University of California College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station Berkeley, California SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNL'i CROPS SANTA CL^m COUIilTY Progress Report No. 43 ty R* L» Adams October, 1936 Contribution from the Gianni nj Foundation of Agricultural Economics Mimeographed Report No, 53 rr .11 A iRE (Farm Labor Survey - - January- June, 1936) Progress Report No. 43 Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops Santa Clara County Scope of Presentation . — The following considerations govern the present- ation of this progress report: 1» The data are confined to the area indicated above, 2, Tho data are confined solely to orops, 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, hay balers, throshermen, and shod packers of vege- tables or fruits t 5, The presentation includes tho 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 ariso in conucction v^ith 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 Under Review . — Santa Clara is one of the central counties of^ California, lying at the southern end of San Francisco Bay, its northern boundary being about 30 miles southeast of the city of San Fran- cisco. It is bounded on tho west by Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, the dividing line running along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, On the east it joins Stanislaus and Merced counties along the ridge of the Mt, Hamilton range. On the south it is divided from San Benito County by the Pajaro River, and a line running easterly into the mountains. On the north tho boundary lino crosses the southern tip of Son Francisco Bay, West of the Bay it joins San Mateo County and east of the Bay it borders Alameda County. Between the two mountain ranges mentioned above lios the Santa Clara Valley, which is world famous for its production of fruit, oepocially prunes and apricots. It extends in a souteastorly direction for about 50 miles, and is about 12 miles wido in the lowor portion near San Jose, narrowing to about 1 mile near Coyote, and expanding again to about 6 milos near Gilroy, This valley is all under intensive cultivation, and comprises the most important agricultural district in tho county. Prunes and apriocfes are raised generally throughout tho whole length of the valley. Pears are grown extensively in tho district north of San Jose, as are most of tho apples also. Raspberries, spinach, celery, and various other orops occupy considerable acreages around San Joso, Cherries and walnuts are found mostly in the nortwestorn part of the county near Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, Spring peas are grown extensively near Milpitas, especially on the rolling and hilly land to axi elovation of several hvmdrod feet. I 2, The county contains a total of 849,920 acres, of which 218,267 acres arc classed as available for crops by the 1935 Census. This is further classified as follows by the Census for the crop year 1934, Crop land harvested 175,750 acres Crop failure 1,206 acres Crop land idle or fallow 7,035 acres Plowaljlo pasturo 34, 276 acres Total land availablo for crops 218,267 acres Crop acreages in 1935 aro estimated to have been as follows: Field crops 45,330 acres Vegetable crops 19,097 acres Fruits and borrios 109,000 acres Total 173,427 aorcs The farming area in the Santa Clara Valloy ranges in elevation from practically sea levol near Alviso, to about 400 foot near Morgan Hill, being mostly undo 200 foot. Various soils are represented, six soil series being noted, and twelve or more soil types. The predominating textures aro tho heavier phases, r-^jiging from looms and gravelly looms to clays and clay adobes, practically all 6 feet or more in depth* Crops, Acroage, and