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 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 , 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 1 ■ i i ■ { r i ! 5 i t ^ i i t i 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 > & 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 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 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 . 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