University of California 
 College of Aj^riculture 
 Agricultural Exporimont Station 
 Berkeley, California 
 
 SEASONAL I,ABOR ITEEDS I^OR CALIFORNIA CROPS 
 MERCED CCUKTY 
 . Prcr^ress Report NOo 24 
 
 by 
 
 R. L. Adams 
 Preliminary — Subject to Correction 
 April, 1937 
 
 Contribution from the 
 annini Foundation of Agricultural Econo:ciics 
 Mimeo graphed Report No. 53 
 
(Farm Labor Survoy ••- July-Duocra'bcr , 1956) 
 Fr o?,rQ5S R.;rort ^c. 24 
 
 Seasonal Lab or 11 o eds for California Crops 
 Mcrcod County 
 
 Scope of rrcscntation . — The follov/-ing considorations govern the presentation 
 of this progress report: 
 
 1. The data arc 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 croploymont . 
 
 4. Attention is concentrated upon 7/orkors required for hand tasks — plant- 
 ing, thinning, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting — without including teamsters, trac- 
 tor drivers, irrigators, and shed packers of vegetables or fruits. 
 
 5. The presentation includes the so-callod migratory, transient, or roving 
 workers which comprise an important source of help needed in connection v/ith certain 
 tasks and at "peak" tim.os which seasonally arise in connection with many field, 
 truck, and fruit crops commercial Iv nroduced in California. 
 
 • H 
 
 6. This report is confined to California's need for seasonal agricultural 
 workers because of the more pressing problems liable to arise in connection thero- 
 
 ' with. A later study is planned which will deal with othor kinds of labor involved in 
 the production of California's many crops. 
 
 Crops, Acreages, and Productio n. — The basis used in calculftting occasional or 
 seasonal need for labor, in addition to that furnished by farm operators and regular- 
 ly employed vrorkers , appears as table 1. Duo to lack of assembled data, this table 
 has been compiled from various sources, and is considered the best available informa- 
 tion upon which to base estimates of labor needs. 
 
 TABLE 1 
 
 Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Rcquironcnts 
 
 Morccd County 
 
 Crops 
 
 Acreage 
 
 Froduction 
 
 Field crops:* 
 
 
 
 Alfalfa 
 
 57,614 
 
 202,598 tons 
 
 Beans 
 
 7,401 
 
 95,191 bushels 
 
 Cotton 
 
 10,300t 
 
 8,618 bales t 
 
 Garlic f 
 
 60^ 
 
 Grain — barley 
 
 71,127 
 
 1,219,764 bushels 
 
 oats 
 
 3,928 
 
 82,987 bushels 
 
 ryo 
 
 1,534 
 
 7,881 bushels 
 
 wheat 
 
 22 ,635 
 
 3 74,514 bushels 
 
 Hay, other than alfalfa — 80 per 
 
 
 
 cont grain hay 
 
 24,644 
 
 35,635 tons 
 
 Onions intermediate crop 
 
 280 y 
 
 Average 125 CiTb, per acre 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
Tablo 1 continued. 
 
 Crops 
 
 Acroago 
 
 Production 
 
 "gyp" corn 
 
 Rico 
 
 Sorghums for grain 
 
 a,nd milo, etc, 
 Sv;cot potatoes 
 
 Vcgotablos : <\ 
 Beans — fall ir 
 Cantaloupes 
 Carrots ■•- spring 
 
 fall and vj-intcr 
 I.cttuco — fallf 
 Peas — spring + 
 
 fall 
 Peppers ^ 
 
 Tomatoes — canning 
 
 siiiimor, 600 acres) 
 fall, 300 acres) 
 
 Watermelons 
 
 Fruit and nut crops : *fl 
 Almonds 
 Apples =f 
 Apricots 
 
 Cherries ^ 
 
 Figs ~ Caliiryrna - 3,491 acres) 
 Adriatic 
 Kadota 
 Mission 
 Grapes — raisin 
 table 
 v;inc 
 Uectarinos T 
 Olives 
 
 2,000 acres) 
 
 - 2,250 acres) 
 
 - 1,600 acres) 
 
 Peaches -- 
 
 Fears t 
 Plums 
 Prunes # 
 Walnuts 
 
 clingstone 
 freestone 
 
 3,095 
 
 197,000 bushels 
 
 3,109 
 
 9? 5R5 
 
 4 3fi1 
 
 '^AQ AQQ 
 
 
 
 700 
 
 Average 
 
 300) 
 
 ^ cic\\ 
 
 iiv erage 
 
 100 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 1,200 
 
 Average 
 
 50 
 
 
 860 
 
 Average 
 
 900 
 
 Average 
 
 1,500 
 
 Average 
 
 2,841 
 19 
 960 
 
 14 
 9,341 
 
 300 tons 
 
 (2,000 tons (fresh rrc-ight) of vdiich 
 (_ 1,900 tons -VTcre dried 
 
 3,375 tons Kadota (fresh weight) 
 
 675 tons Kadota (dry weight) dried II 
 
 7,000 tons dry weight dried, other 
 varieties 
 
 12,000 tons shipped 
 
 40,000 tons raisins (dry weight) // 
 
 40,000 tons to w-inerios, etc. 
 
 68 tons for canning ) 
 
 18 tons not for canning) 66 tons** 
 
 13,150 tons canned; 110 tons shipped; 
 
 3,800 tons (fresh weight) dried 
 ,3,400 tons canned; 3,725 tons shipped; 
 7,200 tons (fresh freight) dried 
 
 200 tons 
 
 200 tons (all dried) 
 830,000 pounds t + 
 
 * Data from TJ. S. Census, 1935, for crop year 1934, except where noted. 
 
 "f Data from California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. Final California 
 Cotton Report for the 1935 Crop. Sacramento, May 26, 1936. Ip. 
 
 t Need for seasonal labor on these crops inconsequential, and hence ignored. 
 
 -cT'Acreago of vegetable crops is from Federal-State Crop Reporting Service. 
 California -- acroago of Specified vegetable crops by counties. 1936, p. 7, 
 
 91 Data on fruit and nut crop acreage are from C. H. Kinsley, Agricultural 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
^1 
 
Table 1 continued. 
 
 3. 
 
 Commissioner J unless noted, and represents bearing acreage only. 
 
 I| Drying ratio: Kadota figs - 3 to 1 
 
 raisins - 4 to 1 
 
 peaches - 6 to 1 
 
 ** Estimate by California Olive Association - 1935 crop. 
 
 Vialnvt Control Board estin\ate is 539,200 pounds merchantable. Culls are 
 estimated to be 17 per cent of total crop - 1935. 
 
 frerptions llequiririg oeasona] L abor and Tiaes of Meed . — Farm operations re- 
 quiring the use of seasonal labor for the various crops raised in Kerced County are 
 indj.cated 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. 
 
 TABLE 2 
 
 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Jleeds by Crops 
 
 Merced County 
 
 Crop 
 
 Field crops: 
 Alfalfa^ — 
 5 cut- 
 tings — 
 average 
 three- 
 fourths 
 ton each 
 
 Operation 
 
 Mowing 
 Raking 
 Shocking by hanc^ 
 
 Stacking in 
 field or barn, 
 with wagons and 
 slings -- 80 
 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 Baling — 20 per 
 cent of crop 
 
 Time of need 
 
 Fer cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 May 1-31 — all of acreage 
 June 1-30 — all of acreage 
 July 1-31 — all of acreage 
 August 1-31 — all of acreage 
 September 1-30 -- two-thirds 
 
 of acreage 
 October 1-15 — one-third of 
 
 acreage 
 
 May 1-31 — 20 per cent of job 
 June 1-30 — 20 per cent of 
 job 
 
 July 1--31 — 20 per cent of 
 job 
 
 August 1-31 — 20 per cent of 
 job 
 
 September 1-30 -- 12 per cent 
 of job 
 
 October 1-15 — 8 per cent of 
 
 job ^ 
 May 15-31 — 10 per cent of 
 job 
 
 June 1-30 — 20 per cent of 
 job 
 
 July 1-31 — 20 per cent of 
 job 
 
 August 1-31 — 20 per cent of 
 job 
 
 September 1-30 — 20 per cent 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 66 
 
 100 
 
 Output per 
 man-day 
 
 8 acres 
 16 acres 
 6-s- acres 
 
 3 tons 
 
 6 tons 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
Table 2 continued. 
 