Production . — The basis used in calculating occasional or seasonal need for labor in addition to that furnished by farm operators and regularly employed xvorkers appears as table 1, T.IBLE 1 Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements — Srjita Clara County Crops Acreages Production Field crops ri< Grain — whoat 609 10,971 bushels oats 408 9,801 bushels barley 5,303 80,771 bushels Garlic t 415 20,750 hundredweight Hay — alfalfa 6,699 27,252 tons grain 22,728 27,783 tons other hay 6,825 8,607 tons Potatoes (Irish) 257 25,353 bushels Sugar beets 2,086 24,730 tons Vogotable crops: t 200) 200) String beans — market spring fall 1,800 tons canning 460 2,180 tons Cabbage 100 Caulif louver (fall and winter 500) 650 130,000 crates (spring 150) Colery (fall and winter 800) 1,000 400,000 cratos (summer 200) Cucumbers — pickling 265 1,855 tons Table 1 continued on next page. TablG 1 continued. 3. orop s ^\.crcG.go i I OQUOulOll Vogotablc crops: (ccntinuod) Lottuco (spring 100} 200 (lall 100; Poas (spring 2,000) 4,200 420,000 hampers (fall 2,200) Poppors boll 300 120,000 oratos (60 to 80 pounds) Spinach — canning 3, 109 15,545 tons Strawberries t 285 228,000 orates TomatoGs — market 100 15,000 lugs canning 8,028 40,140 tons Fruit crops: t Almonda 223 Apples 843 8,430 tons Apricots 18,191 42,000 tons Cherries 2,077 2,000 tons oanned Grapes (wme varieties ; 2,000 tons shipped 6,639 13,278 tons Peaches - - clingstone 363 T f\r\ j_ 1,500 tons freestone 1,062 4,248 tons Pears *? — Bartlett 4, 956 24,000 tons oaniicd 375 tons driod (dry T/oight j other varieties 2,443 350,000 boxes of 50 pounds not Plums 1,575 300 tons (mostly noncommercial) Prunes 64,372 93,000 tons (dried vroight) Walnuts 5,585 1,775 tons Raspberries 700 II 700,000 crates Bushberrios 125 W Seed crops: (Complete data on those crops are .lot yot avr.ilablo, but will be included later, when this report is revised.) * Aoroago and production of field crops, except garlic and sugar beets, arc from the 1935 Census, for the crop year 1934. No data are available for 1935, ^ The acreage of vegetable crops, garlic, and strawberries is from tho Fedoral-Str.to Crop Reporting Service, Sacramento. Production is estimated from average yields. Of the strawberry acroago, about 200 acres arc bearing. Yield estimated at 1,200 crates per acre on two-thirds of acreage. + Acreage of fruit crops is from L. R, Cody, Agricultural Commissioner of Santa Clara County, Production is estimated from average yields, in most on.sos, <| Poar production estimated as follows! 350,000 boxes shipped, average 50 pounds 8,750 tons 375 tons (dry weight) dried 1,875 tons green Tonnage canned 24,000 tons Total pear production 34,625 tons ^ 'Whilo the acreage in plvims is given as 1,575, it is probable that most of this is cither noncommercial, or varieties dried as pinincs. Commercial plum aoroago harvested for sale as fresh fruit is probably about 50 acres. (Footnotes continued.) II Acreages of raspberries and bushberrios are estimates by Central California Berry Growers Association, Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Time of Wood , — Farm operations requiring the use of seasonal or occasional labor for the' various crops raised in Santa Clara County are indicated in table 2, This tabulation docs not include the employing of shed v/orkers needed to ivash, pack, and prepare -various commodities for shipping and marketing. TABLE 2 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Needs by Crops -- Santa Clara County Crop Operation Time of need Field crops: Garlic Planting December --75 per cent of acreage January - ■ 25 per cent of acreage Hoeing (first time) (second time) February 25 per cent of acreage March — 75 per cent of acreage April — 50 per cent of acreage