University of California
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Experiment Station
Berkeley, California
SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS
TULARE COUNTY
Progress Report No. 54
by
R . I. . Adams
Preliminary — Subject to Correction
February, 1937
Contribution from the
Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
Mimeographed Report No. 53
(Farm Labor Survey — July-December, 1936)
Frogress Report Mo. 54
Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops
Tulare County
Scope of Presentation . — The following considerations govern the presentation
of this progress report:
1. The data are confined to the area indicated above.
2. The data are confined solely to crops, livestock needs being ignored.
3. The findings apply only to occasional or seasonal labor requirements as
distinguished from labor contributed by farm operators and by workers employed on a
year-round or regular basis of employment.
4. Attention is concentrated upon workers required for hand tasks — planting,
thinning, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting — without including teamsters, tractor
drivers, irrigators, and shed packers of vegetables or fruits.
5. The presentation includes the so-called migratory, transient, or roving
workers which comprise an important source of help needed in connection with certain
tasks and at "peak" times which seasonally arise in connection with many field,
truck, and fruit crops commercially produced in California.
6. This report is confined to California's need for seasonal agricultural
workers because of the more pressing problems liable to arise in connection there-
with. A later study is planned which will deal with other kinds of labor involved
in the production of California's many crops.
Crops, Acreages, and Production .-- The basis used in calculating occasional or
seasonal need for labor, other than that furnished by farm operators and regularly
employed workers, appears as table 1. Cwing to lack of assembled data, acreage and
production figures have been compiled from various sources and are used as being the
best available.
TABLE 1
Basis fer Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements
Tulare County
Crop
Acreage
Production
Field crops:*
Alfalfa
40,322
160,882 tons
Cotton
55,800
60,026 bales t i
Grain — barley
8,805
177,209 bushels •
oats
1,251
26,978 bushels
wheat
20,377
205,475 bushels
Hay — other than alfalfa
27,312
40,968 tons
Potatoes, Irish 4-
6 73
96,095 bushels
Sorghums for grain, including
"corn"
7,750
269,989 bushels
Sweet potatoes +
128
12,005 bushels
Table continued on next page.
Table 1 continued.
Crop
Vegetable crops :^
Cucumbers f'
Lettuce
Melons
cantaloupes
honeyball
honeydew
watermelon
miscellaneous melons"^
Peas
Squash *f
Tomatoes
Carrots 1r
Beans f
Fruit and nut crops : »
Almonds T
Apples
Apricots
Avocados T
Cherries f-
Figs — estimated 10 per cent~V
Kadota
20 per cent Mission
30 per cent Calimyrna
40 per cent Adriatic
■- Muscat
Thomps on
- other varieties
Grapes, raisin
Grapes, table -
Grapes — wine
Loquats t
Nectarines
Olives
Peaches clingstone
freestone
Pears T
Pecans T"
Fer simmons
Plums
Prunes
Pomegranates
Quince 1*
Walnuts
Berries * — mostly youngberries
Strawberries
)
Acreage
161
700
1,205
240
315
2,131
90
2,838
149
833
51
59
346
360
861
6
5
3,452
57,66 7 crates shipped
27 cars plus 110,934 crates
42-1/2 cars
205-1/2 cars plus 50 crates
84-1/2 cars plus 53,921 tons
(91,841 hampers shipped — average 28
pounds
80,336 crates shipped — average 70 pound
30,674 lugs shipped
109,242 lugs shipped
37,969
16
3.
120
321
5,537
4,489
2,750
33
79
73
2,611
5,421
387
11
2
3,950>
5,899j
Froduction
Average in Exeter district 5 tons per acre
3,440 tons fresh weight, of which 33 per
cent were dried f\
Average 2.5 tons Kadota (fresh weight)
Average 1 ton Mission and Calimyrna (dry
weight)
Average three-fourths ton Adriatic (dry
weight)
165,000 tons shipped
|120,000 tons fresh weight (for raisins)^
75,000 tons to wineries
2,000 tons
/ll,200 tons canning
716 not for canning II
35,900 tons fresh weight (5 per cent
dried) ^
19,000 tons fresh weight (50 per cent
dried) ^fl
10-1/2 cars plus 897 lugs
253,154 lugs shipped
14,500 tons (dry weight)
36-1/2 cars plus 5,895 lugs
,689" J 2, 314, 000 pounds merchantable
1508,00'
14
82
000 pounds culls (estimated)
2,341 crates youngberries shipped
71,087 crates shipped
Table continued on next page"?
!
| ........... ^ . . • ■ .
.... . ■ . ■.. i
3.
Table 1 continued.
Crop
Acreage
I roduction
Citrus :
Oranges — navel
Valencia
Lemons
Grapefruit
Mixed citrus
26,828
13,007
1,026
783
480
11,046 cars (462 boxes of 75 pounds net
per car)**
5,958 cars (462 boxes of 75 pounds net per
car) **
152,375 boxes of 76 pounds net
175,000 packed boxes of 60 pounds net
* Data from U.S. census, 1935 — for crop year 1934.
t Data from California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. Final
California Cotton Report for the 1935 crop, Sacramento, May 26, 1936 - 1 p.
T Acreage or production small. Use of seasonal labor inconsequential and
hence ignored.
i
Acreage data from Oscar La Hemphill, Agricultural Commissioner, Tulare
County. Pruit and nut acreages arc from W.P.A. survey of 1936, and do not include
non-commercial plantings.
H Drying ratios estimated to be as follows: Apricots - 5 to 1
Peaches freestone - 7 to 1
clingstone - 8 to 1
Grapes — Muscat - 3-1/2 to
. . 1
Thompson - 4 to 1
f| Figures on olive production represent normal conditions. In 1935 early
frost stopped picking for pickling, and caused about 60 per cent of the crop to bo
used for oil. Data from California Olive Association.
** Data from California-Arizona Orange Grapefruit Agency.
Operations Requiring Seasonal Labor and Times of Keed .— Farm operations requir-
ing the use of seasonal or occasional labor for the various crops raised in Tulare
County are indicated in table 2. This tabulation doos not include the employing of
shed workers needed to wash, pack, and prepare various commodities for shipping and
marketing.
V
4.
TABLE 2
Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Tines of Heeds by Crops
Tulare County
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Fer cent of
work done by
seasonal help
Output per
man- day
Field crops
Alfalfa
Cotton
Mowing (5 cut-
tings)
Raking
Shocking (by
hand)
Stacking (90 per
cent of ton-
nage)
Baling (10 por
cent of ton-
nage)
Chopping
Hoeing
Irrigating
Picking ~¥
April 20-30 — 30 per cent of
acreage
May — 90 per cent of acreage
June -- 90 per cent of acre-
age
July — 90 per cent of acre-
age
August — two-thirds of acre-
ago
September — two-thirds of
acreage
October — two-thirds of
acreage
Same as raking
May to October, inclusive —
one-sixth of job each month
May to October, inclusive —
one-sixth of job each month
April 20-30 — 10 per cent of
job
May 1-31 — 75 per cent of
job
June 1-15 — 15 per cent of
job
June — 50 per cent of job
July — 50 per cent of job
June — 25 per cent of job
July — 25 per cent of job
August — 25 per cent of job
September — 25 per cent of
job
September 15-30 — 2.5 per
cent of crop
October 1-31 — 44 per cent
of crop
November 1-30
of crop
December 1-31
of crop
January 1-31
of crop
February 1-28
cent of crop
32 per cent
10 per cent
6 per cent
5.5 per
25
60
60
75
100
100
85
100
\ 100
8 acres
16 acres
9 acres
3.5 tons
5 tons
2.5 acres
5 acres*
250 pounds
(seed cot-
ton)
200 pounds
(seed cot-
ton)
Table continued on next page
I
I
I
. . . :
Table 2 continued.
