University of California
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Experiment Station
Berkeley, California
SEASONAL, LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Progress Report No. 37
by
R. L. Adams
Preliminary — Subject to Correction
March, 1937
Contribution from the
Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
Mimeographed Report No. 53
t
»
* t
(Farm Labor Survey — July-December, 1936)
Progress Report No. 37
Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops
San Diego County
Scope of Presentation . — The following considerations govern the presentation
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 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, trac-
tor drivers, irrigators, hay balers, threshermen, 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 production of California's many crops.
Crops, Acreage, 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*
San Diego County
Crop
Acreage
Production
Field crops:
Alfalfa t
2,500
15,000 tons
Beans — black-eye
800
5,600 sacks
Lima
19,500
156,000 sacks
Grain — barley
8,500
93,500 sacks
wheat
900
7,200 sacks
other
500
4,000 sacks
Hay, other than alfalfa
135,000
89,250 tons
Peas — Garbanzot"
250
2,000 sacks
Silage crop — mostly cornf
2,300
34,500 tons
Straw, bean
11,145 tons
Sugar beets
285
2,850 tons
Table continued on next page.
4.
Table 1 continued.
2,
Crop
Acreage
Production
Vegetable crops :
352
31 680 crnte"!
Beans — — string 1
1,000
5 P50 000 nnnnrlq
i on
800 +r>n<;
C&irfc&loupes \
100
"IS 000 orntr<!
Mi s opI 1 finfinuf! mfil on "T"
1(1 J- O uO J — L (Alio UUO IliO lUllO l
POO
Cj \J
KS\J y V/ w W ctoo
Carrots -t*
POO
4.R 000 nvfi-hnc-
Other root crops "f"
POO
48 000 orni-px!
Cauliflower
300
85 000 critr<!
Celery
1,100
49S 000 crate?
Corn — - preen T
750
IQc; OOO 1 nfrc!
Cucumbers — table
700
14-0 000 InjrQ
Lettuce "f"
250
3P 800 pri + nq
Onions -f-
60
R PRO entire
Peas
2 000 +
1 3P 700 Vinmn'pvc n-P "^O nnnv^n o
j- c> f iw xiu.jiipt/io u± uw pounus
Peppers f — bell
125
1 fiO "hnnq
chili
POO
luO LUXTlo QTXUQ
RO Tr\yi c rrvoovi
'Oo* OUIlo &X Ufcill
pimiento
180
840 fnnq
Potatoes — sweet t
100
300 tons
white (sorine and winter")
1 POO
3,600 tons
(summer)
100
600 tons
Rhubarb "t
50
A 8C) "hnnc
Spinach i"
50
20 000 - 4 do7on cratp<?
Squash -- Italian and summer
850
Ql R00 1 np'q n-f* PR nnnn^c
winter
200
1,000 tons
Tomatoes — summer
350 \
fall
600 /
225,000 lugs
early spring t
40
10 000 cratr<? ( 4 bnqVpt^")
Watermelons f
150
900 tons
Other vegetables f~
300
Fruit and nut crops :
Almonds f
26
11 700 nound*;
Apples
828
(2,235 tons
V 200 tons culls
Apricots
506
910 tons
Avocados "f
4,683
10 014 440 nniindt;
Citrus fruits — - grapefruit
■*,di ^, fu<s pounas
1 eTnon
*-> , ouo
^±t> , iso'i , uuu pounas
linos T
RP
0(i'i,ijuu pounas
4 Q84
co f ox / ,uti pouna.s
Valencia
1 57fi
7 P70 14P -nnnnrlc
/ , C I^J , ±rtC pOUXIU.5
mis en 11 nrifinu ^ c*. i ^~.v\i<z "f*
fi Pi
OCX
«,,oiu,uuvj pounas
Figs — Kadota f
59
other ■}-
PI 7
Orso uons
Grapes -- raisin
2 38?
table
1 3PP
wine
1,515
5,151 tons
Loquats +
38^
154 tons
Olives
1,082
150 tons
Passion fruit
85
1,530,000 pounds
Peaches
686
1,220 tons
Pears
351
340 tons
Table continued on next page.
Table 1 continued.
3.
Crop
Acreage
Production
Pecans 1"
21
10,500 pounds
Persimmons
234
444 tons
Plums
113
232 tons
Prickly pears T
165,760 pounds
Prunes, fresh f
65
78 tons
Walnuts
1,448
625 tons
Miscellaneous nuts T
54
Miscellaneous deciduous f ruits t
476
Miscellaneous sub-tropical f ruits f
318
* Data in table 1 aro from Crop Production Estimate — San Diego County, 1935,
by R. R. McLean, Agricultural Commissioner, San Diego County, unless otherwise noted.
t Use of seasonal labor inconseqential and hence ignored.
4 Acreage of green peas unusually high in 1935. Probably will be consider-
ably less on most years.
Operations Requiring the Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Need . — Farm
operations requiring the use of seasonal labor for the various crops raised in San
Diego County, are indicated in table 2. This table does not include the employing of
shed workers needed to wash, pack, and prepare various commodities for shipping and
marketing.
