University of California College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station Berkeley, California SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS SACRAMENTO- SAN JOAQUIN DELTA Progress Report No. 59 by R. L. Adams Preliminary — Subject to Correction January, 1937 Contribution from the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics Mimeographed Report No. 53 (Farm Labor Survey — December, 1936) Pr ogres s Report No. 59 Seasonal Labor Keeds for California Crops Sacramento-San Joaouin Delta S cope of Tresentat '.on . — The following considerations govern the presentation of this progress report: 1. The data nre confined to the area indicated above. 2. The data are confined solely to crops, livestock needs bcin'^ ignored. 3. The findin9;s apply only to occasional or seasonal labor requirements as disti n;;:ui shed from labor contributed by fam operators and by workers employed on a year-round or ref?:ular basis of employment. 4. i.ttention is concentrated upon workers required for hand tasks — plantin'- thinninp;, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting — without includin?, teamsters, tractor drivers, irrigators, and shed packers of vegetables or fruits. 5. The presentation includes the so-called migratory, transient, or rovin^^ workers wh.i ch comprise an important source of help needed in connection ^v:ith cer- tain tasks and at "peak" times which seasonally ar'se 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. Brief Des cription of the Area. — The area known as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, or "The Delta", is roughly in the shape of a triangle bounded by lines run- nin", between Antioch, Tracy, ?.nd ^acra^nento . Here are found soils and topo.traphic features peculiar to this re -'ion and affected by conditions not x"ound in the usual upland re-'ions. These delta swrvp Irnds h.jjve been built up gradually from deposits of silt and decayed ve 'etation. 'ihen the Srscramento and San Joaqi'in Rivers reach this lov-lvin- area, the^'' spr^Dd out over the Delta, formini?; many isl-nds separated bv v;ator cho.nnels, and finally unite and emerge into the upper roaches of the San Francisco ^?y through one channel. The soils of the entire region vary from the rich sedimentary silt and clay lo'TPS o" the upper ?acrnmento delt' to the extensive peats of the San Joaquin delta ATiile most 0'~ the delta l-^es in Sacrarcnto and 3an Joaouin counties, parts of it extend into :'ontra Costa, Yolo, Solano, and '^.onoma count 'es. I. division is m-.do 'nto the vacr-mento and San Joaquin deltas on the basis of soil typos, the forraer containing ma; r.ly silts, 3nd tho l^^tterj p^-at soils. 1:o 3xact ]?ne can ce drav/n to divide those two areas, hov^'ever, s'^nce in tho formation tho-re was laid dov.-n a arge area of a mixture of both peat and silt soils. Tho San Joaouin delt; has approx- imately 220,660 acres of farming land, and the Sacramento delta has ar proximately 162,910 acres available for farmin-;:. Tho area is devoted mainly to fricld and truck crops with some plantings of deciduous fruits. Crops, Acreages and Froduction. — The basis used in calculating occasional or seasonal need for labor, other than that furnished by farm operators and re'r;ular]y employed workers, appears as table 1. 2. TABLE I Basis for Calculatin(r, Seasonal Labor Requirements Delta Resion Crops Acreage froduction Field crops: Alfalfa' Beans Corn 25,000* 16,000* 30,000 or 'average 6 tons per acre — 150,000 tons Average 10 to 15 sacks per acre more Average 1 ton per acre Grain — barley oats wheat Grain sorghums (milo etc.) Mints (spearmint and peppermint) Onions, intermediate crop Onions, late cro|) Potatoes (Irish) Sugar beets 75,000 or more 6,000 (prac- tically no dataj 420 i,ooof 2,300f 12,000 36,518 Average 2,500 pounds per acre 'verage 250 cwt. per acre — .250,000 cwt. Average 175 cwt. per aero — 402,500 cwt. Average 155 cwt. per acre — 1,860,000 cwt. Average 17 tors per acre — 620,800 tons Seed crops : Beet seed Carrot seed Lettuce seed Onion seed Other ^ I , OUU 2,000 J , 500 700 250 — Sunflowers 2,000 2,000,000 pounds 'fe^etable crops: Asparai?;us 60,325^ 1935 planting 8,028 Celery (Fall) Cucumbers Peas Spinach Tomatoes 7,150 f 506 1,250 (very little data) 1,750 6,000 (very little data) 1,128,000 half crates // Average 150 h>mpors per acre — 187,500 hampers 7,875 tons Average 5 tons per acre — 30,000 tons Fruit crops : Pears 4,500 Average 5 tons per acre — 22,500 tons . T^.b]o continued on next paTe. "^■^ble ] cortinued. 