5.
Crop
Grain (bar-
ley, oats
wheat)
Grain hay-
Operation
Harvesting with
combine
Sorghums .
for srain
Vegetables
Lettuce
Mowing
Raking
Shocking (with
rake)
Baling — 75
per cent of
crop
Cutting by hand
(50 per cent
of acreage)
Threshing by
stationary
machine — 50
per cent of
crop
Harvesting with
combine (50
per cent of
acreage)
Thinning
Hoeing
Cutting and
field packing
Time of need
Ter cent of
work done by
seasonal help
May 20-31 — 10 per cent of
acreage
June 1-30 — 75 per cent of
acreage
July 1-15
acreage
May 1-31 -
May 1-31 -
May 1-31 -
- 15 per cent of
all acreage
all acreage
all acreage
/
50 per cent of
50 per cent of
May 15-30
job
June 1-30
job
September 15-30 — 20 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 40 per cent
of job
November 1-30 — 40 per cent
of job
September 20-30 — 15 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 45 per cent
of job
November 1-30 — 40 per cent
of job
September 15-30 — 20 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 40 per cent
of job
November 1-30 — 40 per cent
of job
October — 65 per cent of
acreage
November — 20 per cent of
acreage
January — 15 per cent of
acreage
October — 45 per cent of
acreage
November
40 per cent of
15 per cent of
1 per cent of
acreage
February
acreage
December
crop
January — 63 per cent of
crop
February
crop
■- 22 per cent of
33
50
50
75
50
33
33
100
> 100
100
Output per
man- day
8 acres
8 acres
16 acres
30 acres
5 tons
0.75 acre
100 sacks
of 130
pounds
5.0 acres
0.33 acre
0.66 acre
18 packed
crates in
8 hours
Table continued on next page.
!
6.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Lettuce
(cont.)
Melons
(capped)
Canta-
loupes ,
honeyball
and
hone yd ew
Water-
melons
(capped)
Operation
Cutting and
field packing
(cont . )
Fl anting by hand
Capping
Thinning
Hoeing
Cultivating
Turning vines
Picking canta-
loupes and
loading trucks
Picking honey-
balls
Picking honey-
dews
Planting
Capping
Thinning
Hoeing
Cultivating
(several times)
Turning vines
Picking
Loading trucks
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal help
March -- 4 per cent of crop
April — 11 per cent of crop
February 15-28 — 75 per cent
of job
March 1-5 — 25 per cent of
job
February 15-28 -- 75 per cent
of job
March 1-5 -- 25 per cent of
job
April 1-30 — all of job
April 1-30 — 50 per cent of
job
May 1-31 — 50 per cent of
job
April — one-third of job
May — one-third of job
June — one-third of job
June 1-30 — all of job
June — 10 per cent of crop
July — 88 per cent of crop
August — 2 per cent of crop
August — two-thirds of crop
September — one-third of
crop
August -- 32 per cent of crop
September — 62 per cent of
crop
October 6 per cent of cropy 1
February 15-28 — 75 per cent
of job
March 1-5 — 25 per cent of
job
February 15-28 — 75 per cent
of job
March 1-5 — 25 per cent of
job
April 1-30 — all of acreage
April 1-30 — 50 per cent of
job
May 1-31 — 50 per cent of
job
April — 40 per cent of acre-
age
May — 40 per cent of acreage
June -- 20 per cent of acre-
age
June 1-30 — all of job
July — 98 per cent of crop
August — 2 per cent of crop
Same as picking
}
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
Output per
man-day
20 packed
crates in
9 hours
0.25 acre
1 acre
0.33 acre
Total of 3
man-days
per acre
Total of 3
man- days
per acre
2.0 acres
40 crates
40 crates
100 crates
2.5 acres
2.0 acres
0.66 acre
Total of 3
man-days
per acre
Total of
3 man-days
per acre
3.0 acres
12 tons
6 tons
Table continued on next page.
I
7.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Peas (all
on poles)
Tomatoes
Operation
Hoeing
Setting poles
Stringing
Dusting (11
times)
Irrigating (once
a week until
rain)
Frost control
(night irriga-
tion)
Picking
Removing poles
Planting ~^
Capping J
Setting poles
Hoeing 1
Tying
Sucker ing
Dusting
Cultivating and
irrigating
Picking
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
s easonal hel p
all acreage
- 60 per cent
August 1-31 -
August 15-31
of acreage
September 1-10 — 40 per cent
of acreage
August 25-31 — 10 per cent
of job
September 1-30 — 30 per cent
of job
October 1-31 — 30 per cent
of job
November 1-30 — 30 per cent
of job
August 10-31 — 2 times
September 1-30 — 3 times
October 1-31 — 3 times
November 1-30 — 3 times
August 1-31 — 4 times
September 1-30 — 4 times
October 1-31 — 4 times
November 1-30 --4 times
November — 50 per cent of
job
December — 50 per cent of
job
October — 16 per cent of
crop
November
crop
December
crop
January — 10 per cent of
crop
January 1-31 — all acreage
February — 20 per cent of
job
March — 20 per cent of job
April — 30 per cent of job
May — 30 per cent of job
-- 42 per cent of
32 per cent of
3
May 15-31
crop
June 1-30
crop
July 1-31
crop
23 per cent of
50 per cent of
27 per cent of
>
/
100
100
100
100
50
50
100
100
100
100
Output per
man- day
0.5 acre
0.5 acre
Total of 5
man- days
per acre
2.5 acres
7 acres
4
Total of
0.5 man-
days per
acre <$
180 pounds
1 acre
Total of 20
man-days
per acre
20 packed
Table continued on ne;rb page.
■ * *^ 'i
i
\
>
8.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Fruit and
nut crops :
Apples
(Exeter $
district)
estimated
150 acres
Apricots
Citrus :
Oranges
and lemons
Operation
Pruning
Thinning
Picking
Pruning
Thinning (by-
hand) 50 per
cent of acreage
Picking
Cutting for dry-
ing
Other labor in
dry yards
Pruning (25 per
cent of acre-
age)
Spraying
Applying
nitrates
Dusting — 50
per cent of
acreage — 3
times
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
se asona l help man-day
January — 50 per cent of job j
February — 50 per cent of >
job J
April — all of job
June 15-30 — all of crop
December -- one-third of
acreage
January — one-third of acre-
age
February — one-third of
acreage
April 15-30 — 50 per cent of
job
May 1-15 — 50 per cent of
job
June 1-30 — 80 per cent of
crop
July 1-7 -- 20 per cent of
crop
June 1-30 — 80 per cent of
job
July 1-7 — 20 per cent of
job
June 1-30
job
July .1-15
job
75 per cent of
25 per cent of
January — one-third of job
February — one-third of job
March — one-third of job
January 1-31 — 10 per cent
of acreage
February 1-28 — 10 per cent
of acreage
May — 80 per cent of acreage
January — 50 per cent of
acreage
February — 50 per cent of
acreage
March -- 25 per cent of job
April — 25 per cent of job
May — 25 per cent of job
June — 25 per cent of job
50
100
100
80
100
100
100
100
66
80
80
80
80
Output per
10 trees
(76 trees
per acre)
one-sixth
acre
1,000
pounds
0.25 acre
0,2 acre
1,000
pounds
750 pounds
11 man-
hours per
fresh tonl
0.2 acre
2 acres in
8 hours
3 acres in
12 hours
2.5 acres
25 acres
per night
Table continued on next page.
9.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Oranges
and lemons
(cont.)
