University of California
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Experiment Station
Berkeley, California
SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS
SAN BENITO COUNTY
Progress Report No. 35
by
R. L. Adams
Preliminary Subject to Correction
October, 1936
Contribution from the
Giannine Foundation of Agricultural Economics
Mimeographed Report No. 53
(Farm Labor Survey — January -June , 1936)
Progress Report No. 35
Seasonal Labor Needs of California Crops
San Benito 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 by farm operators and by worker? employed
cn a year-round or regular basis of employment.
4. 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,
5. This report is confined to California's need for seasonal agricultural
workers because of the more pressing problems liable to arise in connection
therewith. 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 Under Review . — San Benito County is one
of the central counties of California, lying about twtnty-five miles inland from
the Pacific Ocean. Its northern boundary is about 75 miles southeast of Ran
Francisco. It is roughly 25 miles in width, and extends in a southeasterly
direction for about 65 miles in length, along the valley of the San Benito River.
The Gabilan range on the west divides it from Monterey County, and the Diablo
range on the east forms the boundary between it and Merced and Fresno counties.
On the north it is joined by Santa Clara County, the boundary line following
the Pajaro River for a part of the way, and then extending eastward into the
mountains. On the south it joins Monterey County on the western portion along the
Lewis Creek and San Lorenzo River; and Fresno County on the eastern portion.
The most intensively cultivated part of the county lies in the northern
part, from Tres Pinos to the Santa Clara County line. Near San Juan, a large
acreage is devoted to garlic, sugar beets, lettuce, v-.rious seed crops, and some
pear and prune orchards, Around Hollister a large acreage is planted in apricot
and prune orchards, which extend southward along the San Benito River to beyond
Tres Pinos. A considerable acreage of walnuts is also grown near Tres Pinos.
Many orchards are also found in the Santa Ana Valley, which lies 8 or 1C miles
southeast of Hollister.
Hay and grain are grown generally over the county, often on hilly land.
The county contains a total of 890,880 acres, of which 125,898 acres are
classed as crop land by the 1935 Census. This crop land is further classified
as follows by the Census:
Acreage
Crop land harvested in 1934 46,319
Crop failure* 17,746
Crop land idle or fallow 6,430
Plowable pasture 55,403
Total crop land 125,898
* The 1934 season was very dry, resulting in a much
higher acreage of crop failure than normal.
Crop acreages in 1935 are estimated to have been as follows:*
Acreage
Field crops 33,129
Vegetable crops 5,000
Orchard and vineyard 16, 553
Total 54,682
* Data from Ward B. Saunders, Agricultural Commissioner,
Hollister.
The orchard and truck farming area around Hollister and San Juan lies
mostly between 150 feet and 350 feet in elevation. Farming for hay and grain
i3 carried on at considerably higher elevations in various parts of the county,
on rolling hills and smaller valleys. The Santa Ana Valley lies mostly between
600 and 750 feet above sea level.
W A variety of soils is represented, the major part of the more intensively
cultivated area in the San Benito Valley in the San Juan and Hollister districts
being of the Yolo series, varying in texture from silt loam to silty clay loam,
which are about equally represented. Smaller arer.s of fine sandy loam are found
at various places near the river channel. These soils are quite uniform in
texture to a depth of six feet or more. A short distance cast of Hollister,
there is a considerable acreage of Rincon loam, on which apricots have been
planted quite extensively. This soil is underlaid at depths of from 1 to 3
feet by a compact subsoil. Various other soils occur, probably the most impor-
tant of which are the loams, clay loams, and clay adobos of two or three dif-
ferent series, occupying much of the lower rolling land which is used for hay
and grain in various parts of the county.
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 appee.rs as table 1.
TABLE 1
Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements -- San Benito County
Crop
Acreage
Production
Field crops:*
Alfalfa
2,009
7,224 tons
Hay, other than alfalfa
6,650
10,000 tons
Barley
12,610
227,000 sacks
Wheat
7,517
95,000 sacks
Table continued on next page,
*
■
Table 1 continued.
3,
Crop
Acreage
Production
Field crops :( continued)
Oats
875
17,500 sacks
Sugar beets
1,407
14,256 tons
Potatoes
200
20,000 sacks
("In fl i (»
1,200
85,000 sacks
Vegetable crops:
Lettuce
1,200
120,000 crates
Peas — fell crop
500
25,000 hampers
Tomatoes
3,300
16,500 tons
Fruit crops:
1,460 tons
Apples
196
Apricots
5,204
12,000 tons
Wine erpDes
1,744
3,488 tons
Peaches
308
1,848 tons
Pears — about 40 per cent
1,278
2,420 tons
Bartlett
Prunes
7,030
13,500 tons
Walnuts
736
450 tons
Seed crops:
Radish
150
Onion bulbs
15
Endive
25
Broccoli
25
Cauliflower
15
Lettuce
300
Sweet corn
25
Squash
40
Mustard
300
Parsley-
60
Celery
60
Asters
35
Zinnias
15
Snapdragons
15
Petunias
15
Verbena
6
Coreopsis
2
War i go Id
15
Salpiglossis
10
* Data on field crops from Ward B. Saunders, Agricultural Commissioner,
San Benito County.
