Ths Russian River Valley is one of the main hop-growing centers of California. The second farming district is situated in the central part of the county about 120 miles northwest of San Francisco. It is about 30 miles square and is bounded on all sides by high hills and mountains. The only crops grown extensively are grain and grain hay, small acreages being devoted to truck crops. The county has a total land area of 2,264,960 acres, of which 93,424 acres are available for crops. Crops. Acreages, and Production .-- The basis used in calculating occasion- al or seasonal need for labor in addition to that furnished by farm operators and regularly employed workers appears as table 1. I lb TABL^U 1 2. Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requireraents Mendocino County Crop Acreage Production Field crops: Alfalfa 6,323 16,937 tons Corn (for grain )• 252 5,680 bushels Grain - wheat 2,808 47,698 bushels barley 1,637 43,775 bushels oats C. , J.O'i t3U,t3D'i Dusnexs Hay (other than alfalfa) 16,366 22,081 tons Hops 1,371 6,778 bales in 1935 + Potatoes, Irish* 445 41,188 bushels Vegetable crops: f Snap beans <f 45 270 tons Peas - spring 600 30,000 crates (of 2 bushels) i fall 200 11,067 crates ; Toiratoes - canning 50 350 tons Fruit and nut crops: // Almonds* 3 Apples 1,304 4 , 500 tons (1,000 tons fresh (3,500 tons dried (fresh weight)! Cherries* 20 Figs* 10 Grapes 6,692 15,000 tons (10,000 tons shipped (5,000 tons crushed Peaches* 122 Pears 3,457 12,500 tons (8,500 tons fresh (4,000 tons dried f Plums* 12 Prunes 1,338 1,000 tons (dried weight )+ Walnuts* 160 47,100 pounds merchantable * Use of seasonal labor on these crops inconsequential and hence ignored. •f Drying ratio estimated to be as follows: Hops 4 to 1 Apples 7.5 to 1 Pears 5.5 to 1 Prunes 2.25 to 1 ^Acreage data from Federal-State Crop Reporting Service. Acreage of specified vegetable crops by counties, 1935. ^ Data from U. S. Census, 1935, for crop year 1934. (( Acreage and production. 3. Operations Requiring Seasonal Labor and Time of Need .-- Fan operations requiring the use of seasonal or occasional labor for the various crops raised in Mendocino County are indicated in table 2, This tabulation does not include the employing of shed workers needed to wash, pad:, and prepare various comp^odities for shipping and marketing. TABLE 2 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Needs by Crops Mendocino County Crop Field crops; Alfalfa' Grain Hay, other than alfalfa Hops Operation Shocking Hauling and stacking Harvesting Mowing Raking Shocking Pruning, stringing, and training Picking Drying Baling Time of need Per cent of work done by seasonal help May 1 all acreage to each Sept. 30 ironth May 1 to Sept. 30 June 15-30 -- 50 per cent of acreage July 1-15 -- 50 per cent of acreage June 1-15 — all acreage } 1 s ] March 20-31 — 1 man-day per acre April 1-30 -- 4 man-days per acre May 1-31 — 4 man- days per acre June 1-30 — 4 men-days per acre July 1-15 -- 2 mnn-days per acre _ Aug. 20-31 50 per cent of crop Sept. 1-10 -- 50 per cent of crop Aug. 20-31 -- 50 per cent of crop Sept. 1-10 -- 50 per cent of crop Sept. 10-30 all of crop J 50 50 50 50 > 100 100 100 65 Output per man-dr,y 8 acres 3,3 acres 5 acres 7.5 acres 15.0 acres 30 acres Total of 15 man-days per acre for ser.son 250 pounds green weight 4,000 pounds green weight 12 bales (of 200 pounds dry weight) Table continued on next page. 4. Table 2 continued. Crop Operation Time of need Per cent of Work done by seasonal help Output per man- day Vegetable crops: Beans, string Picking for July 15-30 — 20 per canning cent of crop Aug. l-ol -- bO per > 100 250 pounds cent of crop Sept, 1-^0 -- 50 per cent of crop ^ Peas, green* Picking May 1-31 -- 25 per cent of soring crop June 1-30 -- 75 per cent of spring crop July 1-31 — 10 per cent of fall crop ^ 100 5 crates (of Aug. 1-31 — 40 per cent 55 pounds) of fall crop Sept. 1-30 -- 40 per cent of fall crop Oct. 1-31 -- 10 per cent of fall crop Tomatoes , Picking Sept. 1-30 -- 60 per ! 