Figs
Operation
Spreading fertil-
izer (including
hauling)
Smudging on 80
per cent of
Valencias and
40 per cent of
navels .
Picking oranges"t"t
Picking lemons tt
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal help
Picking grape-
fruit "ft
Pruning Kadotas
September
acreage
October -
acreage
November 1 to March 31
- 50 per cent of
50 per cent of
100
(usually con-
tracted)
66
29.4 per
25.1 per
9.3 per cent
1.3 per
>
>
November 1-30
cent of crop
December 1-31
cent of crop
January 1-31
of crop
February 1-28
cent of crop
March 1-31 — 1.4 per cent
of crop ^_
April 1-30 — 10.3 per cent ~
of crop
May 1-31 -- 18.6 per cent of
crop
June 1-30 — 4.5 per cent of
crop J
September — 1 per cent of
crop
October — 14 per cent of
crop
November — 28 per cent of
crop
December — 42 per cent of
crop
June -- 4 per cent of crop
July — 5 per cent of crop
Balance scattering and
inconsequential
February — 3 per cent of
crop
March — 20 per cent of crop
April — 40 per cent of crop \
May — 11 per cent of crop
June — 13 per cent of crop
July — 4 per cent of crop
Balance scattering and
inconsequential
December 15-31 — 20 per
cent of acreage
January 1-31 -« 40 per cent
of acreage
February 1-28 — 40 per cent
of acreage
/
>
100
100
100
100
50
Output per
man-day
2 acres
2,500
pounds (50
field
boxes) in
6 hours
(75
3,750
pounds
field
boxes) in
9 hours
10 field
boxes =600
pounds
90 field
boxes
=4,500
pounds
0.3 acre
Table continued on next page.
10.
Table 2 continued,
Crop
Figs (con
tinued)
Grapes
Operation
Caprifying
(Calimyrnas)
Picking Kadotas
(fresh)
Picking Missions
(for fresh ship-
ment)
Picking up for
drying —
Mission.,
Adriatic (
Cal imy rna
Drying, fumiga-
ting, sorting,
sacking, etc.
Mission,
Adriatic ,
Cal imyrna
Pruning (on
Thompson,
Sultana)
Pruning — other
table and wine
varieties
Burning brush --
Tying (Thompson
and Sultana)
Picking (for
raisins)
Turning trays
(once)
Roll ing paper
trays cfd
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal help
June 1-15 -- all of job
August 1-31 — 50 per cent
of crop
September 1-30 -- 50 per
cent of crop
June 1-30 — 30,611 flats
July 1-31 — 76,337 flats
66
100
100
25 per cent
■- 50 per
August 15-31 -
of crop
September 1-30
cent of crop
October 1-15 — 25 per cent
of crop
August 15-31 — 10 per cent
of job
September 1-30 — 40 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 40 per cent
of job
November 1-15 — 10 per cent
of job
December 1-31 -- 10 per cent
of job
January 1-31 -- 75 per cent
of job )
February 1-28 — 15 per cent
of job
December 1-31 — 10 per cent
of job
January 1-31 -- 75 per cent
of job >
February 1-28 — 15 per cent
of job *
very little by seasonal help
January — 75 per cent of
job
February — 15 per cent of
job
March -- 10 per cent of job y
August 15-31 -- 40 per cent ~|
of job
September 1-15 — 60 per
cent of job
September 1-30 — all of job
September 1-30 -- 66 per
cent of job
October 1-15 — 34 per cent
of job
100
50
66
66
Output per
man-day
1 man-day
per acre
30 boxes of
18 pounds
300 pounds
700 pounds
0.5 acre
0,75 acre
hence ignored,
66
100
100
85
2,5 acres
4,400
pounds
=200 trays
(green
weight)
1,500 trays
1,500 trays
(22 pounds
green
weight)
Table continued on- next page.
11.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Grapes
( cont . )
Nectarines
( included
with
peaches )
Olives
Peaches —
cling and
freestone
(includ-
ing nec-
tarines)
Operation
Boxing and haul-
ing in
Picking for ship-
ping
Picking for win-
eries
Pruning 25 per
cent of acreage
Picking for pick-
les
Picking for oil
Fruning
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal help
September 1-30 — 50 per
cent of job
October 1-30 — 50 per cent /
of job J
August 1-31 -- 10 per cent
of job
September 1-30 — 20 per
cent of job
October 1-31 ■-- 30 per cent
of job
November 1-30 -- 30 per cent
of job
December 1-15 — 8 per cent
of job >
Balance scattering and
inconsequential
August 20-31 — 10 per cent
of job
September 1-30 — 40 per
cent of job
October 1-31 -- 40 per cent
of job
November 1-30 — 10 per cent
of job
December — one-third of job
January -- one-third of job
February — one-third of job
September 15-30 -- 15 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 60 per cent
of job
November 1-21 — 25 per cent
of job
December -- 25 per cent of
job
January — 50 per cent of
job
February — 25 per cent of
job
December — one-third of
acreage
January — one-third of
acreage
February — one-third of
75
100
100
50
100
100
80
Output per
man -da3 ' -
5,000
pounds
(dry
weight)
1,500
pounds
1.5 tons
One-sixth
acre in 6
hours
400 Dounds
500 pounds
0.3 acre
Table continued on next page.
12.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Peaches
( cont . )
Persimmons
Plums
Prunes
Operation
Thinning (peaches
only)
Ficking cling-
stones
ticking free-
stones
Ficking nectar-
ines (for can-
ning)
Cutting for dry-
ing cling-
stones
Cutting free-
stones
Other labor in
dry yards
Ficking
Fruning
Thinning
Picking
Fruning (50 per
cent of acre-
age)
Picking up
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal helji
April 15-30 — 50 per cent
of acreage
May 1-15 — 50 per cent of
acreage
August 1-31 — 75 per cent
of crop
September 1-7 — 25 per cent
of crop
July 1-31 -- 50 per cent of ~~|
crop I
August 1-31 -- 50 per cent /
of crop J,
July 20-31 — 40 per cent of
crop
August 1-15 — 60 per cent
of crop
August 1-31 — 75 per cent
of job
September 1-7 25 per cent
of job
July 1-31 — two-thirds of
job
August 1-15 — one-third of
job
July -- 40 per cent of job
August — 50 per cent of job
September — 10 per cent of
job
October 1-31 — all of crop
December -- 50 per cent of
acreage
January --■ 50 per cent of
acreage
April 15-30 -- 50 per cent
of acreage
May 1-15 — 50 per cent of
acreage
June 1-30 — 67 per cent of
crop
July 1-31 — 30 per cent of
crop
August 1-31 — 3 per cent
of crop
December -- one-third of job
January -- one-third of job
February -- one-third of job
August 21-31 -- 25 per cent
of crop
September 1-30 75 per
cent of crop
75
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
66
100
100
80
100
Output per
man- day
0,2 acre
2,000
pounds
1,200
pounds
1,000
pounds
1,000
pounds
I , 500
pounds
II. 5 man-
hours per
fresh tonfl
35 boxes
=700
pounds
0.25 acre
0o2 acre
50 lugs
0.5 acre
1,500
pounds
Table continued on ne:ct page.
■ \
■
13.