Operations Requiring Seasonal Labor and Time of Need.-- Farm oper-
ations requiring the use of seasonal or occasional labor for the various crops
raised in San Benito 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.
I
61;
$1
4.
TABLE 2
Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Needs by Crops
San Benito County
ft
#
Crop
Operation
Time of need
rieia crops:
Garlic
Planting
December-January — 50 per cent
of acreage each month
Hoeing — first
February-March — 50 per cent
of acreage each month
second
April -- total acreage
Pulling and
July-August -- 50 per cent of acre-
piling
eage each month
Topping and
sacking
July-August — 50 per cent of crop
each month
urain
Harvesting 60
June 15-30 -- 10 per cent of acre-
carxey
per cent by
age
wneax
seasonal workers
July 1-31 — 40 per cent of acreage
Oats
August 1-31 — 40 per cent of acre-
age
September 1-30 — 10 per cent of
acreage
Hay, other than
Mowing
April 25-30 -- 10 per cent of acre-
alfalfa
age
May 1-30 — 90 per cent of acreage
Raking
April 25-30 -- 10 per cent of acre-
age
May 1-30 -- 90 per cent of acreage
Shocking
May — 100 per cent of acreage
Trimming shocks
May 100 per cent of acreage
Baling
June — 50 per cent of tonnage
July -- 50 per cent of tonnage
Fotatoes -- Use of seasonal labor inconsequential -- hence ignored.
Seed crops:
Radish
Thinning
January
Hoeing
February
Cutting and piling
by hand
August
Threshing
August
Onion bulbs
Knife weeding
February
Hoeing
May and July -- whole acreage
each month
Pulling and piling
September
by hand
Topping
September
Table continued on next page.
M
;
Table 2 continued.
5,
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Seed crops:
( continued)
*
Endive
Broccoli and
cauliflower
Thinning
Hoeing
Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting and
piling by hand
Threshing
January -February -- half acreage
each month
March and May -- total acreage eaoh
n., „ „u ~ - month
December
January, March and May -- total
acreage each month
August
September
Lettuce
Sweet corn
Thinning
Hoeing
Hand cutting
Hoeing
Shucking
January-February — half acreage
eaoh month
March-April — total acreage each
July month
May and July total aero age
each month
October
Squash
Planting
Hoeing
Pulling
April
May and July -- total acreage
each month
October
w
Mustard
Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting and
piling by hand
Threshing
January
February
July
July
Parsley and
oelery
Transplanting
Hoeing
Cutting and
piling by hand
November
January, March and May — total
acreage each month
September
*
Asters
Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting and
piling by hand
January-February -- half acreage
each month
March, April and June -- total
acreage each month
October
Zinnias
Thinning
Hoeing ■
Hand picking
heads and
piling
January
March, April and June -- total
acreage each month
October
Table continued on next page.
Table 2 continued.
6
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Seed crops:
(continued)
Snapdragons
Knife weeding
December
Thinning
January
Hoeing
March, May and June — total
acreage each month
Hand picking —
three pickings
July-August — half acreage each
month
Petunias
Knife weeding
December
Thinning
January
Hoeing
March, May and June — total
acreage each month
Cutting and
piling by hand
Sept ember
Verbena *
Thinning
February
Hoeing
March and May -- total acreage
each month
Cutting and
piling by hand
July
Marigolds
Thinning
April
Hoeing
May-June — total acreage each
month
Cutting -and piling
by hand
July 15-31
Salpiglossis
Thinning
February
Hoeing
April, May and June — total
acreage each month
Cutting and
piling by hand
July 15-31 '
Sugar beets
Thinning
February — 15 per cent of acre-
age
March -- 35 per cent of acreage
April -- 35 per cent of acreage
May -- 15 per cent of acreage
Hoeing
March -- 15 per cent of acreage
April — 35 per cent of acreage
May — 35 per cent of acreage
June -- 15 per cent of acreage
Irrigating --
April, May and June — two-thirds
80 per cent
of acreage each month
by seasonal
workers
Table continued on next page.
Table 2 continued.
7.
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Seed crops:
(continued)
Sugar beets
(continued)
Topping and loading
July • — 5 per cent of tonnage
August — 30 per cent of ton-
age
September -- 30 per cent of
tonnage
October — 35 per cent of ton-
age
Vegetable crops:
Lettuce
Thinning
February -- 33 per cent of
acreage
March — 5 per cent of acre-
age
April — 8 per cent of acre-
age
May — 5 per cent of acreage
June — 3 per cent of acre-
age
July — 5 per cent of acreage
August -- 10 per cent of acre-
age
September — 31 per cent of
acreage
Hoeing
March -- 33 per cent of acre-
age
April — 5 per cent of acreage
May — 8 per cent of acreage
June — 5 per cent of acreage
July — 3 per cent of acreage
August < — 5 per cent of acre-
age
September — 10 per cent of
acreage
October -- 31 per c^nt of acre-
age
Irrigating twice —
€6 per cent by
seasonal workers
April — 13 per cent of acre-
age
May -- 13 per cent of acreage
June 8 per cent of acreage
July 8 per cent of acr;;?.ge
August -— 15 per cent of acre-
age
September — 41 per cent of
acreage
October — 31 per cent of
acreage
— i
Table continued on next page.