TABLE 2
Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Need by Crops
San Diego County
Per cent of
Crop
Operation
Time of need
work done by
seasonal help
Output per
man-day
Field crops:
Beans —
Hoeing (once)
June 1-30 — all of job
100
2.5 acres
Lima and
Piling
August 1-31 — all of job
100
2 acres
black-eye
Threshing (with
August 15-31 — 50 per
stationary rig)
cent of job
75
20 sacks
September 1-15 -- 50 per
cent of job
Processing (or
*
grading)
Grain —
Harvesting with
July 1-31 — all of job
25
5 acres
barley,
combine
wheat, etc.
Hay, other
Preparing land and
November^
than alfal-
seeding
December f *
January 7
FebruaryJ
fa
Mowing (with teams)
Raking
May 1-31 — all of job
66
8 acres
May 1-31 — all of job
66
16 acres
Shocking
May 1-31 -- all of job
66
30 acres
Table continued on next page.
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Table 2 continued.
4.
Crop
Hay (cont.)
Straw, bean
Sugar beets
Truck crops
Asparagus
Beans —
string
Operation
Trimming
Baling (80 per
cent of crop)
Baling
Thinning
Hoeing — first
second
Topping and load-
ing
Picking
Packing
Hoeing — once
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal help
May 1-31 -- all of job
June 15-30 — one-third of
job
July 1-31 — two-thirds of
job
September 1-30 — 50 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 50 per cent
of job
February 1*>28 — 15 per
cent of acreage
March 1-31 — 50 per cent
of acreage
April 1-30 -- 35 per cent
of acreage
April 1-30 — 50 per cent
of acreage
May 1-31 — 50 per cent of
acreage
May 1-31 — 50 per cent of
acreage
June 1-30 — 50 per cent of 7"
acreage _J
August — one-third of crop
September — one-third of
crop
October — one-third of
crop
March 1-31 — 10 per cent
of crop
-- 30 per cent
35 per cent of
April 1-30
of crop
May 1-31 -
crop
June 1-30 — 20 per cent of
crop
July 1-15 — 5 per cent of
>
crop
March 1-31
of crop
April 1-30
of crop
May 1-31 -
crop
June 1-30
crop
July 1-15 — 5 per cent of
crop
March 1-31
age
- 10 per cent
- 30 per cent
35 per cent of
20 per cent of
— all of acre*
66
30
80
100
100
100
100
100
> 100
100
Output per
man-day
10 acres
4 tons
2 tons
0.5 acre
1.5 acres
3.0 acres
5 tons
5 crates =r
(of 30
pounds)
7-hour
day
20 crates
10 acres
Table continued on next page.
»
!
Table 2 continued.
5.
Crop
Beans —
string
(cont. )
Cauli-
f 1 owe r
Celery
Peas
Operation
Picking
Harvesting
Packing
Fulling and pre>
paring plants
and planting
Hoeing (twice)
Blanching with
paper strips
Harvesting
Hoeing (once)
Picking
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by-
seasonal help
100
50
100
50
50
50
25
May — 22 per cent of crop
June — 40 per cent of crop
July — 3 per cent of crop
Balance scattering and inconsequential
April 1-30 — 60 per cent of
crop
May 1-31 — 40 per cent of
crop
April 1-30 — 60 per cent of
crop
May 1-31 — 40 per cent of
crop
August 15-31 — 25 per cent of"
acreage
September 1-30 — 50 per cent
of acreage
October 1-15 — 25 per cent of
acreage
September 1-30 — all of acre-
age
October 1-31 — all of acreage
December 1-31 — one-third of
acreage
January 1-31 — one-third of
acreage
February 1-28 — one-third of
acreage
December 15-31 — 5% per cent
of crop
January 1-31 — 33-g- per cent
of crop
February 1-28 -- 33 per cent
of crop
March 1-31 — 21 per cent of
of crop
April 1-15 — 4-g- per cent of
crop
June 1-30 — g§ per cent of
crop
Sometimes a small amount in May and July
February 1-28 — 50 per cent
of job
March 1-31 -- 50 per cent of
job
October 1-31 — 10 per cent of'
crop
November 1-30 — 10 per cent
of crop
December 1-31 — 19 per cent
of crop
January 1-31 --3 7 per cent of,
crop
100
100
100
Output per
man-day
250 pounds
90 crates
125 crates
18 man-
days per
acre y
0.25 acre
0.5 acre
0.25 acre
20 half-
crates of
75 pounds
10 acres
10 hampers
Table continued on next page
Table 2 continued.
6.
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Fer cont of
work done by
seasona l hel p
Output per
man- day
Peas
(cont.)