3. * Estimate based on Sacramento- r^an Joaquin Water Supervisors Report for 1932. T Estimate from California Cooperative Crop Reportin,'; Service. ^ Includes endive, parsnip, sugar beet, flovrer seed, etc. Cmitted from table 3 because scattered and inconsequential. <^ Includes 1411 acres in Oakley-Knight sen District, but excludes 932 acres in Sutter Basin. *fl Excludes 250 acres in southern San Joaquin County not in the delta-, )| Celery production estimated from shipment record — 2,992 cars of 377 half crates each — crop oi' previous season 7/as 1,440,000 half crates from about 6,150 acres . Operations Hooui rinp ; Seasorial Labor and 'rimes of I'eed.-- ?arm operations recuirin'- the use of seasonal labor ^or thn various crops ra'sed in the Sacramento an:! San Jo?.ruin de]tas ar^^ indicated in table 2. This tabulatiori does not include the eiTiplovinfr of shed workers needed to washj pack, and prepare various commodities for ^hiprin" and marketing. 4 t;"Le 2 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor -r.nd Times of Needs by Crops Sacramento-3an Joaquin Delta Field crops "Ifolfa Crop tioans orn (riold) rram ■ram "lor- 9:hums Ope rat ion Time of need by months Fer cont of work done by seasonal help Fowing — 50 per cent by tractor 50 per cent by horses 'prfl 10 to October 10 cuttin-'-s) Rakin? -- 50 pcrVF/c of ^-croage each cent b'"' power FO j-or cent by horses Shockino; Triirminfr, _^ -Stacking — 50 per cent of crop 'a ling — all of crop Foeing first sec- ond Filing, windrow- ing Threshing Foeinp; I T cki nf, huskinr, and hr.iilin?', to cribs arvcsti ny. "03 ng ■^"r.rvcsting (v/ith combine) •ronth) ".pril to September, :• nclus ive \pril 15-.30A /7-I/2 per October I-I5J 1 cont of V j tonnage v^ach month _^ r.'ay-Aupust'^ Tl? per cental Juno- / \ of tonnage September I l^^oach month July J 'ugust 1-20 — all acreage ."August 20-31 -~ all acre- age Soptombor 20-30 — 25 per cent of crop October 1-31 -- 75 p.r cent of crop October 1-31 -- all of crop Not generally done — i nco ns c 0 uc nt i al Octojer 1- 31 — 30 pc.r cert of crop I'o^ve"- or 1-3C — 40 por COP* o"" crop Dccc bor 1-31 -- 30 pt.r c;ent o " crop Juno — TO por cent of acreage July — 50 pi.r cent of acreage June — ?J "• acreage ^ ctober — all of crop 50 50 50 66 50 100 100 100 40 100 75 100 50 Output per man--day 20 acres with tractor ■3 acres with horses 4-0 acres with tractor 20 acres with horses 40 acres 10 acres 7.5 tons tons 1 acre 2 acres 1.66 acres 80 cvrt. or •■.bout 4 acres '.75 acre 4 acres -:. aero 2..' acres Table continued on next page. Tab]e 2 continued. Crop Mints — spearmint peppermint Onions — intermed- iate crop On: ons Ir.tc crop Fotatoes Ope rat ion ¥veeding - 3 times Transplanting Weeding — 2 to 4 times Farvosting — rulling, top- pins, -1, and saclcmg 'A'oedin.s; Harvesting — pulling, top- ping, and sacking Cutting seed 1200 pounds per cere I- Time of need by months Fer cent of work done by February — 25 per cent of acreage March — 50 per cent of acreage April — all acreage May — all acreage Juno 25 per cent of acrea.g;e November 1-30 — 50 per cent of acreage December 1-31 -- 50 per cent of acreage February — 1 man- day per acre Jiarch — 2 man-days per acre \pri 1 — 2 man-days "per acre ray -- 1 mon-day per acre^ Juno — all of crop 2 man-da.ys per 4 man-days per > March - acre 'pril - acre May — 4 man-days per acre July 20-31 — 15 per cent of crop August 1-31 60 per cent of crop September 1-15 — 25 per cent of crop March • - small amount, ~" inconsequential April — 60 per cent of job May -- 25 per cent of job \ June -- ]0 per cent of job July -- srall amount, in conscru<.nt:i al ^ 60 100 100 100 100 100 100 5. Cutput per man- day cne-third acre one -eighth acre varies greatly estimated at 6 man- days per acre total 30 cvrb. varies greatly estimated a.t 10 man-days per acre 30 cwt . 30 cwt . 