University of California College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station Berkeley, California SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS TEHAMA COUNTY Progress Report No. 52 R, L. Adams Preliminary — Subject to Correction December, 1936 Contribution from the Giannini Foxindation of Agricultural Economics Mimeographed Report No. 53 P COLJ (Farm Labor Survey — July-December, 1936) Progress Report 'No. 52 Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops Tehama 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 — planting, thinning, weeding, hoeing, harvesting — without including teamsters, tractor drivers, irrigators, and shed packers of vegetables and fruits. 5. The presentation includes the so-called migratory, transient, or roving workers v/hich 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 v/ill deal with other kinds of labor involved in the production of California's mny crops. Brief Description of the Area . — Tehama County lies at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley about midway betv/een the Pacific Coast and the Nevada line. The county is enclosed by hills on the eastern, northern, and western boundaries, with the southern boundary being generally level lands or slightly rolling hills. The county extends about 80 miles in length oast and west and about 40 in width north and south. The total area of Tehama County is 1,872,000 acres of which 203,956 acres are classified as available for crops by the United States Census of 1935. This is further classified for the crop year 1934 as follows: Acreage Crop land harvested 63,702 Crop failure 1,654 Crop land idle or fallov/ 20,383 Plowable pasture 118,217 Total land available for crops "203, 956 The principal farming area is located in the central part of the county with minor and inconsequential areas along the creek bottoms. Crops, Acreages, and Production .— The basis used in calculating occasional or seasonal need for labor, other than that furnished by farm operators and regularly employed workers, appears as table 1. 2 TABLE 1 Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements Tehajna County Crop Aoreaeie Producticm Field Crops*: Alfalfa Grain — barley- oats wheat Hay — other than alfalfa t Hops Potatoes — Irish 1* Sorghums — for grain 5,565 22,865 2,650 6,424 11,023 164 99 2,098 21,094 tons 457,738 bushels — 21,931,000 pounds 57,375 bushels — 1,833,000 pounds 70,003 bushels — 4,200,000 pounds 14,445 tons 1,200 bales of 190 pounds ^ 13,399 bushels — 803,000 pounds 66,506 bushels — 28,650 sacks Vegetable crops — no commercial acreage reported. Fruit and nut crops : Aljionds Apples "f Apricots Cherries "f Figs — Kadota 1" others -j" Olives Nectarines Peaches — freestones Prunes Walnuts clingstones 1,591 159 824 82 115 152 2,082 100 1,759 236 3,331 245 954,000 pounds 3,296 tons of which 1,100 tons v/ere dried ^ (2,119 1/2 tons canning <[ (818 1/2 tons not canning 800 tons 15,000 tons of vrfiich 7,200 tons were dried t 500 tons 5,000 tons (dry weight)^ (144,400 pounds merchantable 88 tons (31,600 pounds culls (estimated) * Acreage and production of field crops is from 193 5 Census, with the exception of hops. "t" Use of seasonal labor on these crops inconsequential due to small acreage or production and hence has been ignored. ^ Drying ratios used in this report are; Hops Apricots 4 to 1 5 1/2 to 1 Peaches — 6 to 1 Prunes — 3 to 1 ^ Olive "production estimated by California Olive Association for 1935. 