 ^rop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need 
 
 Fei' cent of 
 work dons by 
 seasonal help 
 
 'Hatput per 
 man- day 
 
 Alfalfa 
 (cent.) 
 
 Beans — 
 black-eye 
 
 Shocking by hand 
 
 other va- 
 rieties 
 (approx- 
 imately 
 1,000 
 acres , 
 mostly 
 on west 
 side) 
 
 Threshing by 
 portable ma- 
 chines 
 
 Hoeing — twice 
 
 Irri rating -•- 
 average 4 tir.es 
 
 Cotton 
 
 Harvesting with 
 pickup combine 
 
 Chopping 
 
 Picking 
 
 Grain — 
 barley, 
 oats , 
 rye , and 
 
 wheat 
 
 Threshing with 
 combine 
 
 October 1-31 — 10 per cent of 
 job 
 
 September 15-30 — 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 October 1-31 — 50 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 November 1-15 — 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 September 15-30 — 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 October 1-31 -- 50 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 November 1-15 — 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 July — 50 per cent of job 
 Au-^ust •■- 50 per cent of job 
 April — all of acreage once 
 June 15-30 — 75 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 July 1-31 — all of acreage 
 
 once, half of acreage twice 
 August 1-10 — 75 per cent of 
 
 of acreage 
 September 15-30 -- 30 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 October 1-31 — 60 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 November 1-15 — 10 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 April 25-30 — 10 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 May 1-31 — 45 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 June 1-30 — 45 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 October 1-31 — 30 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 November 1-30 — 30 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 Do comber 1-31 — 12 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 January 1-31 — 11 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 Februarj-- 1-28 — 10 per cent 
 
 of crop 
 March 1-15 -- 7 por cent of 
 
 crop 
 
 Juno 20-30 — 15 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 July 1-31 — 50 por cent of 
 crop 
 
 August 1-31 — 35 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 20 
 
 80 
 
 100 
 
 80 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 80 
 
 acres 
 
 3 acres 
 (in 8 
 hours) 
 
 Total of 
 3.5 hours 
 per acre 
 
 4 acres 
 (in 12 
 hours) 
 
 6 acres 
 
 2.5 acres 
 
 300 pounds 
 seed cot- 
 ton 
 
 200 pounds 
 seed cot- 
 ton 
 
 8 acres 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
Table 2 continued. 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need 
 
 Fer cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 Onions 
 
 Rice 
 
 Milo and 
 grain 
 sorghums 
 
 Swcot po- 
 tatoes 
 
 Vegetable 
 and truck 
 crops : 
 Canta- 
 loupes 
 
 Weeding 
 
 Harvesting — 
 pulling, cut- 
 ting tops and 
 roots, and 
 sacking 
 
 Swathing vri.th 
 push header 
 
 Threshing with 
 pickup combine 
 
 Cutting by hand 
 — 50 per cent 
 of acreage 
 
 Threshing with 
 
 stationary 
 
 thresher -- 50 
 
 per cent of 
 
 crop 
 Threshing with 
 
 combine -- 50 
 
 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 Planting 
 
 Harvesting — 
 
 picking up and 
 piling 
 
 Hoeing and thin- 
 ning — 2 or 3 
 times 
 
 February 15-28 — 20 per cont 
 of job 
 
 March l-ol — 40 per cent of 
 Job 
 
 April 1-30 — 40 per cent of 
 job 
 
 Juno 1-30 -- 90 per cent of 
 job 
 
 July 1-31 — 10 per cont of 
 job 
 
 October 1-31 — 60 per cont of 
 acreage 
 
 November 1-20 — 40 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 October 1-31 — 50 per cont of 
 
 acreage 
 
 November 1-30 — 50 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 September 15-30 — 20 per cont 
 
 of job 
 
 October 1-31 — 75 per cent of 
 job 
 
 November 1-15 — 5 per cent of 
 job 
 
 October 1-31 -- 60 per cent of 
 job 
 
 November 1-30 — 40 per cent 
 of job 
 
 October 1-31 — 75 per cent of 
 job 
 
 November 1-15 — 25 per cent 
 of job 
 
 April 24-30 — 5 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 May 1-31 — 90 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 June 1-10 — 5 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 October 1-31 — 50 por cent of 
 crop 
 
 November 1-30 — 50 por cont 
 of crop 
 
 April 15-30 — one-third of 
 job 
 
 May 1-31 -- two-thirds of job 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 50 
 
 40 
 
 66 
 
 25 
 
 50 
 
 33 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 Total of 
 86 hours 
 per acre 
 (9 "hour 
 days) 
 
 35 cwt. 
 
 15 acres 
 
 4 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 50 sacks 
 
 5 acres 
 
 0.6 acre 
 
 0.15 acre 
 
 Total of 1 
 man-day 
 por acre 
 
 Table continued on 
 
 next page. 
 

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Table 2 continued. 
 
 6. 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 Canta- 
 loupes 
 (cont • ) 
 
 Carrots 
 
 Peas — 
 fall 
 
 Tomatoes 
 — can- 
 ning 
 
 Picking canta- 
 loupes — 60 
 per cent of 
 cantaloupe and 
 honeydew crop 
 
 Packing canta- 
 loupes — 75 
 per cent on 
 farms 
 
 Picking honey- 
 dews — 40 per 
 cent of total 
 cantaloupe and 
 honeydew crop 
 
 Weeding — tv/ico 
 
 July 10-31 . 
 
 crop 
 August 1-31 
 
 crop 
 
 40 per cent of 
 - 60 per cent of 
 
 40 per cent of 
 - 60 per cont of 
 
 Bunching 
 
 Picking 
 
 (in years of 
 mild weather) 
 
 Transplanting to 
 bods — 1,200 
 plants per acre 
 plus 20 per 
 cent for re- 
 plants 
 
 Planting in 
 field 
 
 July 10-31 - 
 
 crop 
 August 1-31 
 
 crop 
 
 August 1-31 — 85 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 September 1-15 — 15 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 February 1-28 — one-third of 
 
 spring job 
 March 1-31 — one-third of 
 
 spring job 
 April 1-30 — one-third of 
 
 spring job ; 
 August 20-31 — 20 per cent of 
 
 fall job 
 September 1-30 — 60 per cent 
 
 of fall job 
 October 1-10 — 20 per cent of 
 
 fall job 
 October 15-31 — 5 per cent of 
 
 job 
 
 November 1-30 — 10 per cent 
 of job 
 
 December 1-31 — 10 per cont 
 of job 
 
 April 20-30 — 15 per cent of 
 job 
 
 May 1-31 — 20 per cont of job ^ 
 June 1-25 — 40 per cont of J 
 job 
 
 November 1-30 — 63 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 December 1-31 — 22 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 January 1-10 — 15 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 March 1-31 — all of job 
 
 1 
 
 March 15-31 
 job 
 
 April 1-15 - 
 job 
 
 - 50 per cent of 
 50 per cent of 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 80 
 
 100 
 
 25 crates 
 (of 68 
 pounds) 
 
 150 crates 
 
 3^ tons 
 
 Total of 
 60 hours 
 per acre 
 
 Total of 
 45 hours 
 per acre 
 
 12 packed 
 crates 
 
 15 packed 
 crates 
 
 9 hampers 
 
 4,000 
 plants 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
I 
 
 1 
 
 ) 
 
Table 2 continued. 
 