Potatoes
(summer)
Potatoes
(winter
and
spring)
Squash —
soft
(Italian
and sum-
mer)
Cutting seed --
10 sacks per
acre
Harvesting —
picking up af-
ter digger,
including
field sorting
Cutting seed —
10 sacks per
acre
Hoeing (twice)
Picking up af-
ter machine
digger
Ficking
Tomatoes
(fall and
summer)
Ficking
February 1-28 — 13 per cent of
crop
March 1-31 — 9 per cent of
crop
Balance scattering and inconsequential
February 15-28 — 50 per cent
of job
March 1-15 — 50 per cent of
job
May 1-31 — 40 per cent of crop
June 1-30 — 40 per cent of
crop
July 1-15 -- 20 per cent of
crop
November 15-30 — 30 per cent
of job
December 1-31 — 60 per cent of
job
January 1-15 — 10 per cent of
job
February 1-28 — all of acreage
March 1-31 — all of acreage
January 1-31 — 6 per cent of
job
February 1-28 — 11 per cent of
job
March 1-31 — 27 per cent of
job
April 1-30 — 45 per cent of
job
May 1-15 — 11 per cent of job J
January 1-31 — 27 per cent of
crop
February 1-28 — 10 per cent
of crop
May 1-31 — 10 per cent of crop
June 1-30 — 6 per cent of crop
November 1-30 — 10 per cent of
crop
December 1-31 — 29 per cent of
crop
Balance scattering and inconsequential
July 1-31 — 21 per cent of
crop
August 1-31 — 42 per cent of
crop
September 1-30 — 8 per cent of
crop
October 1-31 — 15 per cent of
crop
November 1-30 — 8 per cent of
crop
50
100
100
100
100
>
66
>
100
10 sacks
75 lugs of
35 pounds
10 sacks
1.25 acres
75 lugs of
35 pounds
20 lugs
20 packed
lugs of
30 pounds
Table continued on next page.
Table 2 continued
7.
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Ter cent of
work done by
seasonal help
Output per
man- day-
Tomatoes
(fall and
summer)
— cont .
Fruit and
nut crops :
Apples
Apricots
Citrus
fruits
December 1-31 — 4 per cent of
crop
Inconsequential amounts in June
and January
Fruning
one-third of
■ one-third of
Thinning -- 50
per cent of
acreage
Picking
January 1-31
job
February 1-28
job
March 1-31 — one-third of job
June 1-30 — two-thirds of job
July 1-15 — one-third of job
}
Packing —
loose pack
Pruning
Picking
Spraying (once)
— 90 per cent
of acreage
Fumigating
(once) — 25
per cent of
acreage
September 7-30 — 30 per cent
of crop
October 1-31 — 35 per cent of
crop
November 1-30 -- 35 per cent of
crop
September 7-30 — 30 per cent
of crop
October 1-31 — 35 per cent of
crop
November 1-30 — 35 per cent of
crop
January 1-31 — 50 per cent of
job
February 1-28 — 50 per cent of
job
July 1-20 -- all of crop
August 1-31 — one-third of job
September 1-30 — one-third of
job
October 1-31 — one-third of
job
August 1-31 — 15 per cent of
job
September 1-30 — 15 per cent
of job
October ) inconsequential
November) amount
December 1-31 — 15 per cent of
job
January 1-31 — 15 per cent of
job
February 1-28 — 15 per cent of
job
March 1-31 -- 15 per cent of
job
50
100
66
100
100
100
90
> 100
0.2 acre
8 man-days
per acre
40 boxes
of 40
pounds
50 boxes
of 40
pounds
0.25 acre
50 boxes
of 25
pounds
1,0 acre*?]
0.75 acruf)
Table continued on next page.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Citrus
fruits
(cont.)
Grapes
Operation
Picking lemons
Fi eking oranges
— all varie-
ties
Picking grape-
fruit
Fruning
I i eking and
packing for
shipment
Time of need
Fer cent of
work done by
seasona l help
April 1-15 — 5 per cent of
crop
January — 13 per oent of crop
J
February — 15 per cent of crop]
March — 19 per cent of crop
April — 14 per cent of crop
May — 9 per cent of crop
June -- 6 per cont of crop
July — 5 per cont of crop
August — 3 per cent of crop
September — 2 per cent of crop
October -- 4 per cent of crop
November — 4 per cent of crop
December — 6 per cent of crop
■ 8.1 per cent of crop
-- 6.5 per cent of
January -
February
crop
March -- 1.8 per cent of crop
April — 2.0 per cent of crop
May -•- 17.0 per cent of crop
June -- 15.4 per cent of crop
July — 13.8 per cent of crop
August — 10.8 per cont of crop
September — 7.6 per cent of
crop
October — 8.3 per cent of crop
November — 6.0 per cent of
crop
December — 2.7 per cent of
crop „
April — 2 per cent of crop
May — 15 per cent of crop
Juno — 50 per cent of crop
July — 32 per cent of crop
August — 1 per cent of crop
January 1-31 — 40 per cent of
acreage
February 1-28 — 40 per cont of
acreage
March 1-15 — 20 per cent of
acreage
August 1-31 — one-half of job
September 1-30 — one-half of
job
>
100**
100**
100**
100
Output per
man- day
25 boxes
of 40
pounds
30 boxes
of 40
pounds
25 boxes
of 40
pounds
20 boxes
of 40
pounds
10 boxes
of 40
pounds
20 boxes
of 40
pounds
3,000
pounds
3,600
pounds
0.5 acre
50 packed
boxes of
23 pounds
Table continued on
next page .
Table 2 continued.
9.
Crop
Grapes
(cont.)