Table 2 continued.
8.
Crop
Operation
l . — ! ' ■ 1 — —
Time of need
Vegetable crops:
(continued)
Lettuce
Cutting —
April — 1 per cent of crop
(continued;
harvesting
May -- 40 ptr cent of crop
June — 1 per cent of crop
July -- 1 p'^r cent of crop
August — 2 per cent of crop
September — 4 per cent of
crop
October -- 20 per cent of
crop
November — 30 per cent of
crop
December -- 1 per cent of crop
Peas
Hoeing
August -- 400 acres
Picking
ocpXculDer — — <c\J — ^u, CjO jjci
cent of acreage
October -- 1-20, 75 pur cent
of acreage
Tomatoes
Transplanting in beds
March
Setting plants in
April 15 to May 15 — 50 per
field
cent of acreage each month
Replanting
May
Hoeing
June
Picking
September — 33 per cent of
crop
October -- 67 per cent of crop
Fruit crops:
Apples
Pruning
November, December, January
and February -- 25 per cent
of acreage each month
i Iillll.l **o
May
Picking
September 15-30 -- 25 per cent
of crop
October 1-31 -- 75 per cent of
crop
Apricots
Pruning
October 15 per cent of acre-
age
November — 30 per cont of
acreage
December — 30 per cent of
acreage
January — 20 per cent of acre-
age
February — 5 per cent of
acreage
Table continued on next page.
I
Table 2 continued.
9.
*
•
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Fruit crops:
(continued)
Apricots
( continued
Thinning
Picking
Cutting for
drying
Other labor in
dry yards
April 10-30 -- total acreage
July 5-31 — 90 per cent of crop
August 1-15 — 10 per cent of
crop
July 5-31 -- 72 per cent of crop
August 1-15 -- 8 per cent of crop
Same as cutting, and for 1Q days
later.
Grapes -- wine
varieties
Fruning
Hoeing and
suckering —
c jO rn-T* fiprit
by seasonal
workers
Picking — 50 per
cent by seasonal
workers
December, January and February --
33 1/3 p^r cent of acreage each
, irioritli
April-May ** 50 per cent or
acreage each month
October-November — 50 per cent of
crop each month
Peaches
Pruning
Thinning
Picking
Sorting
November, December, and January —
S3 \fZ »sf cent of acreage each
May month
August
August
Pears
Pruning
Picking
November, December, January and
February — 25 per cent of
acreage each month
July 20-31 -- 10 per cent of crop
August 1-31 — 30 per cent of crop
September 1-30 -- 30 per cent of
crop
October 1-31 -- 30 per cent of
crop
Cutting for
drying
Other labor in
dry yards
August-September -- half of ton-
nage dried each month
August-September -- half of ton-
nage dried each month
Prunes
Pruning -- half
acreage each year
— 75 per cent by
seasonal workers
November, December, January and
February -- 12£ per cent of
acreage each month
Table continued on next page.
Table 2 continued.
10.
Crop
Operation
Time of nsed
Fruit crops:
(continued)
Prunes
( continued )
Picking up
Dipping and dry-
ing — 75 per
cent by season-
al workers
August 20-31 -- 25 per cent of
crop
September 1-30 — 75 per cent of
crop
August 20-31 — 25 per cent of
crop
September 1-30 — 75 per cent of
crop
Walnuts
Knocking and
picking up
September — 10 per cent of crop
October -- 75 per cent of crop
November — 15 per cent of crop
* Figures are averages for two years (biennial crop)
Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs. — Details and summaries of seasonal
labor requirements of San Benito 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 "out-
put per man-day" is an average figure for the c-ntire acreage or output figured
in packed crates, hampers, or boxes (in casi 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, 'trimrring, loading, and hauling cauliflower;
trimming and crating celery, etc.), then the average shown is per man based on
the entire crew. 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 form, field and field, and season and season, because of
differences in soil types, 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 of the task, such as transplanting, thinning, weeding, and cutting, and
(b) available days as determined by weatht-r 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 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.