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Prunes
( cont . )
Pomegran-
ates
Walnuts
Operation
Dipping and dry-
ing — 50 per
cent by sundry-
ing
50 per 'Cent by
dehydrator
Picking
Shaking off and
picking up, and
hulling by hand
(40 per cent of
crop)
Shaking off and
picking up only
(60 per cent of
crop)
Hulling by
machine, drying,
etc. (60 per
cent of crop)
Time of need
Per cent of
work done by
seasonal help
•J
August 21-31 — 25 per cent
of job
September 1-30 — 75 per
cent of job
August 21-31 — 25 per cent
of job
September 1-30 — 75 per
cent of job
September — one-third of ^
crop
October — one-third of crop
November — one-third of
crop
September 15-30 -- 10 per
cent of job
October 1-31 -- 80 per cent
of job
November 1-15 — 10 per cent
of job y
September 15-30 — 10 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 80 per cont
of job
November 1-15 — 10 per cent
of job
September 15-30 — 10 per
cent of job
October 1-31 — 80 per cent
of job
November 1-15 — 10 per
cent of job
75
75
100
100
100
66
Output per
man- day
8.3 man-
hours per
fresh tonll
6 man-hours
per fresh
ton II
50 boxes
=2 , 500
pounds
200 pounds
266 pounds
1,000
pounds
* Cotton hoeing, in addition to the first "chopping" is not always done,
and when done, varies greatly in amount from 2 acres to 10 acres per man-day.
f
1 Labor needs in irrigation of cotton vary extremely. Estimate is based on
an average of 12 man-hours per acre for the season, equally assigned to the months of
June, July, August, and September.
T Cotton picking by months is based on data from U.S. Department of Com-
merce, Bureau of the Census — "Cotton Production in the United States, Crop of
1935".
Irrigation of peas requires 1 man continuously on about each 40 acres,
and in addition, 1 man on about each 30 acres when irrigating at night for frost pro-
tection.
% Apples in Three Rivers district omitted because they are considered in-
consequential in the demand for seasonal help.
|i From Christie, A. W. and L. C» Barnard — The principles and practice of
sun-drying- fruit — California Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 388:40-60,
1925.
Table continued on next page.
it
^ ...
4jt'
14.
Table 2 continued.
** Smudging on citrus fruits roquiros 1 man for about each 5 acres on call
when needed. Usually called about 8 nights per season, but only 3 times in 1935.
-ft" Monthly picking of oranges and grapefruit is based on carlot shipments
during 1934-35 season — lemon picking based on lemon "pick" of the Klink Citrus
Association, Ivanhoe, for 1934-35 season.
^ f Labor needs in drying, fumigating and sorting figs estimated as follows
23 man-hours per dry ten on Adriatic and Mission varieties
27 man-hours per dry ton on Kadota variety.
50 man-hours per dry ton on Calimyrna variety
(10 hour days)
<j?9 Some grape growers use wood trays, in which caso the trays are stacked
instead of rolled.
Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs . — Details and summaries of seasonal labor re-
quirements of Tulare County agriculture are presented as table 3. The "size of task"
are figures drawn from table 1, in terms of either acreage or output in tons, crates,
boxes, or whatever unit is commonly used. The "output per man-day" is an average
figure for the entire acreage or output figured in 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 crew. Length of day is 9 hours, November to February; 10
hours, March to October; unless otherwise stated. Wide variations in output occur
between farm and farm, field and field, and season and season, because of differences
in soil typos, climatic conditions, weeds, yields, and other factors influencing the
amount of work that a laborer can perform in a given day. Moreover, the basis of
output is a mature, experienced male worker without reference to use of women, chil-
dren, and more or loss incxporiencod help that is sometimes used in connection with
certain of the tasks requiring use of seasonal workers. The column headed "available
days" reflects (a) limitations set from the period within which the work must be 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 number of days when 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 per man-day".
It is probablo that the estimated number of workers required, as recorded in
tablo 3, will often be too low, for the roason that "peaks" frequently occur, during
which an unusually large proportion of the job is done in a very short period. This
would naturally require a much greater number of workers than when the work is spread
over a longer poriod, oven though the total amount of labor (in man-days) remains the
same .
TABLE 3
Seasonal Labor Needs -- Tulare County -- by Months and Tasks
Required
Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man- days
days
workers*
January
Cotton: Picking
54,024 cwt.
200 pounds
27,012
20
1,351
Lettuce: Thinning
140 acres
0.33 acre
425
20
22
Cutting and field picking
36,330 crates f
18 crates
2,019
20
101
Peas: Picking
8,195 cwt.
180 pounds
4,553
20
228
Removing poles
2,838 acres
1 acre
2,838
20
142
Apples: Pruning
37 acres 1"
0.13 acre
285
20
15
Apricots: Pruning
230 acres
0.25 acre
920
20
46
Citrus -- oranges and lemons: Prun-
ing
2,247 acres "f"
0.2 acre
11,235
20
562
Spraying
3,269 acres ^
2.0 acres 4
1,635
20
82
Applying nitrates
16,344 acres?"
2.5 acres
6,538
20
327
Oranges: Smudging
Picking
1,095,856 boxes
50 boxes in 6 hours
21,918
20
1,096
Figs, Kadota: Pruning
70 acres "f
0.25 acre
280
20
14
Grapes -- Thompson and Sultana:
Pruning
14,850 acres +"
0.5 acre
29,700
20
1,485
Other table and wine varieties:
Pruning
20,725 acres +
0.75 acre
27,634
20
1,382
Thompson and Sultana: Tying
14,850 acres ^
2.5 acres
5,940
20
297
Olives: Pruning
231 acres
0.17 in 8 hours
1,359
20
68
Picking for oil
858 tons
500 pounds
3,432
20
172
Peaches, including nectarines: Prun-
ing
2,016 acres #
0.3 acre
6,720
20
336
Plums: Pruning
862 acres T
0.25 acre
3,448
20
173
Prunes: Pruning
723 acres?"
0,5 acre
1.446
20
73
159,337
20
7,967 man-months /(
February
Cotton: Picking
49,510 cwt.
200 pounds
24,755
23
1,077
Lettuce: Hoeing
105 acres
0.66 acre
160
23
7
Cutting and field packing
11,687 crates
18 crates f"
650
23
29
Table continued on next page. ,_•
----- -."»-• - —
Table 3 continued.
AC IjUl ICQ
n. VcLX ldUlc
Require
d number of
Month
Crop and task
Ol/jt O I I d b i\
Oi i+r*ii+ r\ p*y* mfl n — P v
UU LpU L PCI illCLIl — u& y
rnp Kl — Hpi V<3
jiicxii VJ.CJ. j o
workers*
February
Melons — cantaloupes, noneycews ana
(From 15-28)
( co nt . )
noneyuaiis. riaaiing nttna
1 "^lPf! ft f*T*P C!
0 ?5 acre
5,280
11
480
Capping
"} Dan r»o
1 ^20
120
(From 15-28)
Watermelons: Planting
1 , 599 acres
O A, j~y A V> £j /"I
c»o acres
xi
59
(From 15-28)
Capping
800
11
73 (From 15-28)
lomaLoes. rianxing anu capping
3,332
23
145
nppies. rruning
^R s^rpt?
0 1 ?5 finrp
293
23
13
Apricots: Pruning
c,cr3 acres
74>v
23
40
Citrus — oranges and lemons: Prun-
ing
P P47 arrpf? 4
n . P acre
11,235
23
489
Spraying
^ PAQ fl^r'p'C;^"
P 0 ft prpQ y
1 , 635
23
72
tiyyxy j-ii^j in vi cites
16 344 acres 4 s
2*5 acres
6 , 538
23
285
Oranges: Smudging
TJ
Picking
1 ^"*» 1 flA hovp o
J.JJ, J, 0*4 UUAc b
221
134
Grapefruit: Picking
S PRO hnvo c
QC\ VlHYPC
3U UUAC D
59
23
3
Figs , Kadota: Pruning
* U cLw c b (
PRO
23
13
urdPcS llioilipburi dilu oui IcLIld*
Pruning
S 940
23
259
uther xaoie ana wine varieties.