01 ives
Passion
fruit
Peaches
Fears
Pers immons
Plums
Operation
I icking for
wineries
Picking
Picking up --
summer crop
Pruning
Thinning
Picking
Fa eking
Pruning
Picking
Packing — in-
cluding wash-
ing and grad-
ing
Picking
Fa eking
Fi eking
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
s eas onal help
it of I
rat of J
September 1-30 — 30 per cent
of crop
October 1-31 — 50 per cent of
crop
November 1-31 — 20 per cent of
crop
January 1-31 — all of job
July 1-31 — 50 per cent of job
August 1-31 — 50 per cent of
job
December 15-31 — 20 por cent
of acreage
January 1-31 — 40 per cont of
acreage
February 1-28 — 40 per coni
acroago
May 20-31 -- ono-third of job
June 1-20 — two-thirds of job
July 15-31 — 25 per cent of
crop
August 1-31 — 50 per cent of
crop
September 1-15 — 25 por cent
of crop
July 15-31 — 25 por cent of
crop
August 1-31 — 50 per cont of
crop
September 1-15 — 25 per cent
of crop
January — one-third of job
February — one-third of job
March — one-third of job
August 15-31 — 50 per cont of
job
September 1-15
of job
August 15-31 --
job i
September 1-15 — 50 por cent f
all of crop
*1
-- 50 per cont
50 por cont of j
of job
November 10-25
November 10-25 i — all of crop
July 20-31
crop
August 1-4
crop
70 por cont of
30 per cont of
100
100
100
75
100
100
100
75
75
100
100
100
100
Table continued on
Output per
_ man- day
1 ton
500 pounds
60 lugs of
18 pounds
net
0.3 aero
0.15 acre
(10
trees)
75 boxes
of 25
pounds
100 boxes
of 27
pounds
0.25 acre
2,000
pounds
80 lugs of
25 pounds
50 boxes
of 25
pounds
0 boxes
of 25
pounds
50 boxes
of 25
pounds
next page ,
.»
t
Table 2 continued.
10.
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal help
Output per
man -day
Walnuts
Knocking off,
picking up,
and hulling by
hand
September 1-30 — 30 per cent
of crop
October 1-31 — 60 per cent of
crop
November 1-10 — 10 per cent of
crop
) 100
200 pounds
* Frocessing or grading beans is done during the fall and winter, usually by
women. It is generally in warehouses in towns, but on a few large farms is done at
the ranch warehouse .
T On the larger farms a limited amount of seasonal help is used for this
work.
4 Asparagus fields must be picked over each day. This requires one person
for each 5 to 10 acres, depending upon how fast the crop is developing, and the out-
put per man-day consequently varies greatly.
£ Requires 6 man-days per acre to set plants in field (35,000 plants per
acre) . In addition, 12 man-days per acre are required to pull and prepare plants
for setting.
Length of day in spraying citrus trees varies greatly with weather, and
ranges from 1 to 14 hours. Cannot be done when it is hot or wind;/. Estimate based
on 9 -hour day.
|| Fumigating is done at night, and is greatly dependent upon weather condi-
tions .
** Picking of all citrus fruit has been included as done by seasonal labor.
Part of this is done by "skeleton crews," however, who are kept busy more or less
steadily throughout the year on a piece work or per day basis.
Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs , — Details and summaries of seasonal labor
requirements of San Diego 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 "output per man-day" is an
average figure for the entire acreage or output figured in packed cratos, 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 aver-
age shown is per man based on the entire crew. Length of day is 9 hours 'unless
otherwise stated. Wide variations in output occur between farm and farm, field and
field, and season and season, because of differences in soil types, climatic condi-
tions, 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 inexperi-
enced 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
sot from the period within which the work must be performed because of the naturo of
the task, such as transplanting, thinning, wooding, and cutting, and (b) available
days as determined by weather conditions, inclement weather reducing the number of
y
11.
days when a required task can be performed. The "required number of individuals" is
given in terms of workers as noted abovo in connection with "output per 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 largo 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.