Ikcy 50 per cent of aoroago Pulling and piling June 25 per cent of acreage August — 75 per cent of acreage Topping and sacking June — 20 per cent of crop August --80 per cent of crop Grain ("urfieat, barley, oats) Harvesting with "com- bine" 50 per cent by season- al workers Juno 20-30 -- 20 per cent of acreage July 1-31 -- 60 per cent of acreage August 1-20 --20 per cent of acreage Hay, alfalfa - • use of seasonal labor inconsequential and henoo ignored. Hay, other than alfalfa Mowing 50 per cent by seasonal workers April 20-30 15 per cent of acreage I\feiy 1-31 — 75 per cent of acreage June 1-15 — 10 per cent of acreage Raking — 50 per cent by seasonal workers April 20-30 -- 15 per cent of acreage IJlay 1-31 — 75 per cent of acreage June 1-15 -- 10 per cent ofacreage Shocking — 50 per cent by seasonal workers April — 10 per cent of acreage May — 75 per cent of acreage Juno ~ 15 per cent of acreage Trimming — 50 per cent by seasonal workers April -- 10 per cent of acreage Ifey — 75 per cent of acreage June — 15 per cent of acreage Baling -~ 75 per cent of crop June — 37-|- per cent of tonnage July -~ 37^ per cent of tonnage Sugar beets Thinning February 17 per cent of acreage Table 2 continued en next page. r- . i [i * • t • J i t s • Table 2 continuod. 5, Crop Operation Time of need Field orops: Sugar beets (cent, ) Thiming March --31 per cent of acreage April --40 per cent of acreage liay -~ 8 per cent of acreage June -- 4 per cont of acreage Hoeing April one-third of acreage May — one-third of acreage Juno — one-third of acreage Topping and loading August — 20 per cent of crop September --40 per cent of crop October — 40 per cent of crop Vegetable orops: Beans, string Hoeing — 25 per cent by- seasonal -workors May — 33 per cent of acreage June — 33 per cent of acreage July — 33 per cont of acreage Setting poles May — 90 per cent of acreage Picking May --2 per cont of crop June — 13 per cent of crop July — 20 per cent of crop August --35 per cent of crop September — 20 per cent of crop October - • 10 per cent of crop Cabbage — use o f seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored. Caulif lov/er Cutting and haulirig to edge of field 50 per cent by seasonal workers Hovcmbcr — 5 per cent of crop December — 10 per cent of crop January -- 50 per cent of crop February -- 30 per cent of crop March -- 5 per cent of crop Packing November -- 5 per cent of crop December -- 10 per cent of crop Janucj-y - - 50 per cent of crop Februcxy — 30 per cent of crop IvJarch - • 5 per cent of crop Celery- Planting* Juno 15-30 — 20 per cent of acreage July 1-31 — 40 per cent of acreage August 1-15 -- 20 per cent of acreage (Balance scattering and inconsequential) Hoeing July — 27 per cent of acreage at 3-1/3 mpji-days per acre August -- 27 per cent of acreage at 3-I/3 man-days per acre September — 27 per cent of acreage at 3-I/3 man-days per acre Table 2 continued on next page. Table 2 continued. 0 Crop Operation Time of need Vegetable crops: Celery (cont.) Cucumbers, pickling Fertilizing — 50 per cent by- seasonal vrorkers Cutting, trimming, and throwing in crates Picking — . 50 per cent by seasonal workers July — 80 per cent of acreage August 80 per cent of acreage September — 80 per cent of acreage June 5 per cent cf crop July --5 per cent of crop October -■• 10 per cent of crop IJovember — 40 per cent of crop December — 30 per cent of crop July — 30 per cent of crop August --40 per cent of crop September — 30 per cent of crop Lettuce use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored. Peas Peppers, bell Spinach Strawberries Tomatoes Hoeing Picking "j" Planting in field 50 per cent by seasonal workers Picking Picking up and putting in crates Picking (1935 season) Transplanting in beds Setting