1 1 canning cent of crop > 100 2,500 pounds Oct. 1-20 40 per cent of crop Fruit and nut crops : Apoles Pruning Dec. 1-31 -- 1/3 of acreage Jan. 1-31 -- 1/3 of y 33 0.2 acre acreage Feb. 1-28 -- 1/3 of acreage _ Brush burn- Dec. 1-31 -- 1/3 of ing acreage Jan. 1-31 — 1/3 of > 33 1.0 acre acreage Feb. 1-28 — 1/3 of acreage Thinning -- May — 50 per cent of 20 per cent job > 33 0.2 acre of acreage June — 50 per cent of job Spraying Dec. -- 1/3 of acreage Jan. -- 1/3 of acreage Feb. -- 1/3 of acreage April 15-30 -- 2/3 of > acreage 50 1.3 acres May 1-31 — ?./3, mice; (= 100 trees) . l/3, +-;;ice ,^ Table continued on next page. Table 2 continued. Crop Fruit and nut crops : Apples (contd. ) Grapes, wine Operation Spraying ( contd. ) Picking from trees Drying Pruning Burning brush Picking Time of need Per cent of work done by seasonal help June 1-30 — 2/3, once; 1/3, t.vice July 1-15 -- 2/3 of acreage / July 20-30 — 5 per cent of crop Aug. 1-31 — 15 per cent of crop Sept. 1-30 -- 35 per cent of crop Oct. 1-31 — 35 per cent of crop Nov. 1-15 -- 10 per cent of crop - Aug. 1-31 — 25 per cent of job Sept. 1-30 -- 25 per cent of job Oct. 1-31 -- 25 per cent > of job Nov. 1-30 -- 25 per of job Dec. 15-31 - - 1/6 of acreage Jan. 1-31 — 1/3 of acreage Feb. 1-28 — 1/3 of acreage Mar. 1-15 — 1/6 of acreage Dec. 15-31 - - 1/6 of acreage Jan. 1-31 -- 1/3 of acreage Feb. 1-28 -- 1/3 of acreage Mar. 1-15 — 1/6 of acreage Sept. 15-30 — 5 per > cent of crop Oct. 1-31 -- 50 per cent of crop Nov. 1-15 — 45 per cent of crop 60 75 50 50 90 Output per man-day 50 boxes (- 2,100 pounds) t" 200 pounds dry weight 0.75 acre 5.0 acres 2,400 pounds Table continued on next page. } • ; 1 \ j ft Table 2 continued . Crop Operation Time of need Per cent of work done by seasonal help Output per man- day Fruit and nut crops (contd. ) Pears Prunes Pruning Picking Cutting for drying Other dry- yard work Pruning -- 25 per cent of acreage Brush burn- ing Spraying once Picking up Dipoing and drying Nov. 15-30 -- 15 per cent of acreage Dec. 1-31 -- 20 per cent of acreage Jan. 1-31 -- 40 per cent of acreage Feb. 1-28 -- 25 per cent of acreage Aug. 1-31 -- 80 per cent of crop Sept. 1-15 20 per cent of crop Aug. 15-31 -- 50 per cent of job Sept. 1-20 -- 50 per cent of job Aug. 15-31 33 per cent of job Sept. 1-30 -- 66 per cent of job Dec. — 20 per cent of acreage Jan. -- 40 per cent of acreage Feb. -- 40 per cent of acreage Dec. — 20 per cent of acreage Jan. -- 40 per cent of acreage Feb. — 40 per cent of acreage Dec. 1-31 -- 1/2 of acreage Jan, 1-31 -- 1/2 of acreage Sept. 5-30 --70 per cent of crop Oct, 1-15 -- 30 ner cent of crop Sept. 5-30 — 70 per cent of crop Oct. 1-15 -- 30 per cent of crop 65 90 100 100 50 50 50 100 95 0.2 acre 1,600 pounds 1,000 pounds 26. 5 hours per fresh ton ' 0.2 acre 2.5 acres 1.3 acres 1,500 riounds 8.3 hours per fresh ton I * 1934 carlots of peas by rail. No data on 1935 shi-^ments by rail. f A portion of the apple cron is picked uo from the ground, in which case the output per man-day is about 2 tons. 7. Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs .-- Details and summaries of seasonal labor requirements of Mendocino County agriculture are presented as table 3. The "size of task" are figures drawn from table 1, in terms of either acreage or output in tons, crates, boxes, or whatever unit is commonly used. The "outout per man-day" is an average figure for the entire acreage or output figured in crates, hampers, boxes, or other units as indicated in the table. If the work is of a nature that requires a crew different members of which perform different tasks, then the average , shown is per roan based on the entire crew. Length of day is 9 hours, November to February; 