»
TABLE 3
Seasonal Labor Needs — San Diego County -- by Months and Tasks
Output per
Required
Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
man- day
man- days
days
workers*
January
Celery: Blanching with paper strips
92 acres t
0.25 acre
368
20
19
Harvesting
166,160 crates
20 crates
8,308
20
416
Peas: Picking
49,099 hampers
10 hampers
4,910
20
246
Potatoes (winter and spring): Cutting
seed
1,200 sacks
10 sacks
120
10
12 (from 1-15)
Picking up after digger
216 tons
75 lugs f-
165
20
9
Squash (soft): Picking
16,359 lugst
20 lugs
818
20
41
Apples: Pruning
138 acres T
0.2 acre
690
20
35
Apricots: Pruning
253 acres
0.25 acre
1,012
20
51
Citrus fruits: Fumigating
460 acres
0.75 acre
614
20
31
Picking lemons
6,016,920 pounds
25 boxes 9
6,017
20
301
Picking oranges
2,736,762 pounds
3,000 pounds
913
20
46
Grapes: Pruning
1,566 acres f
0.5 acre
3,132
20
157
Olives: Picking
150 tons
500 pounds
600
20
30
Peaches: Pruning
206 acres i
0.3 acre
687
20
35
Pears: Pruning
88 acres'^
0.25 acre
352
20
18
28.706
20
1,436 man-months
February
Sugar beets: Thinning
43 acres
0.5 acre
86
22
4
Celery: Blanching with paper strips
91 acres t
0.25 acre
364
22
17
Harvesting
163,680 crates
20 crates
8,184
22
372
Peas: Hoeing
1,000 acres
10 acres
100
22
5
-
Picking
17,251 hampers
10 hampers
1,726
22
79
Potatoes (summer): Cutting seed
250 sacks t
10 sacks
25
11
3 (from 15-28)
(winter and spring): Hoeing
1,200 acres
1.25 acres
960
22
44
Picking up after digger
396 tons
75 lugst
302
22
14
Squash (soft): Picking
6,059 lugs t
20 lugs
303
22
14
Apples: Pruning
138 acres f
0.2 acre
690
22
32
Apricots: Pruning
253 acres
0.25 acre
1,012
22
46
Citrus fruits: Fumigating
460 acres
0.75 acre
614
22
28
Picking lemons
6,942,600 pounds
30 boxes
5,786
22
263
Picking oranges
2,196,167 pounds
3,000 pounds
733
22
34
Table continued on next page.
; .. . ""• . :
> : .«
- .- -,•.'-7?" -
Table 3 continued.
A\7fi T 1 Fi V)1 P
i * V ' -L _t ' i-* J- w
Required number of
W.kj 11 III
Cr*on and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
days
workers*
Fphruarv
Grapes: Pruning
1,566 acres T
0.5 acre
3,132
22
143
Ppntthes: Pruning
206 acrest
0.3 acre
687
22
32
Ppavg: Pruning
88 acres t"
0.25 acre
352
22
16
25 ,056
22
1 139
X i X KJ J
mrin — mo n t/h s ^?
Mo yr'b
1'JlcLl vli
Supar beets: Thinning
142 acres
0.5 acre
284
24
12
A^naraeus: Picking
3,168 crates
5 crates
634
24
27
Packing
3,168 crates
20 crates
159
24
7
Beans, string: Hceing
1,000 acres
10 acres
100
24
5
Celery: Harvesting
104,160 crates
20 crates
5,208
24
217
Ppaq: Hoeing
1,000 acres
10 acres
100
24
5
Pi eking
11,943 hampers
10 hampers
1,195
24
50
^ i rom x— j.0 )
Potatoes (summer): Cutting seed
250 sacks T
10 sacks
25
12
O
(winter and spring): Hoeing
1,200 acres
1.25 acres
960
24
AC\
'iU
Picking up after digger
972 tons
75 lues
741
24
31
Ann! p^* Pt*iit"ii ntr
138 acres 7
0.2 acre
690
24
29
Citrus fruits: Fumigating
460 acres
0.75 acre
614
24
26
Picking lemons
8,793,960 pounds
30 boxes f
7,329
24
306
Picking oranges
608,170 pounds
3,000 pounds
203
24
9
(from 1-15)
Grapes: Pruning
783 acres "f
0.5 acre
1,566
12
131
Pears: Pruning
88 acres f
0.25 acre
352
24
1 5
X yj
20,160
24
840
man— months
April
Sugar beets: Thinning
100 acres
0.5 acre
200
24
Q
■
Hoeing (first time)
142 acres
1.5 acres
95
24
A
Asparagus: Picking
9,504 crates
5 crates
1,901
24
fin
Packing
9,504 crates
20 crates
476
24
Cauliflower: Harvesting
25,500 crates t
90 crates
284
24
Packing
51,000 crates
125 crates
408
24
1 7
X /
Celery: Harvesting
1 2
93
(from 1-15)
Potatoes (winter and spring): Picking
up after digger
1,620 tons
75 lugs *
1,235
24
52
Citrus fruits: Fumigating
150 acres
0.75 acre
200
12
17
(from 1-15)
Picking lemons
6,479,760 pounds
30 boxes sf
5,400
24
225
Picking oranges
675,744 pounds
3,000 pounds
226
24
10
Picking grapefruit
92,354 pounds
3,600 pounds
26
24
2
11,567
24
482
man-months "fl
Table continued on next page. i_»
Table 3 continued.