 7. 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need 
 
 For cent of 
 v/ork done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 CXitput per 
 man-day 
 
 Tomatoes 
 (cQnt«) 
 
 shippinq; 
 or mar- 
 ket — 
 75 per 
 cent on 
 stakes 
 
 Water- 
 melons 
 
 Fruit and 
 nut crops; 
 Almonds 
 
 Hoc ing 
 
 Picking 
 
 All operations 
 until picking 
 
 ricking for 
 shipping 
 
 Hoeing and thin- 
 ning 
 
 Picking 
 
 Spraying 
 
 Knocking 
 
 Hulling 
 
 April 1-30 40 per cent of 
 job 
 
 May 1-31 — 60 per cent of job 
 July 15-31 -- 10 per cont of 
 job 
 
 August 1-31 — 30 per cent of 
 job 
 
 September 1-30 — 35 per cent 
 of job 
 
 October 1-31 — 25 per cent of 
 
 job 
 March 1-31 
 April 1-30 
 May 1-31 
 June 1-15 
 
 June 15-30 — 12 per cent of 
 job 
 
 July 1-31 — 76 per cent of 
 job 
 
 August 1-31 — 12 per cont of 
 job 
 
 April 20-30 — 50 per cent of 
 job 
 
 May 1-10 — 50 per cent of job 
 July 10-31 — 40 per cont of 
 crop 
 
 August 1-31 — 60 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 November 15-30 — 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 December 1-15 -- 25 per cont 
 
 of acroago 
 Febnaary 1-28 — 50 per cont 
 
 of acreage 
 August 15-31 — 25 por cont of 
 
 crop 
 
 Soptombor 1-30 — 70 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 October 1-7 — 5 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 August 15-31 — 25 per cont of 
 crop 
 
 Soptombor 1-30 — 70 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 October 1-7 — 5 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 10 
 
 95 
 
 90 
 
 95 
 
 66 
 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 3 acres 
 
 1,500 
 pounds 
 
 1 man to 
 each 1-|- 
 acros 
 contin- 
 uously 
 
 50 lugs of 
 25 pounds 
 (1,250 
 pounds) 
 
 1 acre 
 
 10 tons 
 (in 5 or 
 6 hours) 
 
 1 acre 
 
 300 pounds 
 
 400 pounds 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
Tabic 2 continued. 
 
 ;roT) 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of nood 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 Apricots 
 
 Figs 
 
 Pruning — 50 
 per cent of 
 acreage 
 
 Thinning — 25 
 per cent of 
 acreage* 
 
 Picking 
 
 Cutting for dry- 
 ing 
 
 Other dry -yard 
 work 
 
 Pruning — 
 Kadota variety 
 
 Caprifying — 
 Calimyrna va- 
 riety only 
 
 Picking Kadotas't 
 — fresh for 
 canning 
 
 October 1-31 — one-third of 
 Job 
 
 November 1-30 — one-third of 
 job 
 
 December 1-31 — one-third of 
 job 
 
 April 15-30 — 50 per cent of 
 job 
 
 May 1-15 — 50 per cent of job. 
 June 15-30 — 50 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 July 1-15 -- 50 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 June 15-30 — 50 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 July 1-15 — 50 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 June 15-30 — 40 per cent of 
 job 
 
 July 1-21 — 60 per cent of 
 job 
 
 December 1-31 — 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 January 1-31 — 25 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 February 1-28 — 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 March 1-31 — 25 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 Juno 1-30 — all of job 
 
 August 10-31 — 15 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 September 1-30 -- 50 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 Picking up — 
 Calimyrna, 
 Mission, and 
 Adriatic 
 
 Drying, sorting, 
 fumigating, 
 etc. 
 
 October 1-31 — 30 per cent of 
 5 per cent of 
 25 per cent of 
 
 crop 
 Fovcmbor 1-8 
 
 > 
 
 crop 
 August 15-31 
 crop 
 
 September 1-30 — 50 per cent 
 
 of crop 
 October 1-15 - 
 
 crop 
 August 15-31 - 
 job 
 
 September 1-30 
 
 of job 
 October 1-31 - 
 job 
 
 November 1-15 — 10 per cent 
 of job 
 
 25 per cent of 
 10 per cent of ^ 
 - 40 per cent 
 40 per cent of / 
 
 66 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 90 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 05 
 
 0,25 acre 
 
 0.2 acre 
 
 1,200 
 pounds 
 
 750 pounds 
 
 11 man- 
 hours per 
 fresh ton 
 
 i 
 
 0.3 acre 
 (=27 
 trees) 
 
 1 man-day 
 per acre 
 
 400 pounds 
 
 900 pounds 
 
 Table continued en next page, 
 
4^ 
 
Table 2 continued. 
 
 Crop 
 
 Grapes 
 
 Operation 
 
 Pruning — 
 Thompson varie- 
 ty, comprises 
 practically all 
 raisin grapes 
 
 Pruning other 
 varieties 
 
 Wrapping and 
 tying — 
 Thomps ons only 
 
 Time of need 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Picking for dry- 
 ing — natural 
 raisins — 10 
 per cent of 
 Thompson crop 
 
 Turning trays 
 
 Rolling trays 
 
 Boxing and haul- 
 ing in raisins 
 
 Picking for win- 
 eries — in- 
 cluding 
 Thompsons for 
 dchydrators 
 
 Decem-ber 1-31 — 10 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 January 1-31 -- 30 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 February 1-28 — 40 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 March 1-31 — 20 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 December 1-31 — 10 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 January 1-31 — 30 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 February 1-28 — 40 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 March 1-31 — 20 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 December 15-31 — 5 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 January 1-31 -- 30 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 February 1-28 — 40 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 March 1-31 — 25 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 September 1-15 — all of job 
 
 > 
 
 September 10-30 — all of job 
 
 September 20-30 — 50 per cent 
 of job 
 
 October 1-10 — 50 per cent of 
 job 
 
 October 1-31 all of job 
 
 September 15-30 — one-third 
 of job 
 
 October 1-31 — two-thirds of 
 job 
 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 100 
 
 90 
 
 80 
 75 
 
 100 
 
 Output 
 man- day 
 
 0.3 acre 
 
 1 acre 
 
 3 acres 
 
 250 trays 
 (of 22 
 pounds 
 each) 
 fresh 
 weight 
 
 1,500 
 trays of 
 about 5g- 
 pounds 
 raisins 
 
 1,500 
 trays 
 
 5,000 
 pounds 
 dry 
 
 weight 
 1.5 tons 
 
 I 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
1 
 
Table 2 continued. 
 
 10. 
 
 Crop 
 
 Grapes 
 (cont . ) 
 
 Peaches 
 
 Plums 
 
 Operation 
 
 Picking for 
 shipping — all 
 varieties ^ 
 
 Pruning free- 
 stones 
 
 Pruning cling- 
 stones 
 
 Spraying 
 
 Thinning* 
 
 Picking for can- 
 ning — includ- 
 ing sorting 
 
 Picking for 
 shipping 
 
 Picking for dry- 
 ing 
 
 Cutting for dry- 
 ing 
 
 Other dry-yard 
 v/ork 
 
 Picking 
 
 Time of need 
 
 Per cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 August 10-31 — 10 per cont of 
 job 
 
 September 1-30 — 33 per cent 
 of job 
 
 October 1-31 — 54 per cent of 
 job 
 
 November 1-20 -- 3 per cent of 
 job 
 
 December 1-31 — 50 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 January 1-31 — 50 per cont of 
 
 acreage 
 
 December 1-31 — 50 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 January 1-31 — 50 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 November 15-30 -- 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 December 1-15 -- 25 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 February 1-28 — 50 per cent 
 
 of acreage 
 May 15-31 — 50 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 June 1-15 — 50 per cent of 
 
 acreage 
 
 August 15-31 — 80 per cent of 
 job 
 
 September 1-15 — 20 per cent 
 of job 
 
 July 1-31 — 38 per cent of 
 job 
 
 August 1-31 — 62 per cent of 
 job 
 
 August 1-31 — 90 per cent of 
 job 
 
 September 1-15 — 10 per cont 
 of job 
 
 August 1-31 — 90 per cont of 
 job 
 
 September 1-15 -- 10 per cent 
 of job 
 
 August 1-31 — 75 per cent of 
 job 
 
 Soptombor 1-30 — 25 per cent 
 of job 
 
 Juno 1-30 — 25 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 July 1-31 — 33 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 August 1~31 — 42 per cont of 
 crop 
 
 100 
 
 66 
 
 100 
 
 66 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 90 
 
 90 
 
 100 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 1,500 
 pounds 
 
 0.25 aero 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 1 acre 
 
 0.33 acre 
 
 3,000 
 pounds 
 
 1 , 500 
 pounds 
 
 2,000 
 pounds 
 
 1,500 
 
 pounds 
 
 11^ man- 
 hours per 
 
 fresh ton 
 t 
 
 750 pounds 
 (25" 
 crates) 
 
 Table continued on next page 
 
1^ 
 
Tabic 2 continued. 11 , 
 
 Crop 
 
 Operation 
 
 Time of need 
 
 For cent of 
 work done by 
 seasonal help 
 
 Output per 
 ma n- day 
 
 Walnuts 
 
 Shaking off, 
 picking up, and 
 hulling // 
 
 Soptombor 1-30 — 40 per cent 
 of crop 
 
 October 1-31 — 60 per cent of 
 crop 
 
 > 100 
 
 225 pounds 
 
 * Thinning varies greatly in amount, and is not always done. Probably is 
 necessary about four years out of five on poaches, and two years out of five on apri- 
 cots . 
 
 t From Christie, A. W. and L. C. Barnard. The principles and practice of 
 sun-drying fruit. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 388:40-60. 1925. 
 