plants in field Replanting Hoeing (average once) Iviarch — 35 per cent of acreage August — 65 per cent of acreage March — l/2 per cent of crop April — 20 per cent of crop May — 9 per cent of crop June — 5 per cent of crop August -- 1/2 per cent of crop September — 28 per cent of crop October --36 per cent of crop November -- 1 per cent of crop May — 50 per cent of acreage June — 50 per cent of acreage July — 10 per cent of crop August — 15 per cent of crop September — 35 per cent of crop October --40 per cent of croD March 20-31 — 50 per cent of crop April 1-15 --50 per cent of crop April 15-30 -~ 2 per cent of crop May — 55 per cent of crop June --20 per cent of crop July — 11 per cent of crop August — 8 per cent of crop September — 3 per cent of crop Ivlarch 50 per cont of acreage April 15-30 May 1-15 — 50 per cent of acreage April 21-30 --25 per cent of acreage May 1-21 --75 per cent of acreage May — one-third 6f acreaire June -- on3-t]:iird of acreage Table Z continued on next page. I ■T ■■■ ■ Table 2 continued. 7. Crop Operation Time of need Vegetable crops: Tomatoes (cent.) Hoeing (average once) Picking — cannery- Picking — market July — one- third eac September — 40 per cent of crop October 60 per cent of crop September -- 33 per cent of crop October --66 per cent of crop Fruit crops: Almonds -- use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored. Apples Apricots Cherries Grapes (wine var ioties ) Pruning — 50 per cent by seasonal workers Thijming Picking Pruning — 75 per cent by seasonal workers Spraying — 66 per cent by seasonal workers Thinning ^ — 90 per cent by seasonal workers Picking Cutting for drying — 50 per cent of crop Other labor in dry yard Picking Pruning — 50 per cent by seasonal workers Hoeing and suckering November 15-30 — 12i- per cent of -".croage December 1-31 -- 25 per cent of acreage January 1-31 - • 25 per cent of acreage February 1-28 — 25 per cent of acreage Ivlarch 1-15 — 12-|- per cent of acreage May 50 per cent of acreage June — 50 per cent of acreage August — 40 per cent of crop September — 40 per cent of crop October — 20 per cent of crop September — 10 per cent of acreage October -- 25 per cent of acreage Kovcmbor -•• 25 per cent of acreage December — 25 per cent of acreage January - • 15 per cent of acreage December — one-half of acreage January — one-half of acreage February — all of acreage April 15-30 — 50 per cent of acreap;e May 1-15 — 50 per cent of acreage July — 80 per cent of crop August — 20 per cent of crop July -- 80 per cent of toimage dried August — 20 per cent of tonnage dried July -- 75 per cent of job August — 25 per cent of job Is/lay 5-31 — 33 per cent of crop June 1-15 — 66 per cent of crop December — one-third of acreage January -- one-third of acreage February — one-third of acreage April 50 per cent of acreage May -- 50 per cent of acreage Table 2 continued on next page, Table 2 continued. Crop Fruit crops: Grapes (wine varieties) (cont. ) Peaches Pears Plums Prunes OxDcration Tying vines on 15 por cent of acreage — 50 por cent by- seasonal workers Sulfuring — 50 per cent by- seasonal workers Picking Pruning Thinning Harvesting — clings — freestones Pruning — 66 per cont by seasonal workers Spraying (by regular men) Irrigating (by regular men) Picking Cutting for drying Other dry-yard labor Picking Pruning (60 per cent acreage pruned each year — 75 per cent by seasonal workers of Brush disposal Tiwe of need Juno — 7-^ por cent of acreage July — 7% por cont of acroago July October 10-31 - November 1-18 - - 50 per cont of crop - 50 per cent of crop November - December - January -- February - Hay - 30 per cent of acreage - 30 por cent of acreage 30 per cent of acreage 10 por cent of acreage August -- all of crop September — all of crop