: i
3
TABLE 3
Seasonal Labor Needs -- San Benito County — by Months and Tasks
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
Re quired
man-days
Available
days
Required number
of workers*
January Radishes: Thinning
Endive: Thinning
Broccoli and cauli-
flower: Hoeing
Lettuce: Thinning
Mustard: Thinning
Parsley and celery:
Hoeing
Asters: Thinning
Zinnia: Thinning
Snapdragon: Thinning
Petunias: Thinning
Garlic: Planting
Apples: Pruning
Apricots: Pruning
Grapes: Pruning
Peaches: Pruning
Pears: Pruning
Prunes: Pruning
Totals
February Radishes: Hoeing
Onion bulbs: Knife
weeding
Endive: Thinning
Lettucei Thinning
Mustard: Hoeing
150 acres
12 acres
40 acres
150 acres
300 acres
120 acres
17 acres
15 acres
15 acres
15 acres
600 acres
50 acres
1,040 acres
580 acres
103 acres
320 acres
656 acres "t
150 acres
15 acres
13 acres
150 acres
300 acres
1.5 acres
1.25 acres
1.75 acres
1.5 acres
1.25 acres
0.75 acre
0.5 acre
0.5 acre
0.17 acre
0.17 acre
0.17 acre
0.2 acre
0.17 acre
1.5 acres
0.25 acre
0.17 acre
0.33 acre
1.75 acres
C.17 acre
1.25 acres
1.5 acres
2.5 acres
100
10
100
240 )>
160
34
30
90
90 *
3,600
250
6,240
387
412
1,920
1,970
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
15,656
18
86
90
11
100
120
21
49
200
14
347
22
24
107
110
870 man-months
23
Table continued on next page, m
Table continued.
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
Required
man- days
Available
days
Required number
of workers*
■ 1
February
(cont. )
Asters: Thinning
Verbena: Thinning
Salpiglossis: Thinning
Garlic: Hoeing (first time)
Susar beets: Thinning
Lettuce: Thinning
Apples: Pruning
Apricots: Pruning
Grapes: Pruning
Pears: Pruning
Prunes: Pruning
18 acres
6 acres
10 -.crcs
600 acres
£11 acres
400 acres
50 acres
260 acres
580 acres
320 acres
656 acres*
0.5 acre
0.5 acre
0.5 acre
1.0 acre
0.4 acre
0.5 acre
0.2 acre
0.17 acre
1.5 acres
0.17 acre
0.33 acre
36 '
12
20 i
60o"
527
800
250
1,560
387
1,920
1,970
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
29
25
38
12
75
19
92
94
Totals
8.489
21
404 man-months
March
Endive: Hoeing
Broccoli and cauliflower:
Hoeing
Lettuce: Hoeing
Parsley and celery:
Hoeing
Asters: Hosing
Zinnias: Hoeing
Snapdragons: Hoeing
Petunias: Hoeing
Verbena.: Hoeing
Garlic: Hoeing (first time)
Sugar beets: Thinning
Hoeing
Lettuce: Thinning
Hoeing
Tomatoes: Transplanting
in beds
25 acres
40 acres
300 acres
120 acres
35 acres
15 acres
15 acres
15 acres
6 acres
600 acres
492 acres
211 acres
60 acres
400 acres
5,000,000 plants
1.25 acres
1.75 acres
2.0 acres
0.75 acre
0.5 acre
0.5 acre
0..5 acre
0.25 acre
0.5 acre
1.0 acre
0.4 acre
1.0 acre
0.5 acre
1.0 acre
5.000 plants
20
23
150
160
70
30
30
60
12 J
600
1,230
211
120
400
1.000
>
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
24
26
54
9
6
18
42
Totals
4.116
23
179 man-months
April
Lettuce: Hoeing
Squash: Planting
300 acres
40 acres
2.0 acres
0.75 acre
150
54 V
Table continued on next page.
■
Table continued.
Required
n vaiicLDi e
Required number
Month
urop ana lcisk
> U i- *_ v' 1 I, db K
(lilt r\ 1 1 + »-v J~\ yy\ O W t~\ T T
uuipui per man-Qciy
man- days
days
of workers*
April
Asxers • no e xng
"2. *^ q r* v o c
JJ ttti Co
u»d acre
70
10
( cont . )
oxnnxas- noeing
30
Marx gox qs ■ i n inn xng
vj » o acre
30
oaXpl glOSb XS . nOcl ng
u » o acre
20
uariic. noeing \secona Lime;
x , cajkj acre s
x i o acre s
800
oo
nay » Mowxng
OJJ dtl c o |
iu«u acres
34
0
/ \ * rom coin
to ovin;
cu • u acres
17
D
ft v i rom «i Di.n
X.O OUtfl )
Sugar bectsi ininning
4y*i acres
0.4 acre
1,230
04
Hoeing
aul o b
x • u acre
492
do
O O
EG
x rr x gax-x ng
/ DKJ dCitj S *
o»u acres
250
CO
11
LexiuCc ■ inxnnxng
yo acres
u.o acre
192
do
y
U VJ uL I Cb
J. • U tttl U
60
dO
o
x ,cuu crates
30 packed crates
40
4
10 vfor 4 days;
Irrigating
104 acres |
3.0 acres
34
23
2
lomaxoes. oexxing pianxs
in field
1,650 acres
1 .0 acre
1,650
12
(from 15th
to outh;
npi ltu Lb. i nx fining
lb
o \ from 10th
to outh;
A"^fi a c \
x »u acre
436
iy
1 U \j CLX b
5.589
dO
243 man-months
May
umun uuiub . nut; xng
xo acres
0.5 acre
30
O f\ i~i s% 1*1 f\ ^
fcU dLTcS
i >cj acres
20
Drotcoii ana cauxxi xower.