41 Production of merchantable walnuts is from Walnut Control Board — figure for 1935 crop. 4 3. Operations Requiring Geasonal Labor and Times of Need * — Farm operations requiring the use of seasonal or oocasionr.l labor for the various crops raised in Tehama County are indicated in table 2. This tabulation does not include the employing of shed workers needed to xvash, pack, and prepare various commodities for shipping and marketing. TABLE 2 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Need by Crops Tehama County Crop Operation Time of need by month Fer cent of work done by seasonal help Output per man- day Field crops : Alfalfa — average 6 cuttinps Grain — barley, oats , and wheat Hops Mowing April 15-30 — 60 per Raking cent of acreage Shocking llay — 90 per cent of acreage June — 90 per cent of acreage July — 90 per cent of acreage August — 90 per cent of aci'eage September — 90 per cent of acreage October — 90 per cent of acreage May ~ 1/6 of job June ~ 1/6 of job July — 1/6 of job August — l/6 of job September — l/6 of job October. — l/6 of job June 15-30 — 50 per cent of acreage July 1-15 — 50 per cent of acreage liferch 1-51 — 30 per cent of job . April 1-30 — 30 per cent of job May 1-51 — 30 per cent of job June 1-15 — 10 per cent of job Picking August 10-31 — 2/3 of crop September 1-10 — l/s of crop > 50 Baling — 60 per cent of tonnage Harvesting — with combine Pruning, stringing, training, etc 66 > 100 > 100 8 acres 15 acres 30 acres 4 tons 6 acres Total of 12 man- days per acre / 200 pounds (greer^ weigl-ub) Table continued on next page. 4. Table 2 continued. Crop Operation Time of need by month Per cent of work done by seasonal help Output per man- day Hops (cont.) Jrymg Sorf^hums — for grain Fruit and nut crops : Almonds Apricots Baling Cutting heads (by hand) — 75 per cent of acreage Threshing — 75 per cent of crop Harvesting (with combine) — 25 per cent of acreage August 10-31 — 2/3 of crop September 1-10 — l/3 of \ crop J September 10-30 September — 10 per cent of job October — 80 per cent of job Hovember 10 per cent of job October — 75 per cent of job November — 25 per cont of job October — 90 per cent of acreage November — 10 per cent of acreage Pruning Kno eking Hulling (by machine) Pruning Brush disposal November — 50 per cent of acreage December — 50 per cent of acreage August 15-31 — 35 per cent of crop September 1-30 — 65 per cent of crop August 15-31 — 35 per cent of crop Septeiiiber 1-30 ~ 65 per cent of crop i November 15-30 — 1/6 of acreage December 1-31 — l/3 of acreage January 1-31 — l/S of acreage February 1-15 — 1/6 of acreage December — 25 per cent of acreage January — 25 per cent of acreage February — 25 per cent of acreage March — 25 per cent of acreage J J 75 60 33 66 50 50 50 50 80 50 4,000 pounds (green weight) 15 bales of 190 pounds net 0,75 acre 100 sacks (13,000 pounds) 5 acres 2 acres 300 pounds 400 pounds 0,2 acre 2»5 acres Tablp 2 continued on next page. Table 2 continued. Crop Operation Time of need by month Per cent of work done by seasonal help Output per man- day Apricots (cont. ) Nectarines Olives Thinning Picking Cutting Other dry-yard labor Pruning Brush disposal Thinning Picking Packing (on farms ) Picking for pickling, etc Picking for oil April 15-31 — all of acreage June 20-30 — 75 per cent of crop July 1-15 — 25 per cent of crop June 20^30 — 75 per cent of job July 1-15 — 25 per cent of job June 20-30 — 75 per cent of job July 1-15 — 25 per cont of job Novomber 15-30 — l/6 of acreage December 1-31 — l/o of acreage January 1-31 -- 1/3 of acreage February 1-28 ~ l/6 of acreage December — 25 per cent of acreage January — 25 per cent of acreage February -- 25 per cent of acreage March — 25 per cent of acreage May 1-31 ~ all of acreage July 1-31 — 70 per cent of crop August 1-15 — 30 per cent of crop July 1-31 -- 70 per cent of crop August 1-15 — 30 per cent of crop September 20-30 — 3 per cent of job October 1-31 — 80 per cont of job November 1-30 --17 per cent of job December 1-31 — 20 per cent of job January 1-31 ~ 60 per cent of job February 1-28 — 20 por cent of job i 100 100 100 > 75 > 80 \ 50 100 100 100 > 85 1/7 acre 1,200 pounds 600 pounds 11 man-hatn? per fresh ton* 0,2 acre 2.5 acres 1/6 acre 1,500 pounds 125 boxes = 2,000 pounds 6 boxes = 210 pounds 450 pounds Table continued on next page. 6. Table 2 continued. Crop Operation Time of need by month Per cent of work done by seasonal help Output per