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. «
; ■ ;
\ -, : .
■ ■ . : ;. -
■ -.
:
w , ■ ,
• •
V
i * ■
: ;r • ■ ;
; ;
V" " "
I r - . - .
; : ...
\ ..... ......
I ■ ■•->-• ..-
t ,--- :,>:-..: '
:
V- .....vir-.'-
i ■
• ' ...
,• . .. ..
*
i
-•■..•""•'!"
t v . .. ■ ...... V
( .; ■"■
1
■
■ ; '■ ■ {•■;:. v .
i T ;<:;;,■: .•
.'r.
i-
i
... . ,
- ■ ■ -
•
■ .. ; .... ... . ...
.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
'
i
-
- ' ■ ' '/
■ ■
(
i
" ■.'
- ■
■ . . X
■ ^
,
■ ■ , ■
-
: :
: : . . ■ ..
.. . ...
- .-v.;-:
i
i -v-o --^ V- '
V r
-
t
1
- -
r ■ ■ ?
•
i
1
j"
'. , ' ,
■■ f
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 ^
O , XDD
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
X , ooo
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
XO
\ from
XO-OU I
1 III C OllX Ilg
o . u acre s
/
XO
OO
( from
XO— OU )
U Ullt^ I L^IlcLll UXcUjA— *J • ilcli VC o bXllg
w J. irij vjiuu J. lie
±U\J dux Co y
PR
X^
o
c
V from
XO— OU I
iCUU clUx Co /
P7A
XO
pp
cc
\ 1 X
d. o— f
ivic xu . A X ui\x ilg xiuficyucwfa
A "^nO r» v»a + o o b
0 , ouu Cid-x-es Nji^
"2 A + ir» *^
o»o x-ons
XO
0
I f* y* rim
\ X X UIIl
X— XO /
TOO Q f* V»C4 CJ
XVJU cLC I C o
P7n
PA
CD
XX
luiiictuuco — ociriiixrig* X xuAXiig
c J 1 Kjv buns
n A 1111 1^ ^ 1 1 v\ *i
X y Duu pounas
A1 P
O , 0 J.£>
PA
CD
xoy
riXlUUiiUo • IVilU UfXlX Xig
A PO + r» « o -4^
'tCU LUXlo T
ouu pounQs
p Hnn
PA
CD
XUO
Hullin'7
ApO tnnc:^
•l CJKJ U U I X o '
AOO nrvnrtj^Q
*±wV ^wulXUo
PA
CO
ox
? 700 tnr>c5
(>> ) 1 w\J U<JIXo
AC)C\ r\nnn/lc3
'iUv puUiXUo
PA
CD
APn
•3^ SOO tnrK5
QOO n/^MW/^c;
puuxiQo
7 77R
PA
CO
OUU
P Ql fi t nn<3 ^
J,U , CUD
PA
CD
oy o
M 1 Ct>^ wo* X^WlVXIlp^ XwX 1 u<X O iO
1 fiO 000 t nn<5
A A OO r^rM 1 n H c!
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