noc xng
4u acres
l . / o acre s
23
oweco uui ii> nut- j. rig
c,o acres
l.uu acre
25
Squash: Hoeing
40 acres
2.00 acres
20
Parsley and celery: Hoeing
120 acres
0.75 acre
160
25
16
Snapdragons: Hoeing
15 acres
0.5 acre
30
retunias: Hoeing
15 acres
0.25 acre
60
Verbena: Hoeing
6 acres
0.5 acre
12
Marigolds: Hoeing
15 acres
0.5 acre
30
Table continued on next page.
J
i
- •
•
Table continued.
Required
Available
Required number
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man -days
days
of workers*
May
Salpiglossis: Hoeing
10 acres
0.5 acre
20J
( cont • )
Hay: Mowing
2,993 acres t
10.0 acres
300
25
12
Raking
2,993 acres "t
20.0 acres
150
25
6
Shocking
3,325 :.xcres +
30.0 acres
111
25
5
Trimming
3,325 acres t
10.0 acres
333
25
14
Sugar beets: Thinning
211 acres
0.4 acre
528
25
22
Hoeing
492 acres
1.0 &cre
492
25
20
Irrigating
750 acres +
3.0 acres
250
25
10
Lettuce: Thinning
60 acres
0.5 acre
120
25
5
Hoeing
96 acres
1 .0 acre
96
25
4
Cutting
48,000 crates
30.0 packed crates
1,600
25
64
Irrigating
104 acres f
3.0 acres
34
25
2
Tomatoes: Setting plants
127 (from 1st
in field
1 , 650 acres
1.0 acre
1 ,650
13
to 15th)
Replanting
3,300 acres
825
25
33
Apples: Thinning
196 acres
10 trees = 0.17 acre
1,176
25
47
Grapes: Hoeing and sucker-
436 acres f
ing
1.0 acre
436
25
18
Peaches: Thinning
308 acres
0.4 acre
770
25
31
Totals
9.301
25
372 man-months
June
Asters: Hoeing
35 acres
0.5 acre
>
70
Zinnias: Hoeing
15 acres
0.5 acre
30
Snapdragons: Hoeing
15 acres
0.5 acre
30
>
25
10
Petunias: Hoeing
15 acres
0.25 acre
60
Marigolds: Hoeing
15 acres
0.5 acre
30
Salpiglossis: Hoeing
10 acres
0.5 acre
20^
28 (from 15tr
Grain: Harvesting
1,284 acres f
4.0 acres
321
12
to 30th)
Hay: Baling
5,000 tons
5 tons (per 13-hour day
) 1,000
25
40
Sugar beets: Hoeing
211 acres
1.0 acre
211
25
9
Irrigating
750 acres t
3.0 acres
250
25
10
Lettuce: Thinning
36 acres
0.5 acre
72
25
3
Hoeing
60 .^cres
1.0 acre
60
25
3
Table
continued on next p~ge.- • i-
.Table continued.
1 O- Uil>
Required
Avai lable
Required number
Months
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man -day
man-days
days
of workers*
Lettuce :
iu v^or *i oays /
June
cutting
T t~\ nn A \r v»o +
OU • U paCKcQ CraXSS
AO.
4
^cont . )
Irrigating
oo acres j
25
l
Tomatoes: Hoeing
"31 "3v f}r\ o » ci r>
O « OUU dOI cS
1.0 a c r 6
25
i oxais
25
O^-l ryicavi-.mr'iKi't'inc'
July
•
Onion bulbs: Hoeing
15 acres
u . o a c re
1
Lettuce: Hand Cutting
300 acres
0.5 acre (per 4
OUU ^ O I n
hours )
Vim ivo i
iiuuj b y
Sweet corn: Hoeing
cO acres
i .u acre
(CO
1
Squash: hoeing
4C acres
c, .u cicres
on
Musi.ct.ro.. outimg
ouu acres
u.o acre vper o-
DUUVOl o
> 26
D 3
riour oay,
houro)
i nresning
1 HV 1
onaparagons . nana picx-
o acres
u«i<c acre \per
50 ^ 01 fi
ing li times
nour nay,
hours )
Verbena: Cutting and
6 acres
0.25 acre (p^r 4-
c4v,OI 4
piling
hour day)
hours )
Mangoio. uuxxing ano
xd acres
acre ^per 4—
ou^Oi 4
picking
nour day,
hours )
oaxpigxossis • ouu Ling
cl n u pin
j u acres
u«£3 acre vper
nour aay .
nours )
>
jji 1 1 o . » uxii rig, ana [.'iiiiig
d ^* >* Ci o
x • v acre
Ann
ouu
26
CO
lopping ana sacKing
ft<c,ouu sacKS
xu«u sacKs
4 , icDU
26
lo4
urain. narve s ting
o , loo acres i
4.0 acres
1 , C04
26
eft
OU
nay. uaiing
d , uuu tons
o.u xons vper 10-
1 , UUU
26
oy
hour day)
ougar ueexs. lopping ano
Til j.