man-day Peaches Prunes Pruning Brush disposal ipraymg Thinning Picking — freestones Cutting for drying — freestones Other dry-yard labor Packing for shipment — freestones Picking — . clingstones Pruning — all of acreage Brush disposal Picking Ilovember 15-30 — l/6 of acreage December 1-31 — l/S of acrea'-e January 1-51 -- l/S of acreage February 1-15 — l/6 of acreage February — 50 per cent of acreage I-'b.rch ~ 50 per cent of acreage Kovember — once on 3/4 acreage February — once on l/4 acreage June — once on 3/4- acreage May 1-31 — all of Job July 20-31 — 25 per cent of crop August 1-31 — 75 per cent of crop July 20-31 — 25 per cent of job August 1-31 — 75 per cent of job July 20-31 — 20 per cent of job August 1-31 — 80 per cent of job July 20-31 — 75 per cent of job August 1-5 — 25 per cent of job August 1-31 — all of crop Kovember 15-30 — l/6 of acreage December 1-31 — l/s of acreage January 1-31 — l/3 of acreage February 1-15 — l/6 of acreage February — 50 per cent of acreage March ~ 50 per cent of acreage September 1-30 — all of crop 80 i 50 } 66 100 100 J > 100 J 1 100 100 100 > 90 i 90 100 0,2 acre 2.5 acres 1.33 acres 1.6 acre '"0 boxes (3,000 pounds ) 1,500 pounds 11 1/2 hours per fresh ton 80 boxes = 1,600 pounds 2,000 pounds 6 3 trees 2.5 acres 1 ton . — . 1 J Table continued on next page. I i i I t . ' i I * I I ^ ■ ■ 4' 1 7. Tatle 2 continued. ;rop Operation Time of need by month Per cent of work done by seasonal help Output per man-day Prunes (cent.) Walnuts Dipping and drying (by dehydrator) — 75 per cent of crop (by sun) — 25 per cent of crop Knocking and hulling (Jjy hand ) September 1-30 — all of .1ob 66 September 1-30 cent of job October 1-10 — cent of job — 90 per 10 per J October 1-31 — all of crop 66 50 6 man-houra per fresh ton f 8.3 man- hours per fresh ton* 200 pounds * From Christie, A. 77. and I, C, Barnard. The principles and practice of sun-drying fruit. California Agr. Exp. Sta. J^^ul. 388:40-60. 1925. f From Christie, A. VL , revised by P. F. Nichols. The dehydration of prunes. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui, 404:7. 1929. Findings of Seasonal Labor Heeds . — Details and summary of seasonal labor needs of Tehama County are presented as table 3. The "size of job" are figures drawn from table 1 in terras 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 crates, hampers, or boxes (in case of fruits). If the work is of a nature that requires a crev;, different members of which perform different tasks, then tho average shovm is per m.an based on the entire crew. Length of day is 8 hours, Kovember to February, 9 hours March to October, unless othervdse stated. '.Yido variations in output occur betiveen farm and farm, field and field, 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 v/ith certain of the tasks requiring use of seasonal workers. The column headed "available days" reflecrts (a) limitations sot frojii 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 weather conditions, inclement vreather reduc- ing 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." TABLE 3 Seasonal Labor Needs — Tehama County — by Months and Tasks —————— Required Available Required number of Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man- days days workers* January Apricots: Pruning 220 acres T 0.2 acre 1,100 17 65 Brush burning 103 acres 2.5 acres 42 17 3 Nectarines: Pruning 27 acres t 0.2 acre 135 17 8 Brush disposal 12 acres "t 2.5 acres 5 17 1 Olives: Picking for oil 417 tons "t 450.0 pounds 1,854 17 110 Peacnes: Pruning 532 acres + 0.2 acre 2,660 17 157 Prunes: Pruning 999 acres + 0.85 acre 1.176 , u , 70 Totals C.972 17 411 man-months ^ February Apricots: Pruning 110 acres 0.2 acre 550 9 62 (Feb. 1-15) Brush disposal 103 acres'^ 2.5 acres 42 18 3 Nectarines: Pruning 13 acres "t 0.2 acre 65 18 4 Brush disposal 13 acres 2.5 acres 5 18 1 Olives: Picking for oil 139 tons t 45C.C pounds 618 18 35 Peaches: Pruning 256 acres t 0.2 acre 1,330 9 148 (Feb. 1-15) Brush disposal 499 acres "t" 2.5 acres 200 18 12 Spraying 332 acres "T X»33 Ex.CX' QS 250 16 14 Prunes: Pruning 500 acres 0.85 acre 589 9 66 (Feb. 1-15) Brush disposal 1,499 acres'^ 2,5 acres 600 18 34 Totals 4.250 18 237 man-months March Hops: Prunins , stringing, and training 164 acres 591 19 32 Apricots: Brush disposal 103 acres 1" 2.5 acres 42 19 3 Nectarines: Brush disposal 13 acres "t" 2,5 acres 6 19 1 Peaches: Brush disposal 499 acres t 2.5 acres 200 19 11 Prunes: Brush disposal 1,499 acresf- 2.5 acres 600 19 32 Totals 1.439 19 76 man-months April Alfalfa: Mowing 1,670 acres i* 8,0 acres 209 11 19 (April 15-30) Raking 1,570 acres -f 15.0 acres 112 11 11 (Aoril 15-30) Shocking 1 , 670 acres _j. 1 ... 1 30.0 acres 55 11 6 (April 15-30) Table continued on next page. 00 Table 3 continued. r\t; 4U J. I c u XI V CLX XcX-L^ X C Required number of Month Size of task Output per man-day man- day s days workers* Apri 1 29 164 acres 591 21 ] / 7 ac re 5,768 11 525 (Aoril 15-30) 1 U UcxX o 6j 736 21 321 n— months Msiy iiXI cU.X cL. iVIUWXIlg Sa 0 f* r*p U • W CLVrf X C O 313 22 Raking 2,504 aci'esT 15.0 acres 1 1- 7 ±0 / 8 Shocking <i , b04 acres i 30.0 acres 4. XjcLX X xlg ^ OSS tnnc; 4- 4 n t nns 254 22 1 2 X Lr I O.X liX i-i ^ 4 f 591 22 21 i>iCtj Ua.1 Xlico • xXiXliliXlig 1 C)0 p f VP JL\J\J Cu\-/ X Co 1 / A A f*. P 600 22 28 1»995 acres 1/6 acre 11.970 22 O^tO 13,989 22 A A Illo-ii— lliU f 1 UIlo _ nXX O.X1 d • wiuwxxig^ ? SO 4- ft.c*rp<=; T C.' y «J W ^ W X C O R - 0 p, f*p ?; W • V/ (-^ v./ J. o 313 25 13 R G If T lO CT rVcLAXIig, 1 S 0 P crps JLw*W W ■w' X <>.rO 167 25 7 o no cjsxng ? SOA flf^ypQ "^0 0 fif*y*pc5 84 25 4 Bb.X i ng 1.055 tons i" 4-0 tons 264 25 11 (June 15-30) Grain: Harvesting (with combine ) xu , o4U acres t C O v« o c D • u acres 1 7S7 X 136 Hops : Pruning , stringing , and (June 1-15) \j 1 CL-XllXlXp, 1 o4. acre s 4 197 13 16 nux xwu L< o • ^ xoj\Xii^ 2 472 tons 1 200.0 Dounds 4,120 9 458 (June 20-30) W U U Lf X iX^ ft2'S ton«3 600.0 Dounds 2»750 9 306 (June 20-30) V/L>X1CX UXJf jr CkX U X dflb/x.' X 63 9 tons "i* 755 9 84 (June 20-30) X ^CXWXlwO • kj W X xixg 9Q7 acres 4- 1 • 33 acres 750 25 30 X VJ CLX O 11.157 25 447 man-months .Till V x>>X X ClX i CL* IVIUW Xlig P ^OA a r yp «5 + Q 0 a r* yp 0*VJ CLOXCO 313 26 13 Rn Vl ncr 1 VCLJVX Xlg P SOA a fT*pc; T 1 S 0 a yp ^ 167 26 7 SHof^V"! Kicr OXiW^^XwXtXg P SOA pr"r*pc? i~ "^0 0 p r* yp ^5 84 26 4 Baling 1,055 tons + 4.0 tons 264 26 11 (July 1-15) Grain: Harvesting (with combine) 10,540 acres"i- 6.0 acres 1,757 13 136 Apricots: Picking 824 tons 1,200.0 pounds 1,374 13 107 (July 1-15) Cutting 275 tons 600.0 pounds 917 13 71 (July 1-15) Other dry-yard labor 206 tons f 252 13 20 (July 1-15) Nectarines: Picking 550 tons 1,500.0 pounds 747 26 29 Packing (on farms) 560 tons 1 .0 "ton 560 26 22 Table continued on next page, <o ■ • • ^ . Table 3 continued. Month July (cent.) August September Crop and task Peaches — freestones: Picking Cutting (for drying) Other dry-yard labor Packing (for shipment) Totals Alfalfa: Mowing Raking Shocking Baling Hops: Picking Drying Almonds: Knocking Hulling (by machine) Nectarines: Picking Packing (on farms) Peaches — freestones: Picking ■ Cutting (for drying) Other dry-yard labor Packing (for shipment) clingstones: Picking Totals Alfalfa: Mowing Raking Shocking Baling Hops: Picking Drying Baling Sorghums — for grain: Cutting heads (by hand) Almonds: Knocking Hulling (by machine) Olives: Picking for pickling Prunes: Picking Dipping and drying (by dehydrator) Dipping and drying (by sun) Size of task 3,750 tons 1,800 tons 1,440 tons 5. 