10 hours flarch to October, unless otherwise stated. Wide veriations in output occur between farm and farm, field and field, and season and season, because of differences in soil types, climatic conditions, weeds, yields, emd 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 v/ith 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 of the task, such as transplanting, thinning, weeding, eind cutting, and (b) available days as determined by weather conditions, inclement weather reducing the number of days when a required task can be performed. The "required number of individuals" is given in terms of workers as noted above in connection with "output per man-day." It is probable that the estimated number of workers reouired, 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 v/hen the work is spread over a longer period, even though the total amount of labor (in man-days) remains the same. TABLE 3 Seasonal Labor Needs -- Mendocino County — by Months and Tasks Required Available Required number Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man- days days of workers* .Tp» mi avv Annies: Pruninc 145 acres T 0.2 acre 725 15 49 Bur'ni nff brushi 145 acres "t" 1.0 acre 145 15 10 Snravinff 217 acres ir 1.3 acres 167 15 12 Crranes iVi/ine); Prunins 1,115 acres j" 0.7 5 acre 1 ,487 15 100 899 acres ^ 0.2 acre 4 ,495 15 300 67 acres 0,2 acre 335 15 23 PlIT'n'l VICT V'lT'lloVl U f CkL* ICO 1 ? ^ f* a 2 ^"^^ Pi f» y*p c -P" Totals 7 ,639 15 510 raan-nionths Add! es ; Prunine 145 acres 1* 0.2 acre 725 19 39 1 9 a \J PI 7 « f*rp <=• "t" 1 67 Q Grapes (wine ) : Pruning 1,115 acre si* 0.75 acres 1 ,487 19 79 Pearst Pruning 562 acres'^ 0.2 acre 2,810 19 148 Pynnp*^ ' PY*nni fi7 Acy*p<? T f CL^ ICO ' 335 1 9 X 7 18 X (J fi7 acrp'? + ? - S fl yp 27 1 9 X ^ 2 Totals 5 , 696 19 300 uian-njonths March Hops! Pruning, stringing, and training 1,371 acres 1.0 acre 1,371 7 196 (Mar. 20-31) Graces (wine): Prunine 558 acres T 0-75 acre 744 9 83 (Mav 1-15) Totals 2 ,115 18 118 man— months April Hops: Pruning, stringing, and training 1,371 acres 0.25 acre 5,484 22 250 Apples: Spraying 434 acres + 1 .3 acres 334 11 31 (April 15-30) Totals 5.818 22 265 man-months May Alfalfa: Shocking 3,162 acres 8.0 acres 396 23 18 Hauling and stacking 3,162 acresf 3.3 acres 959 23 42 Hops: Pruning, stringing, and training 1,371 acres 0.25 acre 5,484 23 239 Peas (green): Picking (spring crop) 7,500 crates 5.0 crates 1,500 23 Table continued on next page. cd • n ' ■:J'.\ . ■.■ -• -72 ' - - . . . .\ ■ i • ! t i } } ! .. .1 1 i » » • m • RsQuired Available Re quired numbe r Month Crop and task Siae of task Output per ir.an-day man- days days of workers* May (contd .) Apples: Thinning Soraying Totals 43 acres 868 acres 0.2 acre 1,3 acres 215 668 23 23 10 30 9.222 23 401 man-months June Alfalfa: Shocking 3,162 acres t 6.0 acres 396 25 16 Hauling and stacking Grain: Harvesting 3,lfc)2 acres ' 1 ,645 acres 3.3 acres 5,0 acres 959 329 25 13 39 26 (June 15-30) Hay (other than alfalfa): Wowing 8,183 acres 7.5 acres 1,092 12 91 (June 1-15) Raking 8,183 acres < 15.0 acres 546 12 46 (June 1-15) Shocking 8,183 acres T 30.0 acres 273 12 2?. (June 1-15) Hops: Pruning, stringing, and training 1,371 acres 0.25 acre 5,484 25 220 Peas (green): Picking (spring crop) 22,500 crates 5.0 crates 4,500 25 180 Apples: Thinning 44 acres 0.2 acre 220 25 9 Spraying Totals 868 acres t 1 .3 acres 668 25 27 14,4^7 25 579 man-months July Alfalfa: Shocking 3,162 acres t 8.0 acres 396 26 16 Hauling and stacking 3,162 acres f 3.3 acres 959 26 37 (July 1-15) Grain: Harvesting 1 ,645 acres + 5.0 acres 329 13 26 Hops: Pruning, stringing, and training 1,371 acres 0.5 acre 2,742 13 211 (July 1-15) 3eans (string): Picking for (July 15-30) canning 54 tons 250.0 pounds 432 13 34 Peas (green): Picking (fall crop) 1,107 crates 5.0 crates 222 26 9 (July 1-15) Apples: Spraying 434 acresl" 1 .3 acres 334 13 26 Picking from trees 135 tons + 2,100.0 pounds 129 9 15 (Julv 20-31) Totals 5.543 26 214 man-months ill 1 crt 1 o + TAP flf^T*fic; ■f' ■^96 26 16 Hauling and stacking 3,162 acresi" 3.3 acres 959 26 37 (Aug. 20-31) (Aug. 20-31) Hops: Picking Drying 2,711,200 pounds^ 2,711,200 poundsf 250.0 pounds =^ 4,000.0 pounds 10,845 678 9 9 1,205 76 Beans (string): Picking for canning 135 tons 250.0 pounds 1,080 26 42 Table continued on next page. raoie o co Required Available Requ: .red number Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man- day man-days days of workers* August Peas (green): Picking (fall 35 (contd . ) crop) 4,427 crates 5.0 crates 886 26 Apples: Picking from trees 405 tonst" 2,100.0 pounds 386 26 15 Drying ASfi t nrtc; ■h' 875 26 34 Pears: Picking y ,uuu xons r i,ouu«v/ pounus 1 1 PRO XX , £^OU Pfi 433 (Aug. 15-31) Cutting for drying c,uuu i.ons i,uuu»u pounQS A nnn 308 Other dry-yard labor X , ooo xons 4 272 (Aue. 15-31) Totals \J*^ 1 U ^ X 1 0 man-months September Alfalfa: bhockmg OyXOcs acres f 0 • U cAul^co 1 A Haul i ng and st ac ki ng OyXOc acrcs • "2, "X G y* o C! O AO 25 39 (Sept. 1-10) Hops: Picking P 711 Pnn nnimrlcsf ^ 1 XX y CWU p VJ UliU o ' 10 84^ 8 1,356 Drying ixXf<iu\j pounusi ^ Pi T\n,\\Y^AC! ^ ftjUUU»u pounus 7 D / O a c 85 (Sept. I-IO) Baling T" 4,4/ o Dales 1 •27-2 1 A XO Beans (string): Picking for canning OX xons AAA OA CD Peas (green): Picking (fall crop ) 4,4<ii craxes fl 'V* + A ^ 000 PA •^A Tomatoes (canning): Picking eixv xons C y OUU »U pUUliLLo 7 Apples: Picking from trees y40 xons / ^/yj-UU^u pounus PS 36 Drying 0 1) ( X ons T CIO CO 36 (Sept. 15-30) Grapes (wine;: Picking 675 tons't 2, 400*0 pounds 563 12 47 Pears: Picking 2,250 tons'f 1 ,600.0 pounds 2 , 815 13 217 (Sept. 1-15) L>ut.t.ing I or arymg <s , uuu xons X ,uuu*u puuiiuo A nnn 1 7 J. 1 236 (Sept. 1-20) Other dry-yard work <i,Do/ xons 7 7 n7 A CU 283 (Sept. 5-30) Prunes: Picking up 1 , 0 ( D xons 1 Ann n r\niiw/^o X , ouu • u pouncs p 1 nn c , xuu PI 100 Dipping and drying 1 4Q7 + one 1 ,4y 1 xons ) PI 60 (Sect. 5-30) 1 oxais ■^A APR PS 1.382 man-months October Peas (green): Picking (fall crop) 1,106 crates 5,0 crates 222 22 11 (Oct. 1-20) Tomatoes (canning): Picking 140 tons 2,500.0 pounds 112 14 8 Apples: Picking from trees 945 tonst 2,100.0 pounds 900 22 41 Drying 656 tons"^ 4 875 22 40 Grapes (wine): Picking 6,750 tonst 2,400.0 pounds 5,625 22 256 (Oct. 1-15) Prunes: Picking up 675 tons 1,500.0 pounds 900 11 82 Dipping and drying 641 tonsf 535 11 49 (Oct. 1-15) Totals 9,169 22 417 man-months Table continued on next page. 4 Table 3 continued. Required Available Required number Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man-days days of workers* November Apples: Picking from trees 270 tons -r 2,100.0 pounds 258 22 12 Drying 65o tons r i 875 22 40 Grapes (wme;: Picking 6,075 tonsf 2,400.0 pounds 5,063 11 461 (Nov. 1-15) Pears: Pruning 337 acres f 0.2 acre 1.685 11 154 (Nov. 15-30) Totals 7.881 22 359 man-months December Apples: Pruning 145 acres T 0.2 acre 725 15 49 Burning brush 145 acres "f 1-0 acre 145 15 10 Spraying 218 acres/ 1.3 acre 168 15 12 Grapes (wine): Pruning oDo acres ' 0.75 acre 744 7 107 (Dec. 15-31) Pears: Pruning 449 acrest 0.2 acre 2,245 15 150 Prunes: Pruning 33 acres't 0.2 acre 165 15 11 Burning brush 33 acres't 2.5 acres 14 15 1 Spraying 334 acres "1* 1.3 acres 257 , ^5 18 Totals 4.463 15 298 man-months • On a monthly basis unless otherwise noted. t Portion of task performed by seasonal labor. Green weight. <^ Dry-yard labor, other than cutting estimated to be as follows: Apples: 200 pounds, dry weight, per man-day. Pears: 26.5 man-hours per fresh ton Prunes: 8.3 man-hours per fresh ton *^ Dry weight, 200 pounds to a bale. ..•cti 1 --nr.