 ^ Kadota figs are picked fresh for canning, the off grades being sorted out 
 and used for drying. Orchards are picked over once each week or 10 days during the 
 season, and about 3 men per acre arc required at the peak of harvest, 
 
 5^" Drying, sorting, fumigating, etc. of figs are estimated as follows: 
 
 23 man-hours per dry ton on Adriatic and Mission variety 
 27 man-hours per dry ton on Kadota variety 
 50 man-hours per dry ton on Calimyrna variety 
 (10 hour days) 
 
 Table varieties are mostly packed in sheds in this county, and field labor 
 in picking them is about the same as for wine varieties. 
 
 1/ Probably over 50 per cent of walnut crop is hulled by machines. 
 
 Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs — Details and summaries of seasonal labor 
 requirements of Merced County agriculture are presented as table 3. The "size of 
 task" arc figures dravm 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 crates, hampers, boxes, or 
 other units as indicated in the table. If the work is of a nature that requires a 
 crew, different members of which perform different tasks, then the average ^shown is 
 per man based on the entire crow. Length of day is 9 hours, November to February; 10 
 hours, March to October, unless otherwise stated. Yifide variations in output occur 
 between farm and farm, field and field, and season and season, because of differences 
 in soil types, climatic conditions, woods, 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 vathout reference to use of women, chil- 
 dren, and more or loss 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 v/ithin which the work must be per- 
 formed because of the nature of the task, such as transplanting, thinning, weeding, 
 and cutting, and (b) available days as determined by weather conditions, inclement 
 weather reducing the nvimbcr of days vihcn a required task can be performed. The "re- 
 quired number of individuals" is given in terms of workers as noted above in connec- 
 tion with "output por 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 
 
4 
 
 4 • 
 
%TOuld naturally roquiro a much greater nrunbcr of vrorkcrs 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 -- Merced County by Months and Tasks 
 
 
 
 
 Output per 
 
 Required 
 
 iivai iaoie 
 
 Required number of 
 
 Month 
 
 Crop and task 
 
 oize 01 tasic 
 
 man- day 
 
 man- days 
 
 days 
 
 workers* 
 
 1 O t 1 ^ TT 
 
 J SLnucLry 
 
 
 J. ) -ifc-ti y \J\J\J pwUI^u.£3 1 
 
 POP) nniinrlt? 
 
 7 , 110 
 
 20 
 
 
 { -f rnm 1 -T D ^ 
 
 
 r^ccxb* J. L<jt\x 11^ 
 
 1 son Hflmnpv*P 
 
 
 1 , 500 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 rx^o """" IvclUUl'CLa FlUIlXIlg 
 
 Pftl Af'Y'PC; ^ 
 
 0 a r»y»p 
 
 937 
 
 20 
 
 47 
 
 
 
 
 ? 1 ?n ftprpq + 
 
 (~> 1 X <->'\> Ct O 1 c o * 
 
 n 3 Af*r*p 
 
 7 ,067 
 
 20 
 
 354 
 
 
 
 Pruning other varieties 
 
 1,680 acres'^ 
 
 1.0 acre 
 
 1 , 680 
 
 
 84 
 
 
 
 Wrapping and tying Thompsons 
 
 2 , 120 acres 
 
 3.0 acre 
 
 '7 AO 
 
 707 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 3,412 
 
 20 
 
 1 f 1 
 
 
 
 Pruning clingstones 
 
 1 , 507 acres 
 
 u . acre 
 
 0 . Uco 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 pa /i/ll 
 
 
 1 d?3 
 
 J. . ^-iCjKj 
 
 iliCLli — illkJli i 0 *T 
 
 1 C Ui U.CL1 Jr 
 
 \J\J \j \j\J IL • i J\X 
 
 1 29'5 000 Dounds t 
 
 200 DOunds 
 
 6,465 
 
 24 
 
 270 
 
 ffrom 15-28) 
 
 
 
 
 tT 
 
 535 
 
 li; 
 
 45 
 
 
 WCLl 1 U bo* ('CwUXli^ 
 
 
 il 
 
 600 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 QS7 acres ^ 
 
 1.0 acre 
 
 937 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 T**! crt3 — — KflHrv+A' pY*nnTyicr 
 
 Jb X K O — I\O.UU L/CL • £^ I U tlx 
 
 £^ U X Cl<\^ X C O t 
 
 
 937 
 
 24 
 
 dO 
 
 
 
 
 2 826 acres^ 
 
 0.3 acre 
 
 9,420 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 P'r*nninr" n + HpT* VATit^^+iPR 
 
 ^XUIJXil^ WOilCl VCLlXwLfXCfO 
 
 ? 24-0 acrG<?^ 
 
 1.0 acre 
 
 2,240 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 P ftPfi Af*Y*PP-^ 
 
 0 A f*y*p c; 
 
 942 
 
 24 
 
 **Vj 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 n A**y*p 
 
 X * V./ CLwl \^ 
 
 
 24 
 
 77 
 
 
 
 
 
 23 , 924 
 
 24 
 
 997 
 
 man-months 4 
 
 Uldl oil 
 
 UUbl/Un* ix Civ J. Ilg 
 
 
 POn nnunHc? 
 
 4 S23 
 
 X X 
 
 IP 
 
 ( I rom x—xo/ 
 
 
 Onions: Weeding 
 
 280 acres 
 
 
 964 
 
 23 
 
 42 
 
 
 
 Ocirroxs. "Beeuing 
 
 ouu cicrcs 
 
 ^/ 
 
 
 
 27 
 
 
 
 Tomatoes — canning: Transplanting 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 to beds 
 
 990,720 plants f- 
 
 4,000 plants 
 
 248 
 
 23 
 
 11 
 
 (from 15-31) 
 
 
 Planting in field 
 
 430 acres 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 574 
 
 12 
 
 48 
 
 
 shipping or market: All operations 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 until picking 
 
 90 acresf" 
 
 • • 
 
 1,380 
 
 23 
 
 60 
 
 
 
 Figs — Kadota: Pruning 
 
 282 acres f 
 
 0.3 acre 
 
 940 
 
 23 
 
 41 
 
 
 
 Calimyrna: Caprifying 
 
 3,491 acres t 
 
 
 3,491 
 
 23 
 
 152 
 
 
 
 Grapes: Pruning Thompsons 
 
 1,413 acres'^ 
 
 0»3 acre 
 
 4,710 
 
 23 
 
 205 
 
 
 
 Pruning other varieties 
 
 1,120 acresf 
 
 1.0 acre 
 
 1,120 
 
 23 
 
 49 
 
 
 Table continued on next page. « 
 
; ■ ; 
 
 \ -, : . 
 
 ■ ■ . : ;. - 
 
 ■ -. 
 
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 V 
 
 
 
 
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 V" " " 
 
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 .i 
 
 
 
 
 
 a I 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 iable J 
 
 continusd . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Output per 
 
 
 ri V CLX X u-L/X c 
 
 Required number of 
 
 Month 
 
 CroD and task 
 
 Size of task 
 
 man- day 
 
 man- days 
 
 days 
 
 workers* 
 
 
 Grapes (cont.) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 March 
 
 X f f C^t^ 1 Co 1 
 
 
 
 
 26 
 
 
 ( cont . ) 
 
 Wrapping and tying Thompsons 
 
 "^t 0 f* V* P 
 
 
 
 
 19 , 139 
 
 23 
 
 833 
 
 man-months V 
 
 April 
 
 ceuns — — oxner unan di&ck— eye. 
 