October 15-31 — 10 per cent of acreage November — 20 per cent of acreage December — 20 per cent of acroago Janua.ry --20 per cent of acreage February -~ 20 per cent of acreage Llarch 1-15 - ■ 10 cor cent of acreage July — 10 por cont of crop August — 50 per cent of crop September — 30 per cent of crop October 1-15 — 5 per cent of crop August - • 75 per cent of tonnage dried September -~ 25 por cont of ton.aage dried August -- 50 per cent of crop Septombor — 50 per cent of crop July all of crop October -- 6 per cent of acreage November — 12 por cent of acreage December — 12 per cent of acreage January — 12 por cent of acreage February - - 12 per cent of acreage March 1-15 — 6 per cent of acreage October -- 6 per cent of acreage Table 2 continued on next page. Table 2 continued, 9, Crop • • Operation Time of need Fruit crops: Prunes (cent.) Brush disposal November — 12 per cent of acreage December 12 per cent of acreage January — 12 per cont of acreage February — 12 per cent of acrcr.ge March 1-15 — 6 per cent of acreage Irrigating — 50 per cent by- seasonal workers (about 75 per cent of total acreage is irrigated) M&Y — 37.5 per cent of acreage Jime — 37.5 per cent of acreage October --45 per cent of acreage Picking up O IT August 10-31 --30 per cont of crop September 1-30 --60 per cont of crop October 1-7 -- 10 per cent of crop Drying — in sun (80 per cent of crop) — in dchydrators (20 per cent of crop) August 10-31 — 30 per cent of crop September 1-30 -- 60 per cent of crop October 1-7 10 per cent of crop Walnuts Knocking, picking up, and hulling — 50 per cent of crop September 15-30 15 per cent of job October 65 per cont of job iJovomber --20 per cont of job Knocking and picking up — 50 per cent of crop September 15-30 — 15 per cont of job October — 65 per cent of job November 20 per cont of job Hulling by machine -- 50 per cent of crop September 15-30 -- 15 per cent of job October — 65 per cent of job November — 20 per cent of job Raspberries Picking April 15-30 -- 1 per cont of crop May --8 per cent of crop — spring peak June — 40 per cont of crop July --20 per cent of crop August -•- IS por cent of crop 'Tall September — 11 per cent of crop — peak October 1-15 --7 per cent of crop * Celery is produced in practically every month, but amount in most months is small and has been ignored here. "t* Based on 1935 crop season, -which -was about t-wo weeks later than usual. f Apricot thinning in 1935 -was light, possibly 30 per cont of normal. About 50 per cent of thinnixig is done by "poling" — balance by hand. Findin gs of Seasonal Labor Nocds . — Details and sumi-riaries of seasonal labor requirements of Santa Clara County agriculture arc presented as table 3. The "size of task" are figures dra-wn 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 crr.tcs.. 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, trimifing, loading, and hauling caulif lovver; triraning and crating celery, etc.), 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 10. stated. Wide Tariations in output occur between farm and farm, field and field, and season and season, because of differoncos in soil types, climatic conditions, weeds, yields, and other factors influencing the amount of vroi-k 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 loss inexper- ienced help that is sometijiies used in connection with certain of tiie tasks requir- ing use of seasonal workers. The column headed 'b,Tailable days" reflects (a) limitations set from the period within -vrfiich 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 wer.ther reducing the number of days when a required task can be performed. The "required number of individuals" is given in terms of workers as noted above in conaiection with 'butput per man-day," It is