1 ' T
Required
Available
Required number of
Month
CroD and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
. days
workers*
May-
Hay (other than alfalfa): Mowing
89,100 acres +
8.0 acres
11,138
25
446
Raking
89,100 acres +
16.0 acres
5,569
25
223
Shocking
89,100 acres r
30.0 acres
2, 970
25
119
Trimming
89,100 acres t
10.0 acres
8,910
25
357
Sugar beets: Hoeing (first time)
143 acres
1.5 acres
96
25
4
(second time;
143 acres
3.0 acres
48
25
2
Asparagus: Picking
11,088 crates
5«0 crates
2,218
25
89
Packing
11,088 crates
20 crates
555
25
23
Beans, string: Picking
1,155,000 pounds
250 pounds
4,620
25
185
Cauliflower: Harvesting
17,000 crates +
90 crates
189
25
8
Packing
34,000 crates
125 crates
272
25
11
Celery: Harvesting
12,400 crates
20 crates
620
25
25
Potatoes (summer): Harvesting
240 tons
75 lugs •
183
25
8
(winter and spring): Picking up af-
ter digger
396 tons
75 lugs *
302
12
26 (from 1-15)
Squash (soft): Picking
6,059 lugs j-
20 lugs
303
25
13
Citrus fruits: Picking lemons
4,165,560 pounds
25 boxes -tf
4,166
25
167
Picking oranges
5,743,821 pounds
3,000 pounds
1,915
25
77
Picking grapefruit
692,65b pounds
3,600 pounds
193
25
8
Peaches: Thinning
229 acres
0.15 acre
1,527
9
170 (from 20-31)
45,794
25
1,832 man-months^
June
Beans -- Lima and black-eye: Hoeing
20,300 acres
2.5 acres
8,120
25
325
Hay (other than alfalfa;: Baling
19,040 tons t
4.0 tons
4,760
13
367 (from 15-30)
Sugar beets: Hoeing (second time)
142 acres
3.0 acres
48
25
2
Asparagus: Picking
6,336 crates
5.0 crates
1,268
25
51
Packing
6,336 crates
20 crates
317
25
13
Beans, string: Picking
2,100,000 pounds
250 pounds
8,400
25
336
Potatoes (summer): Harvesting
240 tons
75 lugs t
183
25
8
bqua,sh (soft;: ricking
3,635 lugs t
20 lugs
182
25
8
Apples: Thinning
552 acres
//
4,416
25
177
Citrus fruits: Picking lemons
2,777,040 pounds
20 boxes
3,472
25
139
Picking oranges
5,203,225 pounds
3,000 pounds
1,735
25
70
Picking grapefruit
2,308,850 pounds
3,600 pounds
642
25
26
Peaches: Thinning
457 acres
0.15 acre
3,047
16
191 (from 1-20)
36,590
25
1,464 man-months?/
Table continued on next page.
• .. .r.fv I., • '•
6 •
» •
Table 3 continued-
1
1
Pvequired
Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and ta.sk
Size of task
Output per man-day
man-davs
days
workers*
Till rr
J uiy
• • •
Grain: Harvesting with combine
2 , 475 acres <
5.0 acres
495
26
20
nay ^oxner xnan an an ay. oaiing
oo.UoU tons/
4.0 tons
9 , 520
26
367
/iSpcLrcLgUS • fxCKxng
i , do4 crates
5.0 crates
317
26
13
racicing
l,bO'± crates
20.0 crates
80
26
4
Beans, string: Picking
420,000 pounds
250 pounds
1,680
26
65
roLdioes ^surnrner/. na-rvesuing
l^U tons
75 lugs t
92
13
8
(from 1-15)
iomaxoes. ricxing
4/,»cb(J lugs
20 lugs
2, 363
26
91
Hp pies - ininning
276 acres
//
2,208
13
170
(from 1-15)
yio tons
50 boxes of 25
1,456
17
86
(from 1-20)
pounds
rl + VI1C ^*l»in t f» • Dirt \r A v\ /-r T r> tnn
oiirus i ruixs. ricKing xemons
^,014,1500 pounds
20 boxes
2, 893
26
112
* X OA Illg UI cLxl gcb
4, bo*:, boo pounas
3,000 pounds
1 , 555
26
60
•TX vAXflg grcipcirUXL
l»4// t oo3 pounds
3,600 pounds
411
26
16
Pa oqi nn f*V 1 1 1 + • Pi r» Iri n rr un
i. ctoo t I UJ. 1. IT X V AX fig Up
(03,uuu pounds
60 lugs *
709
26
28
reacnes. ricKing
305 tons
75 boxes it
326
13
26
(from 15-31)
racKing
305 tons
100 boxes
226
13
18
(from 15-31)
Pi tuns z Pi ncr
loc tons
50 boxes / '
260
9
29
(from 20-31)
24, 591
26
946
man-months V
ocaiib — — u j. iijcl cLfld UxcLv-A""Cjr C • riling
c0 , ooo acres
2.0 acres
10,150
25
406
£111 Colli
00 , boo sacks T
20 sacks
3,030
13
234
(from 15-31)
Si) T* Kppf a • Tn^ni ntr t*r\A ~\ r\a A\ y\ct
*J f~. CXI U C C L o • 1 v^piug CLil (.1 lUaUl f 1R
you tons
5.0 tons
190
25
8
ocxci y - ruxixrig etna preparing pxctfxTS
cLtiu. y x cxi i u x I lp.