850 tons 2,504 acres t 2,504 acres f 2,504 acres f' I, 055 tons t 608,000 pound 456,000 pounlis 166,950 pounds' 166,950 pound^ 240 tons 240 tons II, 250 tons 5,400 tons 5,760 tons 1,950 tons 500 tons Output per man-day 3,000.0 pounds 1,500.0 pounds 1.600.0 pounds 2, 504 acres i 2,504 acres t 2,504 acres t 1,055 tons t 304,000 pounds 228,000 pounds 720 bales t 52 acres f 310,050 poundl 310,050 pounds^ 51 tons + 15,000 tons 7,425 tons + 2,228 tons-t- 8.0 acres 15.0 acres 30.0 acres 4.0 tons 200.0 pounds " 4,000.0 pounds jj 300.0 pounds 400.0 pounds 1,500 pounds 1.0 ton 3,000.0 pounds 1,500 pounds 1,600.0 pounds 1.0 ton 8.0 acres 15.0 acres 30.0 acres 4.0 tons 200.0 pounds 4,000.0 pounds 15.0 bales 0.75 acre 300.0 pounds 400.0 pounds 210.0 pounds 1.0 ton Required man- days 2,500 2 , 400 1,656 7.513 20.304 313 167 84 264 3,040 114 557 418 320 240 7,500 7,200 6,521 2,438 500 29.776 313 167 84 264 1,520 57 48 70 1,034 776 486 15,000 4,950 2,026 Available days 9 9 9 9 26 tib 26 26 26 17 17 13 13 13 13 26 26 26 4 26 26 25 25 25 25 8 8 17 25 25 25 9 25 2t5 25 Required number of V.' o r k ers* 278 267 184 813 (July 20-31) (July 20-31) (July 20-31) (July 20-51) 781 man-months 13 7 4 11 179 7 43 33 25 19 289 278 255 610 20 (Aug. 10-31) (Aug. 10-31) (Aug. (Aug. (Aug. (Aug. 15-31) 15-31) 1-15) 1-15) (Aug. 1-5) 1.146 man-months 13 7 4 11 190 5 42 (Sept. I-IO) (Sept. 1-10) (Sept. 10-30) 54 (Sept. 20-30) 600 198 82 Table continued on next page. . t.....-^ :A. : - ■ ■ . j , , L . _ --^ I Table 3 continued. Month September (cont . ) October Crop and task November December j Totals Alfalfa: Mowing Raking Shocking Baling Sorghums — for grain: Cutting heads (by hand) Threshing Harvesting (with combine) Olives: Picking for pickling Prunes: Dipping and sun-drying Walnuts: Knocking andlrulling (by hand) Totals Sorghums -- for grain: Cutting heads (by hand) Threshing Harvesting (with combine) Almonds: Pruning Apricots: Pruning Nectarines: Pruning Olives: Pickling Peaches: Pruning Spraying Prunes: Pruning Totals Almonds: Pruning Apricots: Pruning Brush disposal Nectarines: Pruning Brush disposal Olives: Picking for oil Peaches: Pruning Size of task 2,504 acresi" 2,504 acresi" 2,504 acrest 1,055 tons t 420 acres t 10,636 sackst 237 acrest 1,374 tonsi" 247 tonst 44 tons Output per man- day 8.0 acres 15.0 acres 30.0 acres 4.0 tons 0.75 acre 100 sacks 5.0 acres 210.0 pounds 200.0 pounds 52 acres i 3,546 sacksl" 26 acres t 398 acres + 110 acres t 13 acres 292 tons i 266 acres + 997 acres^ 500 acres ) 398 acres f 220 acres f 103 acres -f 27 acres 12 acres + 139 tons + 532 acres +- 0.75 acre 100 sacks 5.0 acres 2.0 acres 0.2 acre 0.2 acre 210.0 pounds 0.2 acre 1.33 acres 0.85 acre 2.0 acres 0.2 acre 2.5 acres 0.2 acre 2.5 acres 450.0 pounds 0.2 acre Required man-days 26.795 313 167 84 264 560 107 48 13,086 225 440 15.294 Available days 25 70 36 6 199 550 65 2,781 1,330 750 589 6.576 199 1,100 42 135 5 6ie 2,660 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 7 20 20 21 21 21 21 10 10 21 10 21 10 21 16 16 16 16 16 15 16 Required number of workers* 1.072 man-months 16 9 5 14 28 6 3 655 33 (Oct, 1-10) 22 765 man-months 4 2 1 10 55 (Nov. 15-30) 7 (Nov. 15-30) 133 133 (Nov. 15-30) 36 59 (Nov. 15.>30) 304 man-months 13 70 3 9 1 39 lo7 Table continued on next page, I Table 3 continued. CroD and task Size of task Output per man-day Required man- days Available days Required number of workers* Month December Prunes: Pruning 999 acresi" 0-85 acre . 1.1V 6 16 74 5.935 16 371 man-months * On a monthly basis unless otherAdse noted. -f Portion of task performed by seasonal help. 4 It should be noted that this figure, rather than representing the total number of individuals required, represents the number of man-months of Isbor required and is derived by dividing the number oi man-days of labor by the average number of days available for v/ork during the month. cf A total of 12 man-days per acre is required for pruning, stringing, and training of hops which is divided approximately as follows: March, April, and May, 3.6 man-days per acre, per month, and June 1-15, 1.2 m.n-d^ys per acre . <fi Dry-yard labor, other than cutting, estimated to be as follows: Apricots — 11 m'-n-hours per fresh ton. Peaches — 11.5 m.an-hours per fresh ton. Prunes (with dehydro-tor) — 6 man-hours per fresh ton Prunes (sun drying) -- 8.3 man-hours per fresh ton. Green weight. to 13. TABLE 4 Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months Tehama County 1935 Month Required man-days of seasonal labor Available Required man-months ui seasoriELX ia.DOr January 17 411 February lo 237 March 1,439 19 76 April 6,736 21 321 May 13,989 22 636 June 11,157 25 447 July 20,304 26 781 August 29, 776 26 1,146 September 26,795 25 1,072 October 15,294 20 765 November 6,376 21 304 December 5,935 16 371 Total 149,023 6,567 I 14, Notes Notes on Table Z, — Data concerning "time of need" as shown in this table break down required seasonal labor into the period in which 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 with seasonal labor. For instance, only about 50 per cent of the labor in putting up alfalfa is done by seasonal workers. IfliTaen a job extends over several different months, the propor- tionate 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 producers, and records of carlot shipments, the latter proving helpful in fix- ing dates of planting and of subsequent tasks involved in producing certain crops. Proportionate amounts of output harvested each month were determined from data of local practices with respect to harvesting, and from carlot shipments of perishable products. Records of truck shipments were also used when available. Notes on Table 5. — Table 3 is the condensed s\«ranary of labor needs as worked out for Tehama County as a result of findings pertinent to 1935. The data are presented by months with the tasks which were performed in each month indiccted ty 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 cal- culated 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 tv;o variables. The first is the number of days v^hen field y/ork is possible because of favorable weather conditions. The basis for this column was determined from a study of the monthly weather charts of the United States Weather Bureau for the years 1933, 1934 and 1935. These data indicated available days per month as follows (based on a 26-day v/orking month without allowance for holidays): Month Available days Length of work day Month Available days Length of work day hours hours January 17 8 July 26 9 February 18 8 August 26 9 March 19 9 September 25 9 April 21 9 October 20 9 I'ay 22 9 November 21 8 June 25 9 Deceriber 16 8 Source of data: Based on precipitation records of the ?.ed Bluff station of the United States 'leather Bureau for the years 1933, 1S34, and 1935. The second factor influencing the number of available days was the size of the job. If the output was only a few cars, then the number of days was limited to the time needed to get out those cars efficiently. If a field operation had to be performed in a period less than tho number of available days in the month, then the specific number of days was noted. These restrictions are shovm in parentheses. For example, in July the picking of peaches is limited to the last 10 days of the month. i i - * • > i - 15 The totals of table 3 show the total required man-days of needed seasonal labor, the available days for field work during the month, and the necessary number of men (as defined in the opening paragraph of table 3) required on a monthly basis to care for the tasks ordinarily performed by seasonal workers. Tehama County is devoted less to annual crops, the nature of which makes possible marked changes in acreage from year to year, than are many counties. However, findings as set forth in this report are bound to fluctuate materially from year to year because of variable seasonal conditions affecting yields, time 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 marked variations in the need for harvest labor. In addition, although a good deal of the agriculture of the county is not of an annual nature, market outlook v/ould have some effect upon what and how much acreage is planted, and thus have an effect upon the demand for seasonal labor. I 1 t