/lo tons
o»u tons
no
ny
6
20 Ifrom 24th
i. ucxqj. ng
xo oisxy
Lettuce: Thinning
60 acres
0.5 acre
120
26
5
Hoeing
36 acres
1.0 acre
36
26
2
Cutting
1,200 crates
30.0 packed crates
40
4
10 (for 4 days)
Irrigating
66 acres T
3.0 acres
22
26
Apricots: Picking
10,800 tons
1,000 pounds
21,600
25
864" (from 5th
to 31st)
Table continued on next page.
Table continued.
Month
July
(cont.)
August
Crop and task
Apricots:
Cutting
Other labor in dry
yards (15 per cent
of cutting labor)
Pears: Picking
Totals
Radishes: Cutting and
piling
Threshing
Broccoli and cauliflower:
Cutting and piling
Snapdragons: Hand picking
(l| times)
Garlic: Pulling and piling
Topping and sacking
Grain: Harvesting
Sugar beets: Topping and
loading
Lettuce: Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting
Irrigating
Peas: Hoeing
Apricots: Picking
Cutting for drying
Other dry yard labor
Peaches: Picking
Sorting
Size of task
9,000 tons
242 tons
150 acres
40 acres
8 acres
600 acres
42,500 sacks
5,136 acres t
4,277 tons
120 acres
60 acres
2,400 crates
120 acres f
400 acres
1,200 tons
1,000 tons
1,848 tons
1.848 tons
Output per man-day
600 pounds
1.0 ton
0.75 acre (per 6-
hour day)
1,5 acres (per 6-
hour day)
0.12 acre (per 4-
hour day)
1.0 acre
10.0 sacks
4.0 acres
6.0 tons
0.5 acre
1.0 acre
30.0 packed crates
3.0 acres
0.5 acre
1,000 pounds
600 pounds
1,800 pounds
4.5 tons
Required
man- days
Available
days
30 , 000
4,500
242
65.348
200 (of 6
hours
50 t
27(of 6
hours
96(of 4
hours
600
4,250
1,284
713
240
60
80
40
800
2,400
3,333
890
2,053
411
25
25
10
26
"S
J
26
10
26
26
26
26
26
26
6
8
26
26
13
13
23
26
26
Required number
of workers*
l,200(from 5th
to 31st)
180
25 (from 20th
to 31st)
2.514 man-months
5 (for 10
days)
23
164
50
28
10
10 (for t> days
10 (for 8 days
2
30
187 (from 1st
to 15th)
256 (from 1st
to 15th)
39 (from 1st
to 25th)
79
16
Table continued on next page, m
,. . _ - ... .... — — v-. -.
1
W» !
i .. - ;
• n :
f
rpitf-Y if
•-vvr. '^Tr * •
*
;
j
■
1
2
1
■V BCMVI
■
1
j
*
f*8M i
il
\
i
i
I I
•
?0C -""$kC.6
- * " * 1
O—
* 1? ■ •
i pa
k j
1
M 1
§
KM
W MM
I ■ens
8f&
0
I
I
L
I
(V*
si fif
Table continued.
Required
Available
Required number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
days
of v/orkers*
August
Pears: Picking
726 tons
1.0 ton
726
26
28
(cont . )
Cutting for" drying
250 tons
0.5 ton
500
26
20
Other dry-^yard labor
250 tons
0.5 ton
500
26
20
Prunes: Picking up
3,375 tons
1,500 pounds
4, '500
26
173
Dipping and drying
(fresh weight)
2,532 tons +
1,2 tons**
2.110
26
81
Totals
25.863
26
995
man-months
September
Onion bulbs: Pulling and
15 acres
0.3 acre
>
26
10
piling
ToDDine
3 t 750 cwt.
20.0 cwt.
187
Broccoli and cauliflower:
Threshing
—
15f
Parsley and celery:
Cutting and piling
120 acres
0.3 acre (per 4-
360 (of
hour day)
4 hour«)
^ 26
16
Petunias: Cutting and
15 acres
0.25 acre (per 4-
60(of 4
piling
hour day]
hours )
Grain: Harvesting
1,284 acres +
4.0 acres
320
10
32
(from 1st
to 10th)
Sugar beets: Topping and
4,277 tons
6.0 tons
713
26
28
loading
Lettuce: Thinning
372 acres
0,5 acre
744
26
28
Hoeing
120 acres
1 .0 acre
120
26
5
Cutting
4,800 crates
30.0 packed crates
160
16
10
(for 16
days)
Irrigating
328 acres t
3.0 acres
110
26
5
Peas: Picking
6,250 hampers
8.0 hampers
780
10
78
(from 20th
to 30th)
Tomatoes: Picking
5,500 tons
2,500 pounds
4,400
26
169
Apples: Picking
365 tons
1.5 tons
244
13
19
(from 15tr
to 30th)
Pears: Picking
726 tons
1.0 ton
726
26
28
Cutting for drying
250 tons
0.5 ton
500
26
20
Other dry-yard labor
500
26
20
Tabic continued on next page.