probable that the estimated number of workers required, as recorded in table 3, will often be too IoviT, for the reason that "peaks" frequently occur, during which an unusually largo proportion of the job is doxie in a very short period. This would naturally require a much greater number of workers than v/hon 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 Santa Clara County —by Months and Tasks 1 ' — 1 Output per man-day Available Required number Month Crop and task Size of task iHC-.il \_lt*/ 90 Pears: Pruning (including brush U»c acre ^lo T.rees> disposal J 986 acres r ,qr:n f.r;rfist 4,000 plants 0»5 acre 0.2 acre 0.33 acre 2.S) a,cres 2,439 106 2,470 8,700 1 . 1 .^n 22 11 11 11 - ' 111 10 (lst-15th) 224 (lst-15th) 791 (lst-15th) 22.989 22 1.045 man-nionths April 208 acres 2,217 acresf 2,217 acres-f- 1,478 acr&s■^ 1,478 acresf 835 acres 695 acres 84,000 hampers 7,773 tons 4,064 acres 2,032 acres 4,092 ?-cres + A HQ? Ei<»rp - •- » ... « , , ■ - ' ^ ...... . . s ..' 0 Table continued. 1 Re Quired Month Crop and task Size of task Output per m:i.n-dey man— day s dSLys of* 'Ji/ny*]<'PT*c;* May Biians (string): Setting polos 7 74 acres 0.25 acre 3,096 25 124 ( cont . j Picking 80 tons 0.17 ton 480 10 48 (for 10 days; Peas: Picking 37,800 hampers 10 hampers 3,780 25 152 Poppers: Planting in field 75 acres 1 0.25 acre 300 25 12 Tomatoes: Planting 4,064 -icrcs 0.75 acre 5,419 13 417 (lst-15th) Replanting 6,096 j-cres — 2,024 18 113 (lst-21st) Hoeing 2,709 acres 1 acre 2,709 25 109 Apples: Thinning 422 acres 0.25 acre 1,688 13 130 (I5th-31st) Apricots: Thinning by hand 4,092 acrast 0.25 acre) 7,366t 12 614t(lst-15th) Thinning by poling 4,092 acresf 0.50 ii-crcs) Cherries: Picking 1,334 tons 200 pounds 13,340 23 580 (5th-31st) Grapes: Suckering and hoeing 3,320 acres 1.5 acres 2,216 25 89 Q Q7 / n("\ Prunes: Irrigating 12,070 acres! 2.5 acres 4,828 25 194 Raspberries: Picking 56,000 crates 7 crates (of 12 8.000 25 320 Strawberries: Picking (80 per ^-pint baskets) 100,520 crate st cent by seasonal workers) 15 crates 6.688 25 268 Totals 76.574 25 3.063 man— months June Garlic: Pulling and piling 104 acres 1 acre 104 26 4 Topping and sacking 4,150 cwt. 15 cwt. 277 26 11 Grain: Harvesting with "combine" 632 acres ■^ 4 acres (per 7-hour 158 {?f 10 16 (20th-30th) 1,478 acres T day) 7 hours) Hay: Mowing 10 acres 148 6 25 (lst-7th) Raking 1,478 acres T 20 acres 74 6 12 (lst-7th) Shocking 2,217 acresf 30 acres 74 6 12 (lst-7th) Trimming 2,217 acrest 10 acres 222 6 38 Baling 13,550 tons 5 tons (per 14-hour day) 2,730 (of 14 hours) 26 105 Sugar beets: Thinning 84 acres 0.5 acre 168 10 17 (for 10 days) Hoeing 695 acres 1.0 acre 695 26 27 Beans (string): Hoeing 72 acres "f" 0.25 acre 288 26 12 Picking 517 tons 0.17 ton 3,102 26 120 Celery: Planting 200 acres 0,17 acre 1,200 13 93 (I5th-30th) Cutting 20,000 crates 25 crates 800 26 31 H Peas: Picking 21,000 hampers 10 hampers 2.100 26 81 y Table continued on next page. r ■ ' ' ' ' . ■ . . .... ^. ... ~ . . . ^ . 4 Table continued. Month June ( cent . ) July Crop and task Peppers (bell): Planting in field Strawberries: Picking (80 per cent by seasonal workers) Tomatoes: Hoeing Apples: Thinning Cherries: Picking Grapes: Tying vines Prunes: Irrigating Raspberries: Picking Totals Grain: Harvesting by combine Hay: Baling Beans (string): Hoeing Picking Celery: Planting Hoeing Fertilizing Cutting Cucumbers: Picking Peppers (bell): Picking Tomatoes: Hoeing Apricots: Picking Cutting for drying Other labor in dry yard Grapes: Tying vines Sulfuring Pears: Picking Plums: Picking Required Available Required number Output per man-day man— days days of workers* 75 cLCTQS'f' 0.25 acre 300 26 12 7)6 480 crates'^ 15 crates 2,432 26 94 2,709 acres 1 acre 2,709 26 105 1,688 13 130 (lst-15th) 2,666 tons 200 pounds 26,660 13 2,051 (lst-15th) 250 acres f 2 acres 125 26 5 12,070 acres^" 2.5 acres 4,828 26 186 280,000 crates 7 crates (of 12 40,000 26 1,539 i-pint baskets) 90,882 26 3,496 man-months 1,896 acres t 4 acres (per 7-hour 474 (of 26 IB day) 7 hours) 13,650 tons 5 tons (per 14- 2,730 (of 26 105 hour day) 14 hours) 72 acres"!" 