Pruning
4 , 145 acres t 5
U - / o acre
D , D<i /
C.O
241
Thompson and Sultana: Tying
2,970 acres r
2*5 acres
1 ICQ
1 , loo
co
52
uiives. pruning
O 17 in fi hour*?
1 , 359
23
€0
ricKing i or on
1 716
23
75
reacnes — including nectarines.
Pruning
C , UlO QUI tb 1
(~\ *»^ o /> v»o
U > »J cLU I
ft 7P0
23
293
Plums: Pruning
^ a ere s »
1 AAA
<- %J
63
RA RS" 2 !
3.690
man-months
March
Lettuce: Cutting and field packing
2,307 crates
20 crates +
116
23
6
Melons — cantaloupes, hcneyball and
(From 1-5)
honeydew: Planting by hand
440 acres
0.25 acre
1,760
3
587
Capping
440 acres
1.0 acre
440
3
147
(From 1-5)
Watermelons: Planting
533 acres
2.5 acres
214
3
72
(From 1-5)
Capping
533 acres
89
2.0 acres
267
3
(From 1-5)
Tomatoes: Setting poles
833 acres
**
3,332
23
145
Table continued on next page. \->
■
4P
Table 3 continued.
1 — —
i w ^ a i 'i n v 1 in
r\e yuii CC
i
Required number of
Mc nth
Crop and task
Size of task
uutpux per man— aay
i man — Gay s
day s
workers*
March
Citrus — oranges and lemons: Prun-
(cont. j
ing
2,247 acres T
0.2 acre
11 , 235
CO
489
Dusting
12,258 acres^
25.0 acres
A m
491
22
Oranges: Smudging
can
71
Picking
xo^ , yoo Doxes
du uoxes xn o nourb
do
144
urapeiruix. ricKing
OJ ; UUU LJUACb
17
urci.pes — — i nouipson ana ouiiana.
lying
1 Q fiO a r» y>c o
P ^ ^ o
70p
35
C ■ \J
972
man-months
April
Hj.iaj.ia. wiowj.ng
O , U*-** acres ~
Q or* v*r^
o acres
p
48
(From 20-30)
Raking
"Z HO/1 q r» y-. o O "t*
o,ucft acres
1 w o r> v» r\ r~i
io acres
icy
0
24
(From 20-30)
onocKing ^Dy nana;
/ , *cDo acres »
y acres
Rfl7
0
101
(From 20-30)
1^ r^ + + r\ v* • 1^ r"\ r> ¥"\ 1 v~t r*
uoxvon. unoppmg
J.D, i 'tu acres
O CI o n v» Q tTi
ic » 3 acre b
C» , C r>U
p
o
837
(From 20-30)
Lettuce: Cutting and field packing
o , 040 craxes
c^u cruxes
Old
14
wiexons — canxaxoupes , noneyacws ana
none) Da.j.xs ■ lninning
1 7 AO ft 1* y» o
PA
223
nOcing
X , 1 DU C4.L.I co
ft
PA
110
■ * 111 + -| TT r - * + ^ w\ rr
OU XXlVa-Xing
x j / ou acre s
F 1
1 , / OU
PA
74
•»u ic jtitic xu nt> . x in nil j. iig
X pOQ
PA
135
Hoeing
c,iox acres
i *
X 1 07
O , If /
PA
134
1^ ill ^ *l ^ T o + ■> rr
ouii.ivai.ing
cj y xox acres
C> t DD 1
PA
107
ioma.xoes. noeing, Lying, ousxing,
cultivating, and irrigating
ooo acres
• •
A QQR
PA
209
wppies. xninning
l m r\ r* r**i f~~\
lou acres
une— sixxn acre
yuu
PA
38
Apricots: Thinning
215 acres
0.2 acre
1 , 0 /b
1<5
90
(From 15-30)
Citrus -- oranges and lemons: Dust-
ing
ic; , C.DCS acres t
£io acres
P/l
21
Oranges: Picking
1,213,690 boxes
75 boxes
16,183
24
675
urapeiruix.. rictcing
iU,U'JU DOxes
90 boxes
7 7Q
OA
33
Peaches: Thinning
2,715 acres^
0.2 acre
13,575
12
1,132
(From 1-15)
Plums: Thinning
1,306 acres
0.2 acre
6,530
12
545
(From 15-30
71.635
24
2,985
man-months
May
Alfalfa: Mowing
9,073 acres T
8 acres
1,135
25
46
Raking
9,073 acres4^
16 acres
568
25
23
Table continued on next page.
Table 3 continued.
Ke qui red {Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man -days
days
workers*
May
.11 1 an a iconx.y
^ cont . ;
Shocking (by hand)
di , / / y acres t
9 acres
2,420
25
97
Stacking
i*±,oio tons*
3.5 tons
4,233
25
170
Baling
c , Ulx T,ons *•
d . u x.ons
403
25
17
ootton. unop^mg
41 , c du acre s
2.5 acres
16,740
25
670
uram — Daricy, oats, ana wnedL.
Harvesting with combine
i , uu4 acres
8 acres
126
9
14
(From 20-31)
urain nay. mowing
xOjDDd acres r
o acres
1,707
25
69
Raking
io, odd acres t
16 acres
854
25
35
one cki ng wi ui raKe
10,0^0 acres ,
ou acres
456
25
19
DcxX X E1M
3,073
12
257
(From 15-30)
WiclUHo — — ■ Oa.il bal UUpcb , nuriCjrUailb,
ft
ana iiuiic} ucwb • nuc-Lfig
ly/OvJ a^l cb
2,640
25
106
Pi 1 1 + iTTS3*i" i ncr
L/Ul li. Va 1 111^,
t+
1,760
25
71
wet ici nic i u iifc> • nu c x ng
t f
3,197
25
128
L»Ux blValing
t , i oi dc res
2,557
25
103
ionidiocs. nocing, ^ying, au&iing,
cui xi vauing ana irrigating.
ooo acres
*«
4,998
25
200
i l CKing
eCD y xc,0 lUgS
OH 1 1 1 rro
cU lugs
1,257
13
97
(From 15-31)
xip IllULc 1111 full ng
CIO all cb
u » <i acre
1,080
12
90
(From 1-15)
Cit rus — oranges and lemons : Spray-
ing
co, idi acres t
<i»u acres ti
13,076
25
524
T"h lot i y\ rr
1^, £SjO cLOI cd 7
cj acres
491
25
20
, 1 5l , ill UUJtc b
f o UUXcb
29,223
25
1,169
urap ci rui t . r 1 cjxi ng
iy , cdu Doxes
ou uoxes
241
25
10
r caullt; o « 1 Jl 1 ill 11 ilg
c, , /io acres *
u . c acre
13,575
12
1,132
(From 1-15)
Plums: Thinning
1,305 acres
0.2 acre
6.530
12
545
(From 1-151
113.340
25
4,494
man-months
June
Alfalfa: Mowing
9,073 acres T
8 acres
1,135
25
46
Raking
9,073 acres=f
16 acres
568
25
23
Shocking (by hand)
21,779 acresf
9 acres
2,420
25
97
Stacking
14,813 tonsf
3.5 acres
4,233
25
170
Baling
2,011 tons^
5.0 acres
403
25
17
Table continued on next page.
00
i •
..... .
' ' r r 1 coo trftl OH
4?
Table 3 continued.