-sse 1 roue i
•
""■ 'ga 1 — i
Lirtwu?M.|ir ;
■ 9S R "^T C X» : 9 © J. ■ '
■ - ■ •■ ;
to-
■ j
; ;
i
p, r 1
>
•
\ -i-r •;a..y.".-,-,- rfrd
! ■
*
i. ClUX V/ w 11 Is .L.
Required
Available
Required number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
days
of
workers*
September
Prunes: Picking up
10,125 tons
1,500 pounds
13,500
26
520
(cont. )
Dipping and spreading
7,594 tons T
1.2 ton **
6,330
26
244
on trays and drying
Walnuts: Knocking and
(from 24th
picking up
45 tons
0.2 ton
225
6
38
to 30th)
Totals
30,039
26
1.155
man-months
October
Sweet corn: Shucking
25 acres
0.14 acre
175
25
7
Squash: Pulling
40 acres
4.0 acres
10
25
1
(for 5
Asters: Cutting and
35 acres
0.3 acre (per 4-
105(of 4
5
21
piling
hour day)
hours)
days)
Zinnias: Picking and
15 acres
0.16 acre
90
25
4
piling
Sugar beets: Topping and
4,990 tons
6.0 tons
832
25
34
loading
Lettuce: Hoeing
372 acres
1.0 acre
372
25
15
Cutting
24,000 crates
30.0 packed crates
800
25
32
Irrigating
248 acres t
3.0 acres
82
25
4
(from 1st
Peas: Picking
18,750 hampers
8.0 hampers
2,344
18
130
to 21st)
Tomatoes: Picking
11,000 tons
2,500 pounds
8,800
25
352
Apples: Picking
1,095 tons
1.5 tons
730
25
30
(from 15th
Apricots: Pruning
780 acres
0.17 acre
4,680
12
390
to 31st)
Grapes: Picking
872 tons--{-
1.0 ton
872
25
35
Pears: Picking
726 tons
1.0 ton
726
25
29
Walnuts: Knocking and
337 tons
0.2 ton
1 .665
25
67
picking up
Totals
22 , £83
25
891
man-months
November
Seed crops
Parsley and celery:
120 acres
0.75 acre
160
23
7
Transplanting
Lettuce: Cutting
36,000 crates
30.0 packed crates
1,200
23
53
Apples: Pruning
50 acres
0.2 acre
250
23
11
Apricots: Pruning
1,560 acres
0.17 acre
9,360
23
407
Grapes: Picking
872 tons +
1.0 ton
872
23
38
fable continued oh next pegc
i
■ •
X
-
I
i
i
L- j -, - .
,. .
... .
-
>
ia .-
'* **■'" *•'■•' * "
1 ,
i
■
i
t
•
j
j
- ,^ .. , » i J
.. * " r
-. /•*. i
; f : •: f
.
1
;
;
■
!
i
>
i
?
-
^ "•
'■
i
j
i
I
i
1
•
|
i
• \
1 1
i
• ■• i
1
.
1
••• .
1
• ■ . :
1
■ . . • • • I i
I
■
Table continued.
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
Required
man-days
Available
days
Required number
montlhl v Ram s»
November
(cont . )
Peaches: Pruning
Pears: Pruning
Prunes: Pruning
Walnuts: Knocking and
picking up
103 acres
320 acres
656 acres f
68 tons
0.25 acre
0.17 acre
0.33 acre
0.2 ton
412
1,920
1,970
340
23
23
23
5
18
84
86
68 (from 1st
to 5th)
Totals
16.484
23
717nid.n-mo.nthe
December
Seed crops
Broccoli and cauliflower:
Thinning
Snapdragons: Knife weeding
Petunias: Knife weeding
Garlic: Planting
Lettuce: Cutting
Apples: Pruning
/ipjTJ-OUob. 11 UI1J. fig
40 acres
15 acres
15 acres
600 acres
1,200 crates
50 acres
x , oou acres
1 .25 acre
0.16 acre
0.16 acre
0.16 acre
30.0 packed crates
0 .2 acre
u . i / acre
32)
90V212
90J
3 , 600
40
250
20
20
4
20
11
180
10 (for 4
days)
13
ACQ
4oo
Grapes: Pruning
Peaches: Pruning
Pears: Pruning
Prunes: Pruning
580 acres
103 acres
320 acres
656 acres*
1.5 acres
0.25 acre
0.17 acre
0.33 acre
386
412
1,920
1,970
20
20
20
20
20
22
96
99
Totals
18.150
20
908 man-months
*0n a monthly basis unless otherwise noted.
t Estimated portion of job done by seasonal workers.
^Allowing 25 per cent extra plants.
Practically no thinning of apricots was done in 1935. On years of heavy "set" of fruit, however, this may require
almost as many workers as picking.