+
138 acres T
2,484
13
192
(from 15-31)
± UlilcL LUcb. ST J. t/l\l fig
94,500 lugs
20 lugs
4,725
25
189
vxnuo i i ui ib. op-ictyxfig
o,30o acres T
1.0 acre
3, 308
25
133
r unix gel ex ng
460 acres
0.75 acre
614
25
25
i X VAX Xlg X CiUU lit)
1,388,520 pounds
10 boxes J
3,472
25
139
Picking oranges
3,649,015 pounds
3,000 pounds
1,217
25
49
Picking grapefruit
o,ouu pounds
13
25
1
Grapes: Picking and packing for ship-
ment
2,065 tons
50 boxes W
3,592
25
144
Passion fruit: Picking up
765,000 pounds
60 lugs**
709
25
29
Peaches: Picking
610 tons
75 boxes if
651
25
27
Packing
610 tons
100 boxes ft
452
25
19
Table continued on next page.
: -■
Table 3 continued .
Month
Required
Available
Required number of
Crop and task
oize ol ts.sK
Output per man- day
man- days
days
workers*
Pears: Picking
ic/ tons '
i . u ton
TOT
Id/
12
11
(from
15-31)
Packing
l iU tons
OU lUgS " "
1 / u
15
(from 15-31)
Plums: Picking
f v Lons
ou ooxes ' '
lid
A
4
28
(from
1-4J__
— — ■
OD , UlO
cb
1 ,40±
man-months <ft
Beans -- Lima and black-eye:
Threshing
OU , OUU ScxCKS I
20 sacks
3 , U3U
lo
234
(from
1-15 ;
Straw, bean: Baling
A /op + A VI (3 1
4) ^uo to nt> >
& tons
<; , tidy
CD
86
Sugar beets: Topping and loading
y torib
o . u T-ons
l on
iyu
oc
CO
8
Celery: Pulling and preparing plants
and planting
c, i z> cicre s ■
4 , you
cc
191
Hoeing
u z)\j acre s
u.co acre
<i , cUU
85
Tomatoes: Picking
±0,UuU J-UgS
Of! ~) 11 rro
cAJ lugs
yuu
CO
35
Apples: Picking
*iOO tOllb 1
fiu uoxes
en/
bU4
31
(from
7-30)
Packing
/ ox tons
50 boxes ■Xf
1771
/ Ol
37
(from
7-30)
Citrus fruits: Spraying
o, ouo acres i
1.0 acre
o, 508
26
128
Fumigating
stou acres
0.75 acre
CIA
o c
dc
24
Picking lemons
10 boxes J$
<t, DID
26
90
Picking oranges
do / j oco pounus
o,uuu pounds
COO
o c
do
33
Grapes: Picking and packing for ship-
ment
c,ut>o tons »
oU boxes *p t*
3, 593
26
139
Picking for wineries
c, / tons
l.U ton
2 , 725
26
105
Peaches: Picking
juj tons
75 boxes
3<so
13
26
(from
1-15)
Packing
ouo tons
xuu Doxes tt
13
18
(from
1-15)
Pears: Picking
1 9ft + nnn *f
ico ions i
i.u ton
TOO
128
13
10
(from
1-15)
Packing
J. / U tuil£>
an i lirrci // //
OU lUgS II II
XIV
lo
14
(from
1-15)
Walnuts: Harvesting
1 ft ft + r\f»o
-Loo tons
cuu pounds
T O O O
1 , 8bU
26
73
30 , S75
26
1 ,192
man-months ^
Straw, bean: Baling
ft , 4oo tons i
<s.U tons
2, 229
26
86
Sugar beets: Topping and loading
you tons
5.0 tons
190
26
8
Celery: Pulling and preparing
plants
and planting
±o i acres i
2, 466
13
190
(from
1-15)
Hoeing
550 acres +
0.5 acre
1,100
26
43
Peas: Picking
13,270 hampers
10.0 hampers
1,327
26
52
Tomatoes: Picking
33,750 lugs
20 lugs
1,688
26
65
Apples: Picking
562 tons T
40 boxes $f
703
26
28
Packing
1
852 tons
50 boxes jf
852
1
26
33
August
(cont . )
September
October
Table continued on next page . m
■ :
1
i
i
1
;
i
i
' •- V,
"-'
!
- . • -"mini . .
* ■ « _.
- ■"' !
. 4 '
•
ii
j <
!
i
■ »
■
»
-
t
L
I
<
-
■ •
i
I
!
■ ■ . ...
Table 3 continued.