Mo nth
June
(cont . )
July
Crop and task
Cotton: Chopping
Hoeing
Irrigating
Grain barley, oats, wheat: Har-
vesting with combine
Grain hay
Melons: cantaloupes, honeyballs and
honeydews: Cultivating
Turning vines
Cantaloupes: Picking
Watermelons: Cultivating
Turning vines
Tomatoes: Picking
Apples: Picking
Apricots: Picking
Cutting for drying
Other dry-yard labor
Citrus -- oranges and lemons: Dust-
ing
Oranges: Picking
Lemons: Picking
Grapefruit: Picking
Figs: Capri fying (Calimyrnas)
(Missions) picking for shipment
Plums: Picking
Alfalfa: Mowing
Raking
Shocking (by hand)
Stacking
Baling
Cotton: Hoeing
Irrigating
Grain — barley, oats, wheat: Har-
vesting with combine
Size of task
8,370 acres
27,900 acres
47,430 acres ?
7,532 acres t
15,363 tons ^
1,760 acres
1,760 acres
12,443 crates
2,131 acres
2,131 acres
54,621 lugs
750 tons
2,752 tons
908 tons
851 tons
12,258 acres f
530,262 boxes
7,619 boxes
22,750 boxes
683 acres ¥
30,611 flats S<
169.613 lugs
9,073 acres t
9,073 acres f
21,779 acresf
14,813 tons?
2,011 tons f
27,900 acres
47 ,430 acres *
1 ,507 acres f=
Output per man-day
2.5 acres
5 acres
// //
8 acres
5 tons
f *
2.0 acres
40 crates
44
3.0 acres
20 lugs
1,000 pounds
1,000 pounds
750 pounds
25 acres
75 boxes
10 boxes
90 boxes
300 pounds
30 lugs
8 acres
16 acres
9 acres
3.5 tons
5.0 tons
5.0 acres
// H
8 acres
Required
man -days
Available
days
3,348
5,580
11,857
942
3,073
1,760
880
312
1,279
711
2,732
1,500
5,504
2,422
937
491
7,071
762
253
683
715
5.654
67.225
1,135
568
2,420
4,233
403
5,580
11,857
189
12
25
25
25
12
25
25
25
25
25
25
13
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
12
25
25
Required number of
workers*
25
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
13
279 (From 1-15)
224
475
38
257
(From 1-15)
71
36
13
52
29
110
117 (From 15-30)
221
97
38
20
283
31
11
57 (From 1-15)
29
227
2.689 man-months
44
22
94
163
16
215
457
15 (From 1-15)
Table continued on next page.,
r
4
Table 3 continued.
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
Required
man- days
Available
days
Required number of
wo rke rs*
July
(cont . )
August
Melons — cantaloupes: Picking and
loading trucks
■Watermelons: Picking
Loading trucks
Tomatoes: Picking
Apricots: Picking
Cutting for drying
Other dry-yard labor
Citrus — lemons: Picking
grapefruit: Picking
Figs — Mission: Picking for ship-
ment
Peaches. — freestones: Picking
nectarines: Picking
freestones: Cutting for drying
Other dry yard labor
Plums: Picking
Alfalfa: Mowing
Raking
Shocking (by hand)
Stacking
Baling
Cotton: Irrigating
Melons — cantaloupes: Picking
honeyballs: Picking
honeydews: Picking
watermelons.; Picking
Loading trucks
Peas: Hoeing
Setting poles
Stringing
Dusting (2 times)
Irrigating (4 times)
109,864 crates
50,002 tons
50,002 tons
29,495 lugs
688 tons
227 tons
284 tons
9,523 boxes
7,000 boxes
76,337 flats 5"
9,500 tons
800 tons
6,333 tons
4,518 tons
75,946 lugs
40 crates
12 tons
6 tons
20 lugs
1,000 pounds
750 pounds
10 boxes
90 boxes
300 pounds
1,200 pounds
1,000 pounds
1,500 pounds
30 lues
6,721 acres f
6,721 acres +
16,129 acres *
14,813 tons*
2,011 tons*
47,430 acres*
2,489 crates
14,167 crates
32,896 crates
1,102 tons
1,102 tons
2,838 acres
1,7 03 acres
2,838 acres
2,838 acres
1,419 acres *-
8 acres
16 acres
9 acres
3.5 tons
5.0 tons
// n
40 crates
40 crates
100 crates
12 tons
6 tons
0.5 acre
0.5 acre
2.5 acres
7 acres
2,747
4,167
8,334
1,475
1,376
506
313
953
78
1,782
15,834
1,600
8,444
5,194
2.532
26
26
26
26
6
6
13
26
26
26
26
9
26
26
26
81.820
26
841
421
1,793
4,233
403
11,857
63
355
329
92
184
5,676
3,406
1,419
2,271
812
26
26
26
26
2S
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
13
5
18
26
106
161
321
57
230 (From 1-7)
101 (From 1-7)
25 (From 1-15)
37
3
69
609
178 (From 20-31)
325
200
98 _
3.147 man-months
33
17
69
163
16
457
3
14
13
4
8
219
262 (From 15-31
284 (From 25-31
127 (From 10-31)
32
Table continued on next page.
ro
o
1
!' f
i v
Required
Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man-days
days
workers*
August
Figs: Picking Kadotas
461 tons
540 pounds
1,708
26
66
(From 15-31)
(cont . )
Picking up for drying
690 tons
700 pounds
1,972
13
152
Drying, fumigating, sorting, sack-
(From 15-31)
ing, etc.
158 tons
456
13
36
Grapes: Picking for raisins
48,000 tons
4,400 pounds
21,819
13
1,679
(From 15-31)
Picking for shipping
6,500 tons
1,500 pounds
8,667
26
334
(From 20-31)
Picking for wineries
7,500 tons
1.5 tons
5,000
9
556
Peaches — clings: Picking
26,925 tons
2,000 pounds
26,925
26
1,036
freestones: Picking
9,500 tons
1,200 pounds
15,834
26
609
(From 1-15)
nectarines: Picking
1,200 tons
1,000 pounds
2,400
13
185
clings: Cutting for drying
1,346 tons
1,000 pounds
2,692
26
104
freestones: Cutting for drying
3,167 tons
1,500 pounds
4,223
26
163
clings and freestones: Other dry-
yard labor
5,647 tons
6,491
26
250
Plums: Picking
7,595 lugs
30 lugs
254
26
10
(From 20-31)
Prunes: Picking up
9,062 tons
1,500 pounds
12,083
9
1,343
Dipping and sun-drying
3,398 tons #
2,821
9
314
(From 20-31)
Dipping and dehydrating
3,398 tons*
§£
2,039
9
227
(From. 20-31}
149,539
26
5.752
man-mpnths
September
Alfalfa: Mowing
6,721 acres f
8 acres
841
26
33
Raking
6,721 acres^-
16 acres
421
26
17
Shocking
16,129 acres 7
9 acres
1,793
26
69
Stacking
14,813 tonsf
3.5 tons
4,233
2£
163
Baling
2,011 tonsf
5.0 tons
403
26
16
Cotton: Irrigating
47,430 acres f
1 H
11,857
26
457
(From 15-30)
Picking
20,260 cwt.
250 pounds
8,104
13
624
Scrghum for grain: Cutting by hand
388 acres +
0.75 acre
518
13
40
(From 15-30)
Threshing by stationary machine
3,742 CWt.t
100 sacks
29
9
4
(From 20-30)
Harvesting with combine
256 acres f
7.5 acres
35
13
3
(From 15-30)
Melons — honeyballs: Picking
7,083 crates
40 crates
178
26
7
honeydews: Picking
63,736 crates
100 crates
638
26
25
(From 1-10)
Peas: Setting polts
1,135 acres
0.5 acre
2,270
8
284
Stringing
2,838 acres
4,257
26
164
Dusting (3 times)
2,838 acres
2.5 acres
3,406
26
131
Irrigating (4 times)
1,419 acres f
7 .0 acres
812
26
32
Table continued cn next page.