 
 4 acres 
 
 
 
 
 
 xrn ^1,0, T/ing 
 
 ftnn r cres 
 
 200 
 
 24 
 
 9 
 
 (from 25-30) 
 
 
 Cot'tonJ Chopping 
 
 X ) VJ 0\J cii V I C 0 
 
 
 412 
 
 
 103 
 
 
 Onions: Weeding 
 
 PftO R P VP C5 
 
 
 964 
 
 24 
 
 41 
 
 ( •P-rnm P^_.''in^ 
 
 \ L I will £J'-z''U\J J 
 
 
 C\irof:.+ nni" + o p c; ' PI Pi n't" i ntr 
 
 
 n n y P 
 
 120 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 uELnLa-XOUpes . noeing a-na tninninLj 
 
 
 
 117 
 
 12 
 
 1 n 
 
 ^ I rora xD— ou^ 
 
 
 Kjd-L 1 yj lib * fV^ c vlXXi^ 
 
 
 
 600 
 
 24 
 
 25 
 
 (from 20-30) 
 
 
 Bunching 
 
 21 000 crates 
 
 15 crates 
 
 1,400 
 
 8 
 
 175 
 
 
 iomcLX'OGS — Ca.nning- r ±cxii\^ ±11^ ±11 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (.from 1-15; 
 
 
 I X^Xu 
 
 43C acres 
 
 0.75 cere 
 
 57 4 
 
 12 
 
 •i8 
 
 
 nuc xzig 
 
 344 acres 
 
 o.u acres 
 
 115 
 
 24 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 shipping or market: All operations 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 until oi ckin^ 
 
 
 » * 
 
 1 , 440 
 
 24 
 
 60 
 
 
 
 Watermelons: Hoeing and thinning 
 
 
 1.0 acre 
 
 A7S 
 
 Q 
 0 
 
 85 
 
 (from 20-30j 
 
 
 Apricots : Thinning 
 
 120 acres 
 
 0.2 acre 
 
 Ann 
 
 
 50 
 
 (from 15-30) 
 
 
 
 
 7 ,217 
 
 24 
 
 301 
 
 man-months v 
 
 met V 
 
 nXl aXi. dL* lYlfJWXIig 
 
 ■^ft OPS flcrp«3 ^ 
 
 R 0 f^f^TPR 
 
 4, 754 
 
 26 
 
 183 
 
 
 
 R '"^ Vt YiCF 
 
 rv .vAX 11^ 
 
 TiPl 025 acres 
 
 16.0 acres 
 
 2,377 
 
 26 
 
 92 
 
 
 
 ono civxng 
 
 ■^R OP'S acrpq^ 
 
 6.5 acres 
 
 5 , 850 
 
 26 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 0 ucx(Ji\xng 
 
 21.394 tons^ 
 
 3.0 tons 
 
 7 ,132 
 
 26 
 
 275 
 
 (from 15-31) 
 
 
 
 A OR? +nn'3 
 
 0 tonf? 
 
 676 
 
 13 
 
 52 
 
 
 
 
 2,5 acres 
 
 1, 854 
 
 26 
 
 72 
 
 
 
 
 X J *^ ^ U wl.^ 1 W 0 ■ 
 
 0.6 acre 
 
 2,160 
 
 26 
 
 84 
 
 
 
 L/Clll UclX U Up C 0 • flUcXli^ cXIIU. UilXllIiXIi^ 
 
 
 
 233 
 
 26 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 CO ) wVJL/ Lt* cX uCo 
 
 
 1,867 
 
 26 
 
 72 
 
 
 
 
 UXO cLUroo 
 
 
 172 
 
 26 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 bi iXpp Xn^ UI lUc^I J\<Jt« nXX UpcIcXtXUIlo 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 unxij. picKing 
 
 i7V dlOI Co/ 
 
 • * 
 
 1 S60 
 
 26 
 
 60 
 
 (from 1-10) 
 
 
 wifSiT/ermexons . noexng c^-no tnxnnxng 
 
 675 acres f 
 
 1.0 acre 
 
 
 R 
 
 (J 
 
 85 
 
 
 Apricots: Thinning 
 
 120 acres 
 
 0,2 acre 
 
 Ann 
 bUU 
 
 Xo 
 
 47 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 
 
 
 0.33 acre 
 
 8 , 485 
 
 13 
 
 653 
 
 (from 15-31) 
 
 
 i^uctuzic b • i iixniixng 
 
 2,800 acres 
 
 
 
 
 
 38,395 
 
 26 
 
 1.477 
 
 man-months^ 
 
 Table continued on next page , 
 
Table 3 continued. 
 
 X CL X ^ 
 
 
 
 
 Output per 
 
 Required 
 
 Available 
 
 Required number of 
 
 Month 
 
 Crop and tasjc 
 
 
 Size of task 
 
 man- day 
 
 man-days 
 
 days 
 
 workers* 
 
 June 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 
 38,025 acres f 
 
 8.0 acres 
 
 4,754 
 
 26 
 
 183 
 
 
 
 
 Raking 
 
 
 38,025 acres f 
 
 16.0 acres 
 
 2,377 
 
 26 
 
 92 
 
 
 
 
 Shocking 
 
 
 38,025 acres 
 
 6.5 acres 
 
 5,850 
 
 26 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 
 Stacking 
 
 
 21,394 tonst 
 
 3.0 tons 
 
 7,132 
 
 26 
 
 275 
 
 
 
 
 Baling 
 
 
 8,104 tons 
 
 6.0 tons 
 
 1,351 
 
 26 
 
 52 
 
 
 
 
 Beans — other than black-eye: 
 
 Irri- 
 
 
 4.0 acres 4^ 
 
 
 
 
 (from 
 
 15-30) 
 
 
 gating 
 
 
 600 acres t 
 
 150 
 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 
 Cotton: Chopping 
 
 
 4,635 acres 
 
 2.5 acres 
 
 1,854 
 
 26 
 
 72 
 
 (from 
 
 20-30) 
 
 
 Grain: Threshing with combine 
 
 
 11,907 acres + 
 
 8.0 acres 
 
 1,489 
 
 9 
 
 166 
 
 
 Onions: Harvesting 
 
 
 31,500 cwt. 
 
 35 cwt . 
 
 900 
 
 26 
 
 35 
 
 (from 
 
 1-10) 
 
 
 Sweet potatoes: Planting 
 
 
 72 acres ^ 
 
 0.6 acre 
 
 120 
 
 0 
 
 15 
 
 
 Carrots: Bunching 
 
 
 56,000 crates 
 
 15 crates 
 
 3,734 
 
 21 
 
 178 
 
 (from 
 
 1-25) 
 
 
 Tomatoes -- shipping or market: 
 
 All 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 
 operations until picking 
 
 
 90 acres ^ 
 
 « « 
 
 780 
 
 13 
 
 60 
 
 
 Picking 
 
 
 1,539 tons'^' 
 
 1,250 pounds 
 
 2,463 
 
 13 
 
 190 
 
 (from 
 
 15-30) 
 
 
 Apricots: Picking 
 
 
 1,000 tons 
 
 1,200 pounds 
 
 1,667 
 
 13 
 
 129 
 
 (from 
 
 15-30) 
 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 
 
 950 tons 
 
 750 pounds 
 
 2,534 
 
 13 
 
 195 
 
 (from 
 
 15-30) 
 
 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 
 684 tons1^ 
 
 
 753 
 
 13 
 
 58 
 
 (from 
 
 15-30) 
 
 
 Peaches: Thinning 
 
 
 2,800 acres 
 
 0.33 acre 
 
 8,485 
 
 13 
 
 653 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 
 Plums: Picking 
 
 
 50 tons 
 
 750 pounds 
 
 134 
 
 26 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 46.527 
 
 26 
 
 1.790 
 
 man-months 6 
 
 July 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 
 38,025 acres f 
 
 8.0 acres 
 
 4,754 
 
 26 
 
 183 
 
 
 
 
 Raking 
 
 
 38,025 acres 
 
 16.0 acres 
 
 2,377 
 
 26 
 
 92 
 
 
 
 
 Shocking 
 
 
 38,025 acresf 
 
 6.5 acres 
 
 5,850 
 
 26 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 
 Stacking 
 
 
 21,394 tonsl^ 
 
 3.0 tons 
 
 7,132 
 
 26 
 
 275 
 
 
 
 
 Baling 
 
 
 8,104 tons 
 
 6.0 tons 
 
 1,351 
 
 26 
 
 52 
 
 
 
 
 Beans — other than black-eye: 
 
 Hoc- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ing 
 
 
 1,000 acres 
 
 
 175 
 
 26 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 Irrigating 
 
 
 1,600 acres f 
 
 4.0 acres 
 
 400 
 
 26 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 Grain: Threshing with combine 
 
 
 39,690 acresf 
 
 8.0 acres 
 
 4,962 
 
 26 
 
 191 
 
 
 
 
 Onions: Harvesting 
 
 
 3,500 cwt. 
 
