40 ^ University of California College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station Berkeley, California SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROFS SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY Progress Report No. 40 by R. L. Adams October, 1936 Preliminary — Subject to Correction Contribution from the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics Mimeographed Report No. 53 UNI » • (Farm Labor Survey — January- June, 1936) Progress Report #40 Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops San Luis Obispo County (exclusive of the Oso Flaco district) „ 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 lsbor 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 mm planting thinning, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting — without including teamsters, tractor drivers, irrigators, hay balers, threshermen, and shed packers of vegetables or i ruivS • 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 therewith. A later study is planned which will deal with other kinds of labor involved in the production of California's many crops. , Brief Description of the Area.-, San Luis Obispo County is situated on the coast of California about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles-. On the northit joins Monterey County, the boundary line running eastward from the ocean crossing the Santa Lucia Mountains, the upper end of the Salinas Valley, and extending beyond it to the crest of the Mount Diablo Range. On the east it joins Kern County, the boundary line following a general southeasterly direction along the Mount Diablo and Temblor r anges until it reaches the Santa Maria Valley, From this point westward to the ocean, the Santa Maria River divides it from Santa Barbara County on the south. On the west it is bounded for its full length by the Pacific Ocean. & * There are several important farming districts in the county. One is the Oso Flaco district in the southwest corner of the county, and which is really a part of the Guadalupe "deal" of Santa Barbara County. It Ms been omitted from this report, as it has been included with the Santa Barbara report. Another is located in the vicinity of Paso Robles and San Miguel, and is devoted largely to the growing of almonds. Orchards are scattered over a district some 18 miles square, but make up only a small portion of the total area. Much of the land is mountainous, and used only for pasture. Another important district is located on the Carisa Plain in the central eastern part of the county, and is used mostly for wheat production, It is about 20 miles in length and 4 to 8 miles in width, and is about 2,000 feet above sea level. A third district is located in the vicinity of Shandon, in the north- eastern part of the county at an elevation slightly over 1,000 feet. Vegetable and truck crops are grown in the coastal valleys, especially near Arroyo Grande and Oceano, and also on the hills near the coast in various localities, which areas may be considered a fourth district* This lies mostly at elevations only slightly above 2 sea level except where the hills are farmed to elevations of several hundred feet. A fifth district includes the San Luis Valley, in the southwestern part of the county, near the city of San Luis Obispo. It is about 12 miles in length and from 1 to 4 T^iles in width, and lies at an elevation of 100 to 250 or 300 feet. Los Osos and Chorro valleys, smaller in extent and adjoining San Luis Valley, may be considered a part of the same area. The soils of the county are varied, but generally are of the heavier textures. Some sandy loams and loams were noted, but clay loams of several different series probably make up the bulk of the agricultural land. The county contains a total of 2,133,760 acres, of whioh 406,093 are classed as available for crops by the 1935 Census. This is further classified as follows by the Census for the crop year 1934: Acre age Crop land harvested 153.776 Crop failure 44,260* Crop land idle or fallow 104,736 Plowable pasture 103,321 Total 406,093 Crop acreages in 1935 are estimated to have been as follows :f Acreage Field crops 194,203 Vegetable crops 19,430 Fruit ■ and nut crops 19,847 Total 233,480 * The season of 1934 was abnormally dry, resulting in much greater acreage of crop failure than usual. 