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Table 3 continued.
IXC v^U 11 cQ
nVallaUlc
Required number of
iviu null
l" y* f"i t"\ o ri/J
Vj X U U cxIlCl babr.
OioC Ul IdbA
Mi it nil t rvevy* jtiq y\ H cx ir
UU ipu I pel niCLli — (J ctj/
7T1Q M /"I Q IFc
indii-* uay s
H O V o
workers*
O c U L ClllUC I
VjX LI Uo — "* ul cLIigcb cLilCl XCHHJIlb • Opi caLU —
I t*r\ y> "t" I
\ tU ill/*/
TKlCT f OVt ill 70V
1 tit; I cl Llll/iCi
PO A ^1 fl/troc
t . U dt xc o
in pi a
PR
394
Lpmori^i Pi f^Wi nf
XJW 1 1 1 V. 1 1 i_j • 1 X O XV X 1 i J£,
1 QOS hfiYP*;
X i U \J \J UUAC O
1 0 tjfrxpc:
XV UWJl.CO
1 91
X -> X
26
8
Figs: Picking Kadotas
461 tons
540 pounds
1,708
26
66
Picking up for drying
1,380 tons
700 pounds
3,944
26
152
Drying , fumigating, sorting , sack-
ing, etc.
552 tons
1,822
26
71
Grapes: Picking for raisins
72,000 tons
4,400 pounds
32,728
13
2,518
(From 1-15)
Turning trays
120,000 tons
1,500 trays
7,273
26
280
Rolling trays
67,320 tons^
1 , 500 trays
4,080
26
157
Rovinc and Vianlincr in
i-> W -o- X lip-. CXI 1 IX i i CXvX XJ.Hr XXI
11 PSD trine; ±
U y \J\J\J [JUUllUO
?fi
1 7 A
Pi clci nf? f o r ^Vi i nni n <r
* X O x\ lllg X Ui Oil 1 Up X lip,
1 3 000 + onci
X j *J\J\J L^vJUiilxo
1 7 33d
?fi
cu
AA7
CO/
Pi cki f or un np»T*T p*?
30 non tnn<!
X ♦ «J ItvllO
20 000
GV
7 7D
Olives: P i c.\ci for* ni f*kl i ncr
- x x v o » ix vTii * F' X — ' 1 M x. OA XXI a r-
L ±\J\J UliUo
r Ann
X o
^rrom ij-ou j
Ppaobp?? f!l i nc^* Pi nrr
* v OiWllS ' vXXllgu • 1 X vAXllp
R Q7S tone-
P 000 nnnnH<?
O , 3r # 9
e.
\j
1 / QA
^ r rom x— i ^
X -1. ilgjO * vUl/ IX 1 Ul Ul Jf Xllg
X | VJUU pUUflUb
ROR
e.
i sn
xOU
^ r rom i- i ^
wXXIl^O CXI 1U -1 1 CLu UUI1CO ■ V L n C 1 \J.L J "~
yard labor
1 130 tenq
i ?qq
X
26
bu
Prunes: Picking up
27,188 tons
1,500 pounds
36,251
26
x ,oy o
u±yyxiig emu. bun — GT-^ -*ng
in 1 QA tunc #
ft AA^
PA
CO
r r o 0,4 a ^-i 1 1 j vx x cl oxug
If! 1 QR tntiQ i:
A 117
O , XX /
PA
CD
9 ^ A
COO
Pomegranates : Pi cki nt?
14 13? luffs
2 SOn nnunrlci
P6
1
Walnut*?: Sha.l<i hp 1 off* anH nirVincr un
■ * CX XliU WO • Ul 1CXXV 1 J 1c Ul 1 CX 1 iv_i UX vAXilc. LA L 1
and hull i ner bv nan ri
POO nnunrft!
*j u »j
1 5
X u
44
(From 15-30)
Shalci nf off find ni cki ncr un nnl v
■* l icx x 1 1 fs *— ' i J- CXI 1 VX UX L> X\ X 1 Ik *X ly \J I J. X Jf
?AA nnnyirl c
DO f
1 ?
X«J
49
(From 15-30)
Hulling by machine, drying, etc.
111,741 poundsf
1,000 pounds
112
13
a
i,rrom id— ou j
215,478
26
8,288
man-months
Dctober
Alfalfa: Mowing
fi 721 acrpci#
ft Q P Q
RA1
O HX
36
Raking
6,721 acrest"
16 acres
421
24
18
Shocking
16,129 acres f
9 acres
1,793
24
75
Stacking
14,813 tons^
3.5 tons
4,233
24
177
Baling
2,011 tonsf
5.0 tons
403
24
17
Cotton: Picking
356,554 cwt.
250 pounds
142,622
24
5,943
Table continued on next page.
to
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Table 3
continued .
Required
Available
Required number of
mo nxn
Size of task
OutDUt per man-day
man-days
days
workers*
October
(cont . )
Sorghum for grain: Cutting by hand
Threshing by stationary machine
Harvesting with combine
Lettuce: Thinning
Hoeing
775 acres #
11,226 cwt.f
512 acres *
455 acres
315 acres
0-75 acre
100 sacks
7.5 acres
0.33 acre
0.66 acre
1,034
87
69
1,379
477
24
24
24
24
24
44
4
3
58
20
Melons -- honeydews: Picking
Peas: Stringing
Dusting (3 times)
Irrigating (4 times)
Picking
6,168 crates
2,838 acres
2,838 acres
1,419 acres 3 *""
13,112 cwt.
100 crates
2.5 acres
7.0 acres
180 pounds
62
4,257
3,406
812
7,285
24
24
24
24
24
3
178
142
34
304
Citrus — oranges and lemons: Spread-
ing fertilizer
lemons: Picking
Figs: Picking up for drying
20,431 acres
26,666 boxes
690 tons
2.0 acres
10 boxes
700 pounds
10,216
2,667
1,972
24
24
12
426
112
165 (From 1-15)
Drying, fumigating, sorting, sack-
ing, etc.
Grapes: Rolling trays
Boxing and hauling in
Picking for shipping
Picking for wineries
m i vpq - Pickinc for Dicklins
Persimmons: Picking
Pomegranates: Picking
552 tons
34,680 tons*
11,250 tons t
19,500 tons
30,000 tons
6,720 tons
1 , 500 trays
5,000 pounds
1,500 pounds
1.5 tons
400 pounds
700 nounds
2 500 Dounds
t „■ , %J \J\J J>WM11UU
1,822
2,102
4,500
26,000
20,000
33,600
458
170
24
12
24
24
24
24
24
24
76
176 (From 1-15)
188
1,084
834
1,400
20
8
Walnuts: Shaking off and picking up;
hulling by hand
Shaking off and picking up only
903,040 pounds
1,354,560
200 pounds
266 pounds
4,516
5,093
24
24
189
213
pounds
Hulling by machine and drying, etc.
893,930 ooundst
1,000 pounds
894
24
38
283.191
24
11,800 man-months
November
Cotton: Picking
Sorghum for grain: Cutting by hand
Threshing by stationary machine
259,312 cwt.
775 acres f
9,979 cwt.