 35 cwt . 
 
 100 
 
 26 
 
 4 
 
 
 10-31) 
 
 
 Cantaloupes: Picking 
 
 
 25,200 crates 
 
 25 crates 
 
 1,008 
 
 17 
 
 60 
 
 (from 
 
 
 Packing 
 
 
 18,900 crates 
 
 150 crates 
 
 126 
 
 17 
 
 8 
 
 (from 
 
 10-31) 
 
 
 Tomatoes — canning: Picking 
 
 
 774 tons 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 1,032 
 
 13 
 
 80 
 
 (from 
 
 15-31) 
 
 
 shipping or market: Picking 
 
 
 9,747 tons ^ 
 
 1,250 pounds 
 
 15,596 
 
 26 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
Table 3 continued . 
 
 
 
 
 
 Output per 
 
 Requi red 
 
 Available 
 
 Required number of 
 
 Mon'th 
 
 Crop and task 
 
 
 Size of task 
 
 man- day 
 
 man- days 
 
 days 
 
 workers* 
 
 Tu 1 V 
 
 ^ Iki X JF 
 
 Wptermelons: Pickinff 
 
 
 5.700 tonsT 
 
 10 tons >§-^ 
 
 570 
 
 17 
 
 34 
 
 (from 
 
 10-31) 
 
 (cont . ) 
 
 Apricots: Picking 
 
 
 1,000 tons 
 
 1,200 pounds 
 
 1 ,667 
 
 13 
 
 129 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 
 
 950 tons 
 
 750 pounds 
 
 2,534 
 
 13 
 
 195 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 
 1,026 tons'P 
 
 
 1,129 
 
 17 
 
 67 
 
 (from 
 
 1-21) 
 
 
 Peaches: Picking for shipping 
 
 
 1,457 tons 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 1,943 
 
 26 
 
 75 
 
 
 
 
 Plums: Picking 
 
 
 66 tons 
 
 750 pounds 
 
 176 
 
 26 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 52,882 
 
 26 
 
 2,034 
 
 man-months ^ 
 
 August 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 
 38,025 acres + 
 
 8.0 acres 
 
 4,754 
 
 26 
 
 183 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Raking 
 
 
 38,025 acres =^ 
 
 16.0 acres 
 
 2,377 
 
 26 
 
 92 
 
 
 
 
 Shocking 
 
 
 38,025 acres-f^ 
 
 6.5 acres 
 
 5,850 
 
 26 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 
 Stacking 
 
 
 21,394 tonsf 
 
 3.0 tons 
 
 7,132 
 
 26 
 
 275 
 
 
 
 
 Baling 
 
 
 8,104 tons 
 
 6.0 tons 
 
 1,351 
 
 26 
 
 52 
 
 
 
 
 Beans — other than black-eye: 
 
 Hoe- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ing 
 
 
 1,000 acres 
 
 /I // 
 
 175 
 
 26 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 Irrigating 
 
 
 600 acres t 
 
 4 .0 acres tV- 
 
 150 
 
 8 
 
 19 
 
 (from 
 
 1-10) 
 
 
 Grain: Threshing with combine 
 
 
 27,783 acres ^ 
 
 8.0 acres 
 
 3,473 
 
 26 
 
 134 
 
 
 
 
 Cantaloupes: Picking 
 
 
 37,800 crates 
 
 25 crates 
 
 1,512 
 
 26 
 
 59 
 
 
 
 
 Packing 
 
 
 28,350 crates 
 
 150 crates 
 
 189 
 
 26 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 Melons: Picking honeydews 
 
 
 35,700 crates ^ 
 
 3.5 tons 
 
 10,200 
 
 26 
 
 393 
 
 
 
 
 Carrots: Weeding 
 
 
 100 acres 
 
 
 90 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 (from 
 
 20-31) 
 
 
 Tomatoes — canning: Picking 
 
 
 2,322 tons 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 3,096 
 
 26 
 
 120 
 
 
 
 
 shipping or canning: Picking 
 
 
 1,539 tonsf 
 
 1,250 pounds 
 
 2,463 
 
 26 
 
 95 
 
 
 
 
 Watermelons: Picking 
 
 
 8,550 tons=^ 
 
 10 tons v^x- 
 
 855 
 
 26 
 
 33 
 
 
 
 
 Almonds: Knocking 
 
 
 150 tonsf 
 
 300 pounds 
 
 1,000 
 
 13 
 
 77 
 
 (from 
 
 15-31) 
 
 
 Hulling 
 
 
 150 tons^ 
 
 400 pounds 
 
 750 
 
 13 
 
 58 
 
 (from 
 
 15-31) 
 
 
 Figs: Picking Kadotas 
 
 
 810 tons 
 
 400 pounds 
 
 4,050 
 
 17 
 
 239 
 
 (from 
 
 10-31) 
 
 
 Picking up Calimyrnas, Missions, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and Adriatics 
 
 
 1,750 tons 
 
 900 pounds 
 
 3, 889 
 
 13 
 
 
 (from 
 
 15-31) 
 
 
 Drying, sorting, fumigating, 
 
 etc . 
 
 729 tons 
 
 
 2,552 
 
 13 
 
 197 
 
 (from 
 
 15-31) 
 
 
 Grapes: Picking for shipping 
 
 
 1,200 tons 
 
 1.500 Dounds 
 
 1 , 600 
 
 17 
 
 95 
 
 (from 
 
 10-31) 
 
 
 Peaches: Picking for canning 
 
 
 13,240 tons 
 
 3,000 pounds 
 
 8,827 
 
 13 
 
 679 
 
 (from 
 
 15-31) 
 
 
 Picking for shipping 
 
 
 2,378 tons 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 3,171 
 
 26 
 
 122 
 
 
 
 
 Picking for drying 
 
 
 9,900 tons 
 
 2,000 pounds 
 
 9,900 
 
 26 
 
 381 
 
 
 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 
 
 8,910 tons't' 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 11,880 
 
 26 
 
 457 
 
 
 
 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 
 7,425 tons it 
 
 
 8,539 
 
 26 
 
 329 
 
 
 
 Table continued on next page. oi 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Table 3 continued. 
 
 Month 
 
 
 
 Output psr 
 
 Requi rsd 
 
 Available 
 
 Required number of 
 
 f ' V* ^ ^ *^ 1^ 
 
 urop c-iia i-ciSK 
 
 olZ6 01 X.'^^.^SK 
 
 nian— ci?..v 
 
 m£in— days 
 
 days 
 
 
 workers* 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 A II /~v 1 1 *'» r1 
 
 f puunas 
 
 
 PA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 luu , U'ty 
 
 PA 
 
 3 
 
 , o4y 
 
 man-months 9 
 
 MX I ccXI ci. IViOWilig 
 
 pC TOC; o/«>«oo ^ 
 
 
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 PA 
 CD 
 
 
 ice 
 
 
 
 fVcL J\X rig 
 
 O ^ "Z O C, o v» Q c> -* 
 
 ) o^o acrGs ' 
 
 I C il Q ^ V% ^ ^ 
 
 XO • U cLCxcS 
 
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 PA 
 CD 
 
 
 AT 
 OX 
 
 
 
 
 
 £Z n ^ v% ^ ^ 
 
 o«3 acres 
 
 o, oy / 
 
 PA 
 CD 
 
 
 T AA 
 XDU 
 
 
 
 
 x<c, ooo xonsT 
 
 o.u xons 
 
 , li / y 
 
 PA 
 CD 
 
 
 XOD 
 
 
 
 DclX X Ilg 
 
 0 J xuft i-ons 
 
 o • u xons 
 
 i , oox 
 
 PA 
 CO 
 
 
 R o 
 DC 
 
 
 
 PccLZls UXclt/Jiv--cy c • OIlUOAXng 
 
 OcU olCF65 7 
 
 
 lOU 
 
 XO 
 
 
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 \ from 
 
 XO-OU I 
 
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 / 
 
 XO 
 
 
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 ( from 
 
 XO— OU ) 
 
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 XO 
 
 
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 ivic xu . A X ui\x ilg xiuficyucwfa 
 
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 o»o x-ons 
 
 
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 luiiictuuco — ociriiixrig* X xuAXiig 
 
 c J 1 Kjv buns 
 
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 PA 
 CD 
 
 
 xoy 
 
 
 
 riXlUUiiUo • IVilU UfXlX Xig 
 
 A PO + r» « o -4^ 
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 ouu pounQs 
 
 p Hnn 
 
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 XUO 
 
 
 
 Hullin'7 
 
 ApO tnnc:^ 
 
 •l CJKJ U U I X o ' 
 
 AOO nrvnrtj^Q 
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 PA 
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 ? 700 tnr>c5 
 
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 AC)C\ r\nnn/lc3 
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 OO , xoc 
 
 JL\J 
 
 4 
 
 /I 7 A 
 
 ,4/0 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 
 ■^fi 000 tone; ^ 
 
 1 AOO +r»i:siro ^ 
 
 X } 3VJU ur ay o " 
 
 0 , I CO 
 
 X / 
 
 
 514 
 
 (from 
 
 10-30) 
 
 ox u-Jf o 
 
 T A ooo tnn<3 i. 
 