0.25 acre 288 26 12 796 tons 0.17 ton 4,776 26 184 400 acres 0.17 acre 2,400 26 93 270 acres 3.3 hours per acre 90 26 4 400 acres "t" 1 acre 400 26 16 20,000 crates 25 crates 800 26 31 278 tons f 700 pounds 795 26 31^ 12,000 crates 20 crates 600 18 34 (7th-31st) 2,709 acres 1 acre 2,709 26 105 33,600 tons 1,000 pounds 67,200 26 2,585 16,800 tons 700 pounds 48,000 26 1,847 75 per cent 11 hours per fresh 17,325 26 667 of job ton 250 acres T 2 acres 125 26 5 3,320 acres-f- 3 acres (per 3- 1,107 (of 26 43 hour day) 3 hours) 356 (I5th-31st) 3,463 tons 0.75 ton 4,618 13 300 tons 1,000 Dounds 600 26 24 Table continued on next page, Table con Month tinuea. UFOp cinQ WCLt>J\, Si 7.e of task Output per man— dc^y Required Av-.ilabls H r. V Required number of workers* July (cont .) strawberries: Picking (50 per cent by seasonal workers) Raspberries: Picking Totals 12,540 crates 1" 140,000 crates 15 crates 7 cr-vtes 836 20,000 26 26 33 770 175,873 26 d,(do man— mont.ns August Garlic: Pulling and piling Topping and sacking Grain: Harvesting by "combine" 312 acres 16,600 cwt. 632 acrest 1 acre 1, 500 pounds 4 acres (per 7- hour day) 312 1,107 158 (of 7 hours) 25 25 18 13 45 9 (lst-20th) Sugar beets: Topping and loading Beans (string): Picking Celery: Planting Hoeing Fertilizing Cucumbers: Picking Peas: Hoeing Picking Peppers (bell): Picking Apples: Picking Apricots: Picking Cutting for drying Other dry yard l.^bor 4,946 tons 1,393 tons 200 acres 270 acres 400 acrest 370 tonst 2,200 acres 2,100 hampers 18,000 crates 3,372 tons 8,400 tons 4,20C tons 25 per cent . of job 6 tons 0.17 ton 0.17 acre 3.3 hours per acre 1 acre 700 pounds I acre 10 hampers 20 crates 2,200 pounds 1,000 pounds 700 pounds II hours per fresh ton . g V o J. ^ c \J i w<-<'n:> j\ Oi i+nn+ r\ o rnp n — n v llJcLIl— tlctj & H Tr c* /*\ T llf ^ V* 1^ (Ci V» 6 + 0)^ p 1 64.<5 P6 6j1 0 1 7 t nn c! d 776 P6 J. c* 270 acrps ?i -''S hnuTc; n P r* m^*, i*p qo ?6 A 'x Fert, i li zinc 400 acresf" 1-0 acre 400 26 1 6 X \J Cucumbers: Picking 278 tonsf 700 Dounds f V/ L^wVAXXvXw 795 26 31 wX ' • Peas: Pickin"? 117.600 hamoers 10 ViRmnPT'^ 11 7fiO X X f f tj w PeDDers (bell/! Pickine 42.000 crates PO f^TAt PQ ? 1 00 P6 ox Tomatoes: Pickine for cannerv 16.056 tons 2 500 Dounrl \A ^ and hulling by hand 1 "t on s •&> V W V vX X W POO nonnH<5 X 1 \J*J\J X «J 10'=^ M R+ K "^nt V\ ^ Knockine and nickiriff uo 1 .^I^ t ona "^"^"^ nmiM/^o 7QR \ xDxn-^ouT-n ) Hulling by machine (by regular help) 2,5 tons — (I5th-30th) 1 1 Ann ^ on 4<£0 Totals 175,624 26 6,755 man-months October Suear beets: ToDDine and loaHincr Q RQ? tnnc! D "tons X , oHy OA Bea.ns f pI" t^i nc^ ) • Pi c\c^ r\& . A^^ UllO ^oCA.l.Xi^^« Xa. V> aV X Ix^ U • 1 r T. on O Q C , OOo c4 lUU Celery: Cutting 40-000 crates PR f*y^ + p«5 PA D / Peas: Picking 151,200 hampers 10 hampers 15,120 24 630 Peppers (bell): Picking 48,000 crates 20 crates 2,400 24 100 Tomatoes: Picking for cannery 24,084 tons 2,500 pounds 19,268 24 803 Picking for market and ship- Ding 10,000 lues 30 luKs 334 24 Table continued on next page. ( • . - , . • i t ' • \ ' ' i ■ ■ ■ , :' i i ■. . .' •" ? '■• . • * • , — ^ ^* ^ "^•.''i • -3- t - s ^ . . , . , I - • . • - . ^ _ 1 ; ■ * ■ t ■ ■ Table continued. 