<fl Estimated as 25 per cent of planting labor.
i| There are probably 2,000 to 3,000 transient workers employed during apricot harvest on the various jobs at the
peak of the season in July, in addition to local or resident workers.
••Based on data given in California Agr. Ext. Service Circ. 75.
TABLE 4
Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months
San Benito County
1935
Month
Required man-days
of seasonal labor
Available work
days during
month
Required man-months
of seasonal labor
January
15,656
18
870
February
8,489
21
404
March
4,116
23
179
April
5,589
23
243*
May.
25
372
June
5,516
25
221
July
65,348
26
2,514
August
25,863
26
995
September
30,039
26
1,155
October
22,283
25
891
November
16,484
23
717
December
18,150
20
908
Total
226,834
—
9,469
* In seasons when apricots "set" a heavy crop, an additional
20,000 man-days (870 man-months) of seasonal labor may be required
for thinning during April.
i iiVa^fcus Em
.v^:».
8 1 —iHr-m»
21.
Notes
Notes on Table 1 . — Acreage and production figures given in table 1 are
from the "Crop Report for San Benito County — 1S35," by Ward B. Saunders,
Agricultural Commissioner, San Benito County.
Notes on Table 2 .-- Data shown concerning "Time of need" breaks down
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 done on only a part of the acreage in a given crop; for example, only one-
half of the prune acreage is pruned each year. This having been done in four
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, 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. Pro-
portionate amounts of output harvested each month were determined from data
of local practices with respect to harvesting, and in some cases from cp.rlot
shipments of perishable products.
Notes on Table 3 . — Table 3 is the condensed summary of labor needs as
worked out for San Benito 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 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 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 deter-
mined 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 fellows (based on a 26-day working month without allowance for
holidays) :
Mcnth
Available
Length cf
Month
Available
Length of
wcrk days*
work day
wcrk days*
work day
hours
hours
January
18
9
July
26
10
February
21
9
August
26
10
March
23
10
September
26
10
April
23
10
October
25
10
May
25
10
November
23
9
June
25
10
December
20
9
* Based on rainfall record at Hollister, for the years 1923, 1934,
and 1935, from United States Weather Bureau.
"i .. t
'fUt&h»%' *t4,nf<to bi^M^
"' "•' .., .... .
-■
I
•:
:
'■■■■y;
2 2.
The second factor influencing the number of available days was the size of
the job. If the output was 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 oper-
ation 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 April, planting of tomatoes was limited
to 12 days during the last half of the month, mowing hay to the last week of the
month, 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 under
the column "Required man-days," 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 season- 1
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 San Benito County, involving a substantial acreage of
truck and orchard crops, the findings as set forth in this report are bound to
fluctuate materially from year to year, because of the influence of market out-
look upon what, when, and how much is planted; because of variable seasonal
conditions affecting yeilds, times of performing various operations, and avail-
able 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.
Notes on Workers
Workers on the apricot harvest are largely transients who come in the
district for this work only. Most of them move on to other localities when
the harvest is done. Many local people also work on apricots, however, espec-
ially women in the dry yards.
Prune picking is done to a large extent by families, many of whom are
residents of the locality, although some transient help is needed. The total
labor per acre on prune harvest averages somewhat less than on apricots, and
the season is longer with less of a "peak" demand; consequently a much larger
proportion of it is done by local people, even though there are considerably
more acres of prunes than of apricots in the county.
Tomato picking begins before the prune harvest is over, and for a short
time the two crops compete for labor. At this time it is sometimes difficult
to get pickers for tomatoes. People who are harvesting prunes usually stay
until that work is done, and hence are not available for tomato work until later..
, ♦ Transient help is needed for harvesting tomatoes.
Work on lettuce and garlic is done to 6 considerable extent by men who also
work in the vegetable district near Salinas, and apparently have been available
in sufficient numbers. Various shippers operate in both districts.
•■ r.
*nmiii*$i%ln l*H$ fen* jS 9M»|*£a* .
I j
0* I
.... W S'tr;
i
■ n 1
rfi/ftfy.
Peas are a relatively new crop in the county. Harvesting is mostly done
by transient workers who follow this crop from one district to another. Fracti-
cally no spring peas are raised, but the fall acreage is considerable and require
a large number of workers for a short period.
Pruning, spraying, irrigating, walnut harvesting, grape picking, and many
other tasks, while needing seasonal labor, are done mostly by local residents.
Potential Peak Demands for Seasonal Labor
The following table is presented to show more clearly the most important
labor demands caused by San Benito County crops for which transient labor is
usually needed, and the extent to which such demonds may rise when crops are
full. It is not expected that the demand for workers will reach the highest
point indicated every year, nor that all crops will require the maximum number
of workers in any one season. Also it must bo borne in mind that ordinarily
the greater the number of workers, the quicker the job will be done, and the
shorter the season of employment will be. For this reason the "man-months"
as shown for each month in table 3, should be more useful in estimating tha
amount of work to be done, although it may not show the extreme peak demands
for workers as well as table 5.
1
24.
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