250 pounds
0.75 acre
100 sacks
103,725
1,034
77
24
24
24
4,322
44
4
Harvesting with combine
511 acres f
7.5 acres
69
24
3
Lettuce: Thinning
Hoeing
140 acres
280 acres
i
0.33 acre
0.66 acre
425
425
24
24
18
18
1 : : B 1
Table continued on next page . oo
4
Table 3 continued .
r — ■
I
Required
Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man- day
man- days
days
workers*
November
Peas: Stringing
2,838 acres
4,257
24
178
(cont . )
Dusting (3 times)
2,838 acres
2.5 acres
3,406
24
142
Irrigating (4 times)
1,419 acresf
7.0 acres
812
24
34
Frost control (night irrigation)
1,419 acres ^
*
355
24
15
Picking
34,420 cwt.
180 pounds
19,123
24
797
Citrus — oranges: Smudging
Picking
3,464,318 boxes
50 boxes in 6
69,287
24
2,887
hours
lemons: Picking
53,331 boxes
10 boxes
5 ,334
24
223
Figs: Drying, fumigating, sorting,
sacking, etc.
138 tons
456
12
38
(From 1-15)
^ X L \J ill _X. ^ \J J
Grapes: Picking for shipping
19,500 tons
1 , 500 pounds
26,000
24
1 0H4
Picking for wineries
7 500 tons
1 S ton*;
5 000
24.
209
Olives: Pickine for Dicklinp
? 800 tons
4.00 nonnHc;
14 000
24
584
Pomegranates: Picking
14,132 lugs
2,500 pounds
170
24
o
Walnuts: Shaking off, picking up, and
hulling by hand
112 880 nounriq
POO nounrlc!
24
24
Shaking off and picking up only
169,320 pounds
266 pounds
637
24
P7
Hulling by machine, drying, etc.
111,741 pounds
1,000 pounds
112
24
5
2SS ?6Q
(v> J J | IjU J
24
10.637
man— months
December
Cotton: Picking
90,039 cwt.
200 pounds
45 020
22
P 04.7
Lettuce: Cutting and field packing
597 crates
18 crates "f"
33
22
P
Peas: Frost control (night irriga-
1,419 acres#
355
22
1 7
ting)
Picking
26.224 cwt.
1 ft 0 nnunHQ
14 5fi9
22
OO.j
Apricots: Pruning
230 acres
0 25 a f* rp
920
22
Citrus -- oranges: Smudging
Picking
? 957 62P hnvp'
RO hoYcc i n A
JU UUAC O All O
pp
<i , coy
hours
lemons: Picking
• J y J I? f UUAC O
1 (~} hriVfic
JLVJ UVJAt-o
364
Figs — Kadota: Pruning
33 acres +■
0.25 acre
132
11
12
(From 15-31)
Grapes — Thompson and Sultana: Prun-
ing
1,980 acres ♦
0.5 acre
3,960
11
360
(From 15-31)
Other table and wine varieties:
Pruning
2,763 acres f
0.75 acre
3,684
11
335
(From 15-31)
Table continued on next page. ^
1
Required
Available
Required number of
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man -days
days
workers*
December
Grapes (cont.)
631 (From 1-15)
(cont . )
Picking for shipping
5,200 tons
1,500 pounds
6,934
11
Olives: Pruning
231 acres +
0.17 acre in 8
1,359
22
62
hours
Picking for oil
429 tons
500 pounds
1,716
22
78
Peaches — including nectarines:
Pruning
2,016 acresf
0.3 acre
6,720
22
306
Plums: Pruning
862 acres *
0.25 acre
3,448
22
157
Prunes: Pruning
723 acres *
0,5 acre
1.446
22
66
157.449
22
7.157 man-months
* On monthly basis unless otherwise noted.
f Laborers work 8 hours in December and January, and 9 hours per day in March and April.
f Portion of job done by seasonal workers.
$ Eight hour day.
*P Smudging on citrus fruits requires a man on call for each five acres during the winter months. The amount of labor
needed varies greatly with the season.
jl It should be noted that this figure, rather than representing the required number of individuals, represents the
required man-months of labor, and is derived by dividing the number cf man-days by the total number of days available for
work during the month.
** All these operations combined require a total of 20 man-days per acre -- 20 per cent each in February and March,
and 30 per cent each in April and May.
•t Hoeing requires a total of 3 man-days per acre — half in April and half in May.
T f Cultivating requires a total of 3 man-days per acre -- one-third each month, in April, May, and June.
^ <J Cultivating requires a total of 3 man-days per acre -- 40 per cent each month in April and May, and 20 per cent in
June
<tt<*\ Twelve hour day,
ro
en
Table continued on next pago .
■ ■ ■
■
• . • ■ .< -
: •
.
* 4
* * <
Table 3 continued.
1/ U Estimate based on a total of 12 man-hours for the season, equally distributed during the months of June, July,
August, and September. Irrigators work 12 hours a day.
a. Dry-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
Prunes — sun-drying- 8.3 man-hours per fresh ton
dehydrator- 6.0 man-hours per fresh ton
Caprifying requires about 1 man-day per acre.
c/ A flat of figs contains about 7 pounds net weight.
d/ Stringing peas requires a total of 5 man-days per acre -- 10 per cent in August, and 30 per cent ench in September,
October, and November.
e/ It is estimated that it required an average of 33 man-hours per dry ton to handle these figs -- allowance being
made for the varying amounts of labor needed for different varieties.
£s Trays of 22 pounds net, fresh weight.
g Total of 0.5 man-days per acre — 50 per cent in November, and 50 per cent in December.
(\3
27.
TABLE 4
Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months
Tularo County
1935
Required man-days
Available
Required man-months
Month
of seasonal labor
days
of seasonal labor
January
159,337
20
7,967
February
84,853
23
3,690
March
22,336
23
972
April
71,635
24
2,985
May
112,340
25
4,494
June
fi7 one
o con
2, boy
July
81,820
26
3,147
August
149,539
26
5,752
September
215,478
26
8,288
October
283,191
24
11,800
November
255,269
24
10,637
December
157,449
22
7,157
Total
1,660,472
i
69,578
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 opera-
tions are performed only to a limited extent with seasonal labor. For instance, only
about 33 per cent of the labor in harvesting grain is done by seasonal workers. TVhen
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 dur-
ing 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 3 , — Table 3 is the condensed summary of labor needs as worked
out for Tulare County as a result of find ings pertinent to 1935. The data are pre-
sented by months with tho tasks which were performed in each month indicated by both
crop and task. The size of the job was calculated from the data appearing in table 1
(acreage and production) and table 2 (task, time of performance, and percentage of
work pertinent to a given month) . The output per man-day was calculated as indicated
in the foreword presenting table 3. The number of required man-days is a result of
dividing the size of task by output per man-day. The available days for the differ-
ent tasks involve two variables . The first is the number of days whun field work is
possible because of favorable weather conditions.
The basis for this column was determined from a study of the monthly weather
charts of the United States Weather Bureau for tho years 1933, 1934, and 1935. These
data indicated available days per month as follows (based on a 26-day working month
I
28.
without allowance for holidays):
Available
Length of
Available
Length of
Month
days
work day
Month
days
work day
hours
hours
January
20
9
July
26
10
February
23
9
August
26
10
March
23
10
September
26
10
April
24
10
October
24
10
Way
25
10
November
24
9
June
25
10
December
22
9
Source of data: Based on precipitation records of the Visalia station of the United
States Weather Bureau for the yoars 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 fow 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
specific number of days was noted. These restrictions are shown in parentheses. For
example, in June the picking of apples was limited to the last half of the month.
The totals of table 3 show the total required man-days of needed soasonal 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 Tulare County, involving a variety of annual crops, the find-
ings 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 yiolds, time of per-
forming operations, and available days; and because of harvesting operations on cer-
tain crops being speoded up to supply a good market, or retarded to avoid a poor one,
rosulting in marked variations in the noed for harvest labor.
1
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