30 cwt » 1000 pounds T"b]e continued on next page, T:.ble 2 cc atinued , 6. ler cent of Crop Cporation Time of need by months work done by Output per seasonal help mr.n-day Fotctoes 11 anting — ;'arch — small aBOunt . ( contin- includinc; fer- (incorsecucntial) ued) tilizing *.rril — SO per cent of acroa'"e V'ay — 25 per cent of / 50 acrea'^e 1 acre June -- 10 per cent of acroat^;e July small amount (inconseouontial) ^ Cultivating — May — 75 por cent of 4 times acreage June — 100 per cent of acreage July — 100 per cent of acroar;c > 100 ^ acros August — 75 por cent of acre '. o Sopteraber — 50 per cent of acreage y Foeing May — I-I/2 man-davs per'"' acre June -- I-I/2 -man -days per > 100 3 ma^n-days por aero total acre Tarvosting July •••• 3 por cont of crop" ;\u-iAst — 19 per cent of crop September -- 15 per c.nt of crop October -- 17 per cent of r-.rop I'ovembcr — 15 per cent of crop > 100 40 cwt. Doco;r,bor — 11 por cent of / crop January — 10 per cent of crop February — 5 per cent of crop March — 5 per cent of crop Sugar Thinning February -- 2 per cent of Boots acrcaf^G llarch — 20 per cent of acreage April — 57 per cont of \ 100 0.5 acre acreage May -- 16 per cent of acrear^o Juno — 5 per cent of acroa';;e / Table continued on next page. f 7. Table 2 continued. For cent of Crop Operation Time of need by months vrork done by ''utput per ■ ■ seasonal holp man- day Sugar Hoeing — Mrjrch ■■- 2 per cent of 1.5 acres Beets first time acroa-'^e ( contin- April — 20 per cent of ued) acreage May — 57 per cent of acrecis!;e Juno -- 15 per cent of ? crc^.^'e July -- 5 per cent of --.crGr^^e y second time T\fey — 25 per cent of ( * 100 2o0 acres acrer.ce June — 70 per cent of p.crer. '",0 July 5 per cent of •'7.croa,p;c third time June -- 25 per cent of 2.5 acres acreage July — 50 per cent of acreage August 25 per cent of acro'\o;o* Topping; and July - - 12 per cent of loading tonnage August — 28 per cent of tonnage September -- 27 per cent of tonnage \ 100 6^0 tons October — 22 per cent of tonnaj^e November --6 per cent of tonnage Decorabcr -•- 5 per cent of tonrj'^ge ^ Sunf louvers Thinnin'" -^nd April lt~-30 -- one-third hoem'? (once; of acrca'r:e ■■ay 1-31 -- two-thirds of > 100 1 acre acreage J Cutting, off August 15-31 -- 20 per hc^.ds by hp.nd cent of acrear,e Soptorrber 1-30 — 40 per 1,5 acres cent of acreage ^ 100 October 1-31 -- 40 per cent of acreage ^ Seed jrops : F] anting by December 15-31 — 25 per 1 Beet -- hand cent of acreage J> 100 0.75 acre for seed 36 inches by January 1-31 — 75 per 36 inches cent of acreage Table continued on next page. i f i t i t Table 2 continued. -rop ^eet — ^or seed (contin- ued) Seed: Carrot seed Lettuce seed Cj'eration F'oeinp twice Clipping off top of seed stalks with knife Cutting off branches and laying in pile; Threshing from stock — with stationary machine Transplanting to field — 3 feet by 3 feet Foeing: tv:ice Harvest — cutting by hand and piling (Dry on sheets) Threshing, screening and sack- ing Thinning and hoeing Hoeing Time o.-f need by -.I'onths Fer cent of work done by seasonal help !"arch 1-3] -- all acreage April 15-30 — 50 per cent of acreage May 1-15 — 50 per cent of acreage ] 'ay al] acreaa:e August 1-31 — all acreage August 15-31 -- of crop September 1-7 - cent of crop 80 per cent - 20 per December — one -third of acreage January -- one-third of acreage February — one -third of acrea^;o March lc-31 — 40 per cent of acrear,e A.pril 1-30 — 80 per cent of acreage ?'ay 1-31 — 80 per cent of acreage August 20-31 — 50 per cent 02^ acreat^e September 1-20 -- 50 per cent of acreage September — all of crop J.Iarch 15-31 — 25 per cent of acreage April 1-30 50 per cent of acreage May 1-15 -- 25 per cent of acreage ^ May 1-31 -- two-thirds of acreage June 1-15 — one-third of acre ~ '::e 100 100 100 30 100 100 100 50 100 100 8. Cutrut per man-- day 0,75 acre 1.5 acres acres 0.5 acre 1.8 acres — or 22 sacks of 80 pounds 0.5 acres 9 hours 0.75 acre 0,4 acre 0,33 acre 0,5 acre 0,5 acre Table continued on next page. 9. Table 2 continued. Crop lettuce seed ( contin- ued) Onion seed Cutting and throwing on wagons Threshiiir; (by rolling) screening and sacking r lanting Vegetable crops : Asparagus Operation ?oein;?: twice Fickinf-, (hand cuttini?,) Threshing by- rolling, screening and v;innow- ing Hoeing (new acreage) first time second time Cutting Time of need by months Ter cent of work done by se aso nal helj-^ July — 10 per cent of acreage August — 80 per cent of acreage September — 10 per cent of acreage August -- 80 per cent of acreage September — 20 per cent of acreage December 1-31 