 1 Ann + y»Q Tr o 
 
 fi7Q 
 
 Q 
 0 
 
 
 485 
 
 (from 
 
 20-30) 
 
 
 
 X • w LUno 
 
 o , ooy 
 
 XO 
 
 
 A Q /} 
 
 Do4 
 
 (from 
 
 15-30) 
 
 i^xoAxng I or snipping 
 
 u , you xons 
 
 ijDUU pounds 
 
 b , eioU 
 
 CD 
 
 
 204 
 
 
 
 X CCXV^XiCO* X X Wj\J.ilg t \J I OCLIiXiXXig 
 
 o J oxu i/ons 
 
 o,uuu pounas 
 
 P P07 
 c , cU 1 
 
 XO 
 
 
 170 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 Picking for drying 
 
 1,100 tons 
 
 2,000 pounds 
 
 1,100 
 
 13 
 
 
 85 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 Cutting for drying 
 
 990 tons"^ 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 1,320 
 
 13 
 
 
 102 
 
 (from 
 
 1-15) 
 
 Other dry-yard labor 
 
 2,475 tonsf' 
 
 
 2,847 
 
 26 
 
 
 110 
 
 
 
 Walnuts: Shaking off, picking up, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and hulling 
 
 332,000 pounds 
 
 225 pounds 
 
 1,476 
 
 26 
 
 
 57 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 149.371 
 
 ! 26 
 
 5 
 
 ,746 
 
 man-months ^ 
 
 August 
 (cont . ) 
 
 Table continued on next page, 
 
i 
 
 I ■ ■ 
 

 
 If 
 
 
 • 
 
 « 
 
 4r' 
 
 Table 2 
 
 continued . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Output per 
 
 Requi red 
 
 Available 
 
 Required number of 
 
 Month 
 
 CroD and task 
 
 
 man- day 
 
 man -days 
 
 days 
 
 workers* 
 
 October 
 
 Alfalfa: Mowing 
 
 12,700 acres 
 
 8.0 acres 
 
 1,588 
 
 13 
 
 123 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 
 Raking 
 
 12,700 acres'^ 
 
 16.0 acres 
 
 794 
 
 13 
 
 62 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 
 Shocking 
 
 12,700 acresf 
 
 6.5 acres 
 
 1,954 
 
 13 
 
 151 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 
 Stacking 
 
 8,558 tons^ 
 
 3.0 tons 
 
 2,853 
 
 13 
 
 220 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 
 Baling 
 
 4,052 tons 
 
 6.0 tons 
 
 676 
 
 13 
 
 52 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 
 Beans — black-eye: Shocking 
 
 640 acres 
 
 2.0 acres 
 
 320 
 
 26 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 Threshing 
 
 2,560 acres f" 
 
 3.0 acres 
 
 854 
 
 26 
 
 33 
 
 
 
 other than black-eye: Harvesting 
 
 300 acres'f^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 with combine 
 
 6.0 acres 
 
 50 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 Cotton: Picking 
 
 3,489,750 pounds t 
 
 300 pounds 
 
 11,633 
 
 26 
 
 448 
 
 
 
 Rice: Sv/athing with push header 
 
 930 acres ^ 
 
 15.0 acres 
 
 62 
 
 26 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Threshing with pickup combine 
 
 620 acres ^ 
 
 4.0 acres 
 
 155 
 
 26 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 Sorghums for grain: Cutting by hand 
 
 770 acres ^ 
 
 0.75 acre 
 
 1,027 
 
 26 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 Threshing 
 
 6,945 bushels ^ 
 
 100 bushels 
 
 70 
 
 26 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Threshing with combine 
 
 584 acres ^ 
 
 5.0 acres 
 
 117 
 
 26 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Sweet potatoes: Harvesting 
 
 1,090 acres I' 
 
 0.15 acre 
 
 7,267 
 
 25 
 
 280 
 
 (from I-IO) 
 
 
 Carrots: Weeding 
 
 100 acres 
 
 
 90 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 
 Bunching 
 
 7,000 crates 
 
 12 crates 
 
 584 
 
 13 
 
 45 
 
 (from 15-31) 
 
 
 Tomatoes -- canning: Picking 
 
 1,935 tons 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 
 2,580 
 
 26 
 
 100 
 
 (from 1-7) 
 
 
 Almonds: Knocking 
 
 30 tons "i^ 
 
 300 pounds 
 
 200 
 
 6 
 
 34 
 
 
 Hulling 
 
 30 tons ^ 
 
 400 pounds 
 
 150 
 
 6 
 
 25 
 
 (from 1-7) 
 
 
 Apricots: Pruning 
 
 106 acres 
 
 0.25 acre 
 
 424 
 
 25 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 Figs: Picking Kadotas 
 
 1,620 tons 
 
 400 pounds 
 
 8,100 
 
 26 
 
 312 
 
 
 
 Picking up Calimyrnas, Missions, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^IIUiIl ±— iOy 
 
 
 and Adriatics 
 
 1,750 tons 
 
 900 pounds 
 
 3,889 
 
 13 
 
 ouo 
 
 
 Drying, sorting, fumigating, etc. 
 
 2,916 tons^ 
 
 
 10,206 
 
 26 
 
 393 
 
 (from 1-10) 
 
 
 Grapes: Rolling trays 
 
 16 ,000 tons 
 
 1,500 trays ^ 
 
 3,879 
 
 8 
 
 485 
 
 
 Boxing and hauling in 
 
 uU , uuu Lons-f" 
 
 
 12,000 
 
 26 
 
 462 
 
 
 
 Picking for wineries > 
 
 CD , DO 1 T,ons 
 
 
 17,778 
 
 25 
 
 684 
 
 
 
 Picking for shipping 
 
 
 1,500 tons 
 
 8,640 
 
 26 
 
 333 
 
 
 
 Walnuts: Shaking off, picking up, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and hulling 
 
 49R 000 Dounds 
 
 225 pounds 
 
 2,214 
 
 26 
 
 86 
 
 
 
 
 
 100.154 
 
 26 
 
 3,853 
 
 man-months ^ 
 
 November 
 
 Beans — black-eye: Shocking 
 
 320 acres ^ 
 
 2.0 acres 
 
 160 
 
 12 
 
 14 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 
 Threshing 
 
 1,280 acres^ 
 
 3.0 acres 
 
 427 
 
 12 
 
 36 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
4. 
 
 i . 
 