1 Required Available Required number Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man-days days of workers* October Apples: Picking 1,686 tons 2,200 pounds 1,535 24 64 (cont .) Apricots: Pruning 3,411 acres t 0,25 acre 13,644 24 552 (I0th-31st) Grapes: Picking 6,639 tons 1 ton 6,639 16 415 Pears: Picking 1,731 tons 0.75 ton 2,308 12 193 (lst-15th) Prunes: Pruning 2,900 acres'f 0.33 acre 8,70L 12 7 25 (I5th-31st) Disposing of brush 2,900 acres''' 2.5 acres 1,160 12 97 (l5th-3Lst) Picking up 9,300 Ions 2,000 pounds 9,300 7 1,330 {lst--7th) Drying 9,300 tons 8.3 hours per fresh ton 4 7,719 12 644 (lst-15th) Irrigc^ting 14,485 acresf 2.5 acres 5,794 24 242 Walnuts: Harvesting and hulling by hand 577 tons 200 pounds 5,770 24 241 Knocking and picking up by hand 577 tons 333 pounds 3,462 24 Hulling by machine (by reg- ular empl oy e e s ) t 2.5 tons Raspberries: Picking 49,000 crates 7 crates 7,000 24 292 i otals XXO ,100 4.825 man-months November Cauliflower: Cutting 3,250 cratest 70 crates 47 10 5 (for 10 days) Packing 6,500 crates 125 crates 52 10 5 (for 10 days) Celery: Cutting, trimming, and putting in crates 160,000 crates 25' crates 6,400 24 267 (for 5 days) Peas: Picking 4,200 hampers 10 hampers 420 5 84 Apples: Pruning 53 acres + 0.5 acre 106 12 9 (I5th-30th) Apricots: Pruning 3,41j. acres j 0.25 acre 13,644 24 552 (lst-18th) Grapes: Picking 6,639 tons 1 ton 6,639 15 442 Peaches: Pruning 427 acres 0.25 acre 1,708 24 72 Pears: Pruning 986 acres t 0.2 acre 4,930 24 206 Prunes: Pruning 5,795 acres T 0,33 acre 17,385 24 725 Disposing of brush 5,795 acrest 2,5 acre 2,318 24 97 Walnuts: Harvesting and hulling by hand 178 tons 200 pounds 1,780 24 75 Knocking and picking up by hand 178 tons 333 pounds 1,068 24 45 Hulling by machine (by regular employees) 2,5 tons r3 Table continued on next page. T • - ■ . . . ■ J ■ ' ■ ■' ■ — - - , i • I - } - ■ \ i ■ • - ■ , . ■ * ■ > • t } 1 • ; f '. . i ■ \ r • ■ ■ ' -: f • - ? , L -.1 • ^ 1 1 i i f ■ ■ • V ' -^'^ $ . -■ • ■ ? j I \ ♦ \ [ •;- -v i • -»»< • • i I f - ;- - = * - . i f i i * ; I -. t • ; -. • 1 . ' ;\ i ■ : -■ \ \ . , i. . . Table continued. Month Crop and task Required Available Required number bj-ze oi tasK man-days days of workers* 56 ,497 24 2,355 man-months 312 acres 0.17 acre 1,872 20 94 6,500 crates 't' 70 crates 93 20 5 13,000 crates 125 crates 104 20 6 120,000 crates 25 crates 4,800 20 240 106 acres'*" 0.5 acre 212 20 11 3,411 acres'f' 0.25 acre 13,644 20 683 6,064 acresf- 2 acres 3,032 20 152 1,107 acres 0.75 acre 1,475 20 74 427 acres J. , 1 wo 20 86 986 acres ~^ 0.2 acre 4,930 20 247 5,795 acres'^" 0.33 acres 17,385 20 870 5,795 acres 2.5 acres 2,318 20 116 51,573 20 2,579 man-months November ( cont ,) December Totals Garlic: Planting Cauliflower: Cutting Packing Celery: Cutting, trimming, and putting in crates Apples; Pruning Apricots: Pruning Spraying Grapes: Pruning Peaches: Pruning Pears: Pruning Prunes: Pruning Disposing of brush Totals * On a monthly basis unless otherwise stated* f Estimated portion of job done by seasonal workers. ^ Apricot thinning in 1935 was very light. Figure represents 1935 conditions, estimated at 30 per cent of normEwl , <^ From Christie, A, W., and L. C. Barnard. The principles and prectice of sun drying fruit. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 388. 1925. ^ Cucumbers for pickling are picked continuously, the patches being covered every two or three days, usually requiring about one person per acre. 00 TABLE 4 Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months Santa Clara County 1935 Monun ' Required man-days 01 seasonax laoor Available WO Trz uay s Required man-months of seasonal labor January 40,857 19 2,151 February 35,033 22 1,593 March 22,989 22 1,045 April 31,072 23 1,351 May 76,574 25 3,063 June 90,882 26 3,496 July 175,873 26 6,765 August 148,809 25 5,953 September 175,624 26 6,755 October 115,788 24 4,825 November 56,497 24 2,355 December 51,573 20 2,579 Total 1,021,571 41,931 ♦ >