^^V'rf^ i 12. TABLE 4 Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months Mendocino County 1935 Required man-days Available Required n'an-months Month of seasonal labor days of seasonal labor January 7,639 15 510 February 5,696 19 300 March 2,115 18 118 April 5,818 22 265 May 9,222 23 401 June 14,467 25 579 July 5,543 26 214 August 34,891 26 1»342 September 34,528 25 1,382 October 9,169 22 417 November 7,881 22 359 December 4,463 15 298 Total 141,432 6,185 Notes Notes on Table 2 .-- Data concerning "time of need" as shovm in this table break down required seasonal labor into the period in which the work is perforired in order to permit a subsequent determination of labor needs by m.onths (table 3). Some operations are performed only to a limited extent with seasonal labor. For instance, only about 50 per cent of the labor in harvesting grain is done by seasonal workers. V/hen a job extends over several different months, the propor- tionate amount for each month is shown. The amount of work done each rronth is based on the cropping system followed during 1935. The allotting of amounts of work is based on findings concerning local farm practices, and required time to "make" a crop resulting from inquiry of producers, and records of carlot shipments, the latter proving helpful in fix- ing 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 from carlot shipments of perishable products. Records of truck shipments were also used when available. Notes on Table 3 .-- Table 3 is the condensed sumrjary of labor needs as worked out for Mendocino County as a result of findings pertinent to 1935. The data are presented by months with the tasks which were 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 ner 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 available days for the different tasks involve two variables. The first is the f \ ■ ■ : 13. nuirber of days when field work is possible because of favorable weather conditions. The basis for this colur-n was deterrined 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 ironth a.s follows (based on a 26-day working month without allowance for holidays): Available Length of Available Len^jth of Month days work day Month days work day hours hour .'3 January 15 9 July 26 10 February 19 9 Aupust 26 10 Warch 18 10 September 25 10 April 22 10 October 22 10 May 23 10 November 22 9 June 25 10 December 15 9 Source of data: Based on precipitation records of the Ukiah station of the United States Weather Bureau for the years 1933, 1934, and 1935. The second factor influencing the number of available days was the size of the job. If the output wjis only a few cars, then the number of days was litrited to the tirre needed to get out those cars efficiently. If a field operation had to be performed in a period less thvn the number of avf.ilr-ble devs in the month, then the specific number of days was noted. These restrictions p.re shown in parentheses. For example, in June harvesting grain was limited to the last hr If of the month, in July spraying roples was lin:,ited to the first h'^.lf of the month, etc. The totals of table 3 show the total required roan-days of needed seasonal labor, the available days for field work during the month, and the necessary number of men (as defined in t'he opening paragraph of table 3) required on a monthly basis to care for the tasks ordinarily performed bv seasonal workers. In an area such as Mendocino County, involving a variety of annual crops, the findings as set forth in this renort are bound to fluctuate materially from year to year, because of the market outlook upon what ana how much acreage is plant- ed, and when it is planted; because of variable seasonal conditions affecting yields, tirr,e of performing operations, and available days; and because of harvesting operations on certain crops being speeded up to supply a good market, or retarded to p-void a poor one, resulting in marked variations in the need for harvest labor. • m «