1 —
Required
Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
days
workers*
October
Citrus fruits: Spraying
3, 308 acres /
1.0 acre
3, 308
26
128
(cont. )
Picking lemons
x, 851, 360 pounds
10 boxes ^
4,629
26
179
Picking oranges
2,804,336 pounds
3,000 pounds
935
26
36
Grapes: Picking for wineries
4,540 tons
1.0 ton
4,540
26
175
Walnuts; Harvesting
3 to tons
200 pounds
3,750
26
145
1
27 ,717
26
1 , 067 man-months f)
November
Peas: Picking
13,270 hampers
10 hampers
1,327
24
56
jPotatoes (winter and spring):
putting
-
seed
3,600 sacks
10 sacks
360
12
30 (from 15-30)
Squash (soft): Picking
6,059 lugs T
20 lugs
303
24
13
Tomatoes: Picking
18,000 lugs
20 lugs
900
24
38
Apples: Picking
do2 tons '
40 boxes J0
703
24
30
Packing
852 tons
50 boxes JSf
852
24
36
Citrus fruits: Picking lemons
1,851,360 pounds
10 boxes sf
4,629
24
193
Picking oranges
c , U*c / , ciou pounds
3,000 pounds
676
24
29
Grapes: Picking for wineries
i,oiu ions
i.u ton
1 , 816
O A
24
76
Persimmons: Picking
444 tons
50 boxes "# T
711
12
60 (from 10-25)
Packing
4^4 Tons
5U boxes TT
711
12
60
Walnuts: Harvesting
62 tons
200 pounds
620
8
78 (from 1-10)
13.608
24
567 man-months"TT
December
Celery: Blanching with paper
strips
y<c acres /
0.25 acre
368
22
17
Harvesting
d f , do\) crates
<i0 crates
1,364
11
124&(from 15-31)
Peas: Picking
c5,clo nampers
10 hampers
2., 522
22
115
Potatoes (winter and spring):
butting
seed
7,200 sacks
10 sacks
720
22
33
Squash (soft): Picking
OH Tit rrn
cSU lUgS
o i y
22
18
Tomatoes: Picking
9,000 lugs
20 lugs
450
22
21
Citrus fruits: Fumigating
460 acres
0.75 acre
614
22
28
Picking lemons
2,777,040 pounds
20 boxes d
3,472
22
158
Picking oranges
912,254 pounds
3,000 pounds
305
22
14
Peaches: Pruning
103 acres ~f
0.3 acre
344
11
32 (from 15-31^
1
■ , , . i
10,538
22 , j
479 man-mo nthsftl
* On a monthly basis unless otherwise noted.
Portion of job done by seasonal workers.
Table continued on next page.
,"\ 1 * ■ T •■-.•'■..f t
■ '. • /
1^ '_.
" * * ' ' * v ' ■ * * >. V
A,,.- »^-*- — . — *•*
» . . ' •
V
■
1
* i
:. . • ■ . '
■ * - 1
" - ,\ ' -*">-'
: i «
i
. . - ■ ."■ j
..-.-.T. r j
......
« «
s • !. :
4
5 • " . ^*'** * . '*: " "
5
» *
<*1
Table 3 continued.
^ Lugs of 35 pounds net weight .
Boxes of approximately 40 pounds net weight.
Si It should be noted that this figure, rather than representing the required number of individuals, represents the
required man-months of seasonal labor, and is derived by dividing the total number of man-days by the total number of days
available for work during the month.
9 9 Pulling and preparing and planting celery plants requires 18 man-days per acre,
f ^ Packed boxes of 23 pounds net weight.
// /(Lugs of 25 pounds net weight.
Peak daily shipments of celery at Chula Vista are normally around 20 cars, requiring about 400 field workers and
50 or 60 shed packers. Shipments may recch 30 to 35 cars per day at times, however, which would considerably increase the
demand for labor.
' Thinning apples requires 8 man-days per acre.
* *
Lugs of 18 pounds net weight.
t "t Boxes of 25 pounds net weight.
ft Boxes of 27 pounds net weight.
00
19.
TABLE 4
Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months
San Diego County
1935
Required man-days
Available
Required man-months
Month
of seasonal labor
days
of seasonal labor
January
28,706
20
1,436
February
25,056
22
1,139
March
20,160
24
840
April
11,567
24
482
May
45, 794
25
1,832
June
36,590
25
1,464
July
24,591
26
946
August
35,016
25
1,401
September
30,975
26
1,192
October
27,717
26
1,067
November
13,608
24
567
December
10,538
22
479
Total
310,318
12,845
Notes
Notes on Table 2 . — Data concerning "time of need," as shown in this table,
break down recuired seasonal 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 performed only to a limited extent by seasonal workers. For instance,
only about 25 per cent of the labor in harvesting grain is done by seasonal workers.
When a job extends over several different months, the proportionate amount for each
month is shown.
The amount of work done each month 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 produ-
cers, and records of shipments, the latter proving helpful in fixing dates of plant-
ing and subsequent tasks involved in producing a given crop. 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.
N otes on Table 3 . — Table 3 is the condensed summary of labor needs as worked
out for San Diego 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 percent-
age of work pertinent to a given month) . The output por 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 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. Those data indicated available
days per month as follows (based on a 26-day working month without allowance for
holidays) :
*
20.
Available
Length of
Available
Length of
Month
days
work day
Month
days
work day
hours
hours
January-
20
9
July
26
0
February
22
9
August
25
9
March
24
9
Sopt ember
26
9
April
24
9
October
26
9
May
25
9
Novomber
24
9
June
25
9
December
22
9
Source of data: Based on precipitation records of the El Cajon 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 was but for a few cars, 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 July, picking of apricots was limited to the first twonty days of the
month; picking peaches to the last half, etc
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 tho 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 seasonal workers.
In an area such as San Diego County, involving a substantial acreage of truck
crops, the findings as set forth in this report arc bound to fluctuate materially
from year to year, because of the influence of market outlook upon what and how much
acreage is planted, and when it is planted; because of variable seasonal conditions
affecting yields, times 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 avoid a poor one, resulting in markod variations in the need for harvest
labor.
>
f
f
' *l