 ■ { 
 
 ■ "L- p." ;■ \ 
 
 -J. 
 
 i 
 
 1 ■ ... - I 
 
 f.- 
 
Table 3 continued- 
 
 Month 
 
 Crop and task 
 
 Size of task 
 
 Output per 
 man- day 
 
 Required 
 man- days 
 
 Available 
 days 
 
 Required number of 
 workers* 
 
 November 
 (cont . ) 
 
 December 
 
 Beans (cont.) 
 other than black-eye: Harvesting 
 with combine 
 Cotton: Picking 
 
 Rice: Swathing with push header 
 Threshing with pickup combine 
 
 Sorghums for grain: Cutting by hand 
 Threshing 
 
 Threshing with combine 
 Sweet potatoes: Harvesting 
 Carrots: Bunching 
 Peas: Picking 
 Almonds: Spraying 
 Apricots: Pruning 
 Figs: Picking Kadotas 
 
 Drying, sorting, fumigating, etc. 
 Grapes: Picking for shipping 
 Peaches: Spraying 
 
 Cotton: Picking 
 
 Carrots: Bunching 
 
 Peas: Picking 
 
 Almonds: Spraying 
 
 Apricots: Pruning 
 
 Figs -- Kadota: Pruning 
 
 Grapes: Pruning Thompsons 
 
 Pruning other varieties 
 
 Wrapping and tying Thompsons 
 Peaches: Pruning freestones 
 
 Pruning clingstones 
 
 Spraying 
 
 50 acres f 
 3,489,750 pounds T 
 620 acres ^ 
 
 600 acres f 
 
 51 acres 
 4,630 bushels f- 
 194 acres 
 1,090 acres f 
 14,000 crates 
 56,700 hampers 
 469 acres ^ 
 106 acres t 
 270 tons 
 
 729 tonst" 
 360 tons 
 
 924 acres ¥ 
 
 6.0 acres 
 300 pounds 
 15.0 acres 
 4.0 acres 
 0.75 acre 
 100 bushels 
 5.0 acres 
 0.15 acre 
 12 crates 
 9 hampers 
 1.0 acre 
 0.25 acre 
 400 pounds 
 
 1,500 pounds 
 1 . 0 acre 
 
 9 
 
 11,633 
 42 
 155 
 68 
 47 
 39 
 7,267 
 1,167 
 6,300 
 469 
 424 
 1,350 
 2,552 
 480 
 924 
 
 12 
 24 
 16 
 24 
 12 
 24 
 12 
 24 
 24 
 24 
 12 
 24 
 6 
 12 
 16 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 485 
 3 
 7 
 6 
 2 
 4 
 
 303 
 49 
 
 263 
 40 
 18 
 
 225 
 
 213 
 30 
 77 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 (from 1-20) 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 (from 15-30) 
 
 (from 1-8) 
 (from 1-15) 
 (from 1-20) 
 (from 15-50) 
 
 55.513 
 
 24 
 
 j.. 597 man-months';^ 
 
 1,552,000 pounds t 
 
 14,000 crates 
 
 19,800 hampers 
 
 469 acres f 
 
 105 acres 
 
 281 acres ^ 
 
 706 acres'^ 
 
 560 acres'^ 
 
 555 acres^ 
 
 855 acres'^ 
 
 1,508 acres 
 
 924 acres t- 
 
 500 pounds 
 12 crates 
 9 hampers 
 1.0 acre 
 0.25 acre 
 0.5 acre 
 0.5 acre 
 1.0 acre 
 5.0 acres 
 0.25 acre 
 0.25 acre 
 1.0 acre 
 
 5,174 
 1,167 
 2,200 
 469 
 420 
 957 
 2,554 
 560 
 118 
 5,412 
 6,052 
 924 
 
 22 
 22 
 22 
 11 
 22 
 22 
 22 
 22 
 11 
 22 
 22 
 11 
 
 256 
 54 
 
 100 
 45 
 20 
 45 
 
 107 
 26 
 11 
 
 156 
 
 275 
 84 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 
 (from 15-51) 
 
 25.767 
 
 22 
 
 1.081 
 
 (from 1-15) 
 man-months 4 
 
 * On a monthly basis unless otherwise noted. 
 
 i Seed cotton -- For September, October, and November, it is estimated that it takes 1,550 pounds of seed cotton to 
 
 Table continued on next page. cd 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -V 
 
 L 
 
Table 3 continued. 
 
 make a. bale. After the frost — that is, during December, January, February, and March — this figure is estimated to be 
 1,500 pounds. 
 
 =f Portion of job done by seasonal workers. 
 
 ^ It should be noted that this figure, rather than representing the rc-quired number of workers, represents the re- 
 quired 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. 
 
 <fl Onion weeding is estimated to require a total of 86 man-hours per acre -- 20 per cent in February, and 40 per 
 cent in each of March e.nd April. 
 
 I< Weeding the spring crop of carrots requires a total of approximately 60 man-hours per acre — one-third in each 
 of the months, February, March, and April. 
 
 •* Estimated to require one man continuously for each li acres. 
 
 rT Caprifying requires one man-day per acre. 
 
 f^Rate of work for 12-hour day. 
 
 4</ Hoeing and thinning cantaloupes require a total of one man-day per acre -- one-third in April, and two-thirds in 
 
 May . 
 
 flUDry-yard labor, other than cutting, estimated to be as follows: 
 
 Apricots - 11 man-hours per fresh ton 
 Peaches - 11.5 man-hours per fresh ton 
 
 II ll Bean hoeing is estimated to require 3.5 man-hours per acre — 50 per cent in July, and 5C per cent in August. 
 
 Rate of work for a 5 to 6-hour day. 
 
 ^ Creites of 38 pounds net weight. 
 
 Weeding fall and winter cr.rrots is estimated to require 45 man-hours per acre -- 20 per cent in August, 60 per 
 cent in September, and 20 per cent in October. g 
 
 Table continued on next page. 
 
0 
 
 Table 2 continued. 
 
 It is estimated that it requires an average of 35 man-hours per dry ton to handl 
 made for the variation in amounts of labor required for different varieties. 
 
 e/" Trays of about 5^ pounds raisins, net weight. 
 
22. 
 
 TABLE 4 
 
 Summary of Seasonal labor Needs by Months 
 Merced County 
 1935 
 
 Month 
 
 Required man-days 
 of seasonal labor 
 
 Available 
 days 
 
 Required man- 
 of seasonal 
 
 -months 
 labor 
 
 January 
 
 28,441 
 
 20 
 
 1,423 
 
 
 February 
 
 23,924 
 
 24 
 
 997 
 
 
 Mar ch 
 
 19,139 
 
 23 
 
 833 
 
 
 April 
 
 7,217 
 
 24 
 
 301 
 
 
 May 
 
 38,395 
 
 26 
 
 1,477 
 
 
 June 
 
 46,527 
 
 26 
 
 1,790 
 
 
 July 
 
 52,882 
 
 26 
 
 2,034 
 
 
 August 
 
 100,049 
 
 26 
 
 3,849 
 
 
 September 
 
 149,371 
 
 26 
 
 5,746 
 
 
 October 
 
 100,154 
 
 26 
 
 3,853 
 
 
 November 
 
 33,513 
 
 24 
 
 1,397 
 
 
 December 
 
 23,767 
 
 22 
 
 1,081 
 
 
 Total 
 
 623,379 
 
 
 24,781 
 
 Notes 
 
 Notes on Table 2 » — 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 Yirith seasonal labor. For instance, 
 only about 80 per cent of the labor in harvesting grain is done by seasonal workers. 
 IVhen 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 produc- 
 ers, and records of carlot shipments, the latter proving helpful in fixing 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 . Rec- 
 ords of truck shipments were also used when available. 
 
 Notes on Table 5 . — Table 3 is the condensed summary of labor needs as worked 
 out for Merced County as a result of findings pertinent to 1935. The data are pre- 
 sented by months with the tasks which were performed in each month indicated by both 
 crop and task. The size of the job v/as 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 differ- 
 ent 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 de- 
 termined from a study of the monthly v/eather 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 working month v/ithout allowance for holidays) : 
 

 
 
 
 • "... 
 
 1 
 ( 
 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 ) 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 
 i 
 
 > 
 
 \ 
 
 ; f 
 
 » 
 
 t 
 
23, 
 
 
 
 Available 
 
 Length of 
 
 
 Available 
 
 Length of 
 
 Month 
 
 days 
 
 work day 
 
 Month 
 
 days 
 
 work day 
 
 
 
 hours 
 
 
 
 hours 
 
 January 
 
 20 
 
 9 
 
 July 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 February- 
 
 24 
 
 9 
 
 August 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 March 
 
 23 
 
 10 
 
 September 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 April 
 
 24 
 
 10 
 
 October 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 May 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 November 
 
 24 
 
 9 
 
 June 
 
 26 
 
 10 
 
 December 
 
 22 
 
 9 
 
 Source of data: Based on precipitation records of the Los Banos 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 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 per- 
 formed in a period less than the number of available days in the month, then the spe- 
 cific number of days was noted. These restrictions are shown in parentheses. For 
 example, in July, picking of apricots was limited to the first half of the month, 
 picking watermelons to the last twenty days, 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 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. 
 
 In an area such as Merced County, involving a variety of annual crops, the 
 findings as set forth in this report are bound to fluctuate materially from year to 
 year, because of the market outlook upon what and how much acreage is planted, and 
 when it is planted; 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. 
 
» 
 
 f