1" Chalmers, Thomas, County Agricultural Commissioner. Crop report of agricultural products of San Luis Obispo County, 1935. Crops, Acreages, and Production. — The basis usod in calculating occasional or seasonal need for labor, othor than that furnished by farm operators and regularly employed workers, appears as table 1. TABLE 1 Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements — San Luis Obispo County, exclusive of the Oso Flaco district. Crops A nyoo cro Production Field crops: Alfalfa* 2,700 9,400 tons Barley 17,800 249,800 cwt . Beans mostly small, white and pink 8,100 56,360 cwt. Flower seeds 240 Hav 48,000 76 , 800 tons Oats 3,700 48,980 cwt • Sugar beets 2,278 18,680 tons Wheat — Carisa Plain 40,900 376,760 cwt. other districts 66,800 841,010 cwt k Vegetable gfods : 8 900 251,200 crates of 60 pounds 7 fall (poles) 849 148,575 crates of 60 pounds + Lettuce 1,674 192,510 crates Tomatoes 1,029 141,000 lugs String beans 123 6,312 cwt. Artichokes* 451 55,350 boxes Brussels sprouts* 83 21,230 boxes Cucumbers* 58 40,190 lugs Mixed vegetables* 566 ■MM Orchard crops : Apples* 420 760 tons Apricots* 376 224 tons Grapes 1,073 2,700 tons Pears 592 440 tons Prunes 1,617 840 tons Almonds 15,282 480 tons Walnuts 337 237 tons pn+- nf acreage June 1-15 — 25 per cent of acreage Baling (25 per cent of crop)— 60 per cent by seasonal workers May 15-31 — 20 per cent of tonnage baled tonnage baled July 1-15 — 30 per cent of tonnage baled Seeds — flower Hoeing Irri gating Harvesting February to June, inclusive April to September, inclusive July to November, inclusive Sugar beets Thinning February — 12 per cent of March — 25 per cent of acreage April ~ 50 per cent of acreage May — 13 per cent of acreage Hoeing — first time March — 20 per cent of acreage April — 40 per cent of acreage May — 40 per cont of acreage second time May — 20 per cent of acreage June — 60 por cent of acreage July — 20 per cent of acreage Topping and loading August — 39 per cent of crop September — 38 per cent of crop October — 23 per cent of crop Vegetable crops: Peas — bush* Hoeing — twico January — 30 per cent of winter acreage February — 30 per cent of winter acroage March — 30 por cent of winter acreage April — 10 por cent of winter acreago (Table continued on next page.) G. Table 2 continued Crop Operation Time of need Vegetable crops: (continued) Sulfuring — two times March and April — all acreage each month Picking February — 10 per cent of spring crop March — 30 per cent of spring crop April mm 40 per cent of spring crop May — 20 per cent of spring crop Peas — pole Sotting poles — 50 per cent by seasonal workers April 15-30 — 10 per cent of acreage May 1-30 — 20 per cent of acreage Juno 1-30 — 70 per cent of acreage Picking July — 2 per cent of fall crop August 1-31 — 27 per cent of fall crop September 1-30 — 51 p:,r cent of fall crop October 1-10 — 20 per cent of fall crop Lottuco Thinning January — 335 acres February — 335 acres March — 335 acres Juno — 217 acres July — 217 acres August — 217 acres Hoeing March — 335 acres April — 335 acres May — 335 acres July — 217 acres August — 217 acres September — 217 acres Cutting carlot shipments 34 cars ■» 10,608 crates March — 11 cars April — 4 cars May — 10 cars October — 5 cars November — 3 cars Cutting and packing — dry pack ior urucK snipmenu 181,902 crates March — 20 per cent of crop April — 20 per cent of crop May — 20 per cent of crop June — amount negligible August i — 13 per cent of crop September — 13 per cent of crop (Table continued on next page.) mm mmm -. 7 Table 2 continued Crop Vegetable crops i ( continued) String beans Tomatoes Drchard crops Apricots Almonds Grapes Prunes Walnuts Operation Cutting and packing (continued) Picking Transplanting to field Replanting Hoeing Picking — for shipping Picking Cutting for drying ~ 75 per cent of crop Other dry yard labor Knocking Hulling — by machine (including hand sorting and sacking) Picking — 25 per cent by seasonal workers Picking up Dry yard work Harvesting and hulling by hand Time of need October — 13 per cent of crop May — 15 per cent of crop June — 20 per cent of crop July — 15 per cent of crop September — 20 per cent of crop October — 10 per cent of crop Balanoo — scattered and inconsequential May — 75 per cent of acreage June — 25 per cent of acreage May — 50 per cent of job June — 50 per cent of job July — all of job August — 5 per cent of crop September — 28 per cent of crop October — 55 per cent of crop November — 12 por cent of crop July — all of crop July — all of job July 1 — all of job August — ?0 per cent of crop September — 40 per cent of crop October — 30 per cent of crop November — 10 per cent of crop August — 20 per cent of crop September — 40 per cent of crop October — 30 per cent of crop November — 10 per cent of crop September 15-30 — 50 per cent of crop October 1-15 — 50 per cent of crop September — all of crop September — all of job September 20-30 — 10 per cent of crop October 1-30 — 75 per cart of crop November 1-15 — 15 per cent of crop J t J t i 8. Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs . — Details and summaries of seasonal labor requirements of San Luis Obispo 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 packed crates, hampers, or boxes (in case of fruits and vegetables). If the work is of a nature that requires a crew different members of which perform different tasks (such as cutting, trimming, loading, and hauling cauliflower; trimming and crating celery, etc.), then the average shown is per man based on the entire crew. Length of day is 9 hours unless otherwise stated. Wide variations in output occur between farm and farm, field and field, and season and season, because of differences in soil types, climatic conditions, weeds, yields, and other factors influencing the amount of work that a laborer can perform in a given day. Moreover, the basis of output is a mature, experienced male worker without reference to use of women, children, and more or less inexperienced help that is sometimes used in connection with certain of the tasks requiring use of seasonal workers. The column headed "available days" reflects (a) limitations set from' the period within which the work must be performed because of the nature of the task, such as transplanting, thinning, weeding, and cutting, and (b) available days as determined by weather conditions, inclement weather reducing the number of days when, a required task can be performed. Tho "required number of individuals" is given in terms of workers as noted above in connection with "output per man-day." It is probable that the estimated number of workers required, as recorded in table 3, will often be too low, for the reason that "peaks" frequently occur, during which an unusually large proportion of the job is done in a very short period. This would naturally require a much greater number of -workers than when the work is spread over a longer period, even though the total amount of labor (in man-days) remains the same. TABLE 3 Seasonal Labor Needs, San Luis Obispo County — by Months and Tasks Required Available Required number Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man -days days of workers* January Peas (bush): Koeing d,oiv ac re s 2 acres / o Lettuce: Thinning 335 acres 0.5 acre O / (J lb Totals lo 112 man— months February Seed crops: Hoeing, etc. IXC 345 do lb Sugar beets: Thinning 274 acres 0.5 acre 54o do dH reas ^uusn^. noemg ... j 0 r \j d 'w I C £> 1,0/3 CO AD Picking iv acre s 0.5 ac re 1 , 14U no be noeing — iirsx xime ftDo acres e.«u acres ceo 11 -i n oo,Duu craxes 20 crates 1 , C~k) PA 81 Totals PA May Grain hay: Mowing y,uuo acres t 10 acres 900 26 35 Raking y , uuu acres i 20 acres PA 18 Shocking 9,000 acres t 30 acres PA 12 Trimming y , uuu acres t 10 acres Qnn PA 35 Baling O GOO +/-v*^«-i (CytLrsd T-Ons 7 4 tons or o ±o 46 (from 15th tv \ x i. Will X. *J L-l i to ^1 qt ^ ... Seed crops: Hoeing, irrigating •J J W PA 15 Sugar beets: Thinning (Cyo acres u.o acre 46 (from 1st "w/ ^ X 1 will X '-J V to 15th) fiOemg - i irsL oime yii acres O M f~\ A M A c.u acres 456 26 18 — secona xime hod acres o »u acres 152 2fi 6 Peas (bush): Picking 5,024 crates 5 crates 26 387 1 70 1 1 u ?fi 7 T + T_I/-\ n i y\ m iicXiuCc. noemg ooz> acres 1 /™\ 200 pounds 5S6 434 631 25 25 25 24 18 26 Tomatoes: Transplanting to field Replanting iox.ais Grain: Harvesting wheat fPflpi cs Plain) I yell lbCl i ICLxU ^ Hauling bulk grain Harvesting (other districts] 258 acres 515 acres 0.5 acre 2.0 acre 516 258 25 25 21 11 6.445 25 258 man-months July 8,180 acres f 1 150,700 cwt. 20,040 acres f 10 acres f 6 acres (in 8 hours) 818 1,636 3,340(oi* 8 hours) 26 26 26 32 63 129 Grain hay: Baling 3,456 tons + 4 tons 864 13 67 (from 1st to 15th) Seed crops: Irrigating and harvestinc 390 26 15 Sugar beets: Hoeing — second time Peas (pole): Picking Lettuce: Thinning Hoeing 456 acres 2,972 crates 217 acres 217 acres 3.0 acres 8 crates 0.5 acre 1 .0 acre 152 372 434 217 26 7 26 26 6 53 (for 7 days] 17 9 String beans: Picking Tomatoes: Hoeing yi / cwi, 1,029 acres POO nrmn/4<3 1 acre 474 1,029 26 26 19 40 Apricots: Picking 224 tons 1 ton 224 26 9 Cutting for drying 168 tons 0.33 ton Other dry-yard labor — at 11 hours per green ton Totals 168 tons 206 26 8 10.156 26 391 man-months Table continued on next page. m Table 3. cont i nued ... _. . , Required Availacle Reouired number Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man- days cays of workers* August Grain: Harvesting wheat (Carisa Plain) 8,180 acres ^ 10 acres 818 26 32 Hauling bulk grain 150,700 cwt. i 7 1,636 26 63 Harvesting (other districts] b , 680 acres f 6 acres (in 8 hours) 1,114 (of 8 hours) 26 43 Seed crops: Irrigating and harvesting . 390 26 15 Sugar beets: Topping and loading 7,285 tons 5 tons 1,457 26 56 Peas (pole): Picking 40,115 crates 8 crates 5,015 26 Lettuce: Thinning 217 acres 0.5 acre 434 26 1 7 Hoeing 217 acres 1.0 acre 217 26 9 Cutting and packing truck shipments 23,647 crates 20 crates 1,183 26 46 Tomatoes: Picking for shipping 7,050 lugs 20 packed lugs 353 26 14 Almonds: Knocking 96 tons 150 pounds 1,280 26 50 Hulling by machine 96 tons 400 pounds 480 26 19 Totals 14,377 26 553 man-months September Beans: Threshing 22,544 cwt. 4= 25 cwt. 902 26 35 Grain: Harvesting wheat 4,090 acres^ (Carisa Plain) 10 acres 409 26 16 Hauling bulk grain 75,350 cwt. -6 818 26 32 Seed crops: Irrigating and i harvesting — 390 26 15 Sugar beets: Topping and loading 7,068 tons 5 tons 1,414 26 55 Peas (pole): Picking 75,773 crates 8 crates 9,472 26 365 Lettuce: Hoeing 217 acres 1 .0 acre 217 26 9 Cutting and packing truck shipments 23,647 crates 20 crates 1,183 26 46 String beans: Picking i , coc CWT, . e!UU CWt . box do 25 Tomatoes: Picking for shipping 39,480 lugs 20 packed boxes 1,974 26 76 Almonds: Knocking 192 tons 150 pounds 2,560 26 99 Hulling by machine 192 tons 400 pounds 960 26 37 Grapes: Picking 338 tons t < 1 ton 338 13 26 (from 15th to 30th) Table continued on next page. Table 3 cc Month mtinued. CroD and task j Size of task Output oer man-day Required man-days Available days Required number of workers* C nn+ onnhDV oGp I ClTlU CI \ conxxnuccL/ P^ijnp*?* Picking UD r i unco • -•- * 'c Dipping and drying —at 8 hours per green ton Walnuts: Harvesting and hulling by hand 840 tons 840 tons 24 tons 2,000 pounds 150 pounds 840 747 320 26 26 8 33 29 40* (from 20th to 30th) Totals Beans: Threshing by stationary machine Seed crops: Harvesting Sugar beets: Topping and loading Peas (pole): Picking 23.175 26 892 ma.n-months October 15,030 cwt- 4,296 tons 29,715 crates 25 cwt . 5 tons 8 crates 602 360 660 3,715 20 24 24 10 31 (from 1st to 25th) 15 36 372 (from 1st to 10th) Lettuce: Cutting carlot shipments — 5 cars Cutting and packing truck shipments String beans: Picking Tomatoes: Picking for shipping Almonds: Knocking Hulling by machine Grapes: Picking 1,560 crates 23,647 crates 631 cwt. 77,550 lugs 144 tons 144 tons 338 tons ♦ 30 crates 20 crates 200 pounds 20 packed lugs 150 pounds 400 pounds 1 ton 52 1,183 316 3,878 1,920 720 338 5 24 24 24 24 24 12 11 (for 5 days) 50 14 162 80 30 28 (from 15th to 30th) Walnuts: Harvesting and hulling by hand Totals Seed crops: Harvesting Lettuce: Cutting carlot shipments — 3 cars Tomatoes: Picking for shipping Almonds: Knocking Hulling by machine 178 tons 150 pounds 2.374 24 99 16.318 24 680 man-months November 936 crates 16,920 lugs 48 tons 48 tons 30 crates 20 packed lugs 150 pounds 400 pounds 360 32 846 640 240 24 3 10 10 10 15 11 (for 3 days) 85 (from 1st to 10th) 64 (for 10 days) 24 (for 10 days) Table continued on next page . - ■ 1 • * ;*• * I ; i 1 • ■ . . ■ - ■ ■ Tnhlfi 3 continued ... .... * Month • Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day Kequired man-days Ava± iable days Required number of workers* November (continued) December — i Walnuts: Harvesting and hulling by hand Totals No appreciable amount of seasona 36 tons 150 pounds 480 12 40 (from 1st to 15th) 2,598 24 109 man-months 1 labor needed. i * On a monthly basis unless otherwise noted. t On seasons when the spring pea crop has been good, it is probable that as many as 400 pickers have been employed during the "peak" in March or April. ^ Estimated portion of task done by seasonal workers. Hauling bulk grain to ranch bins and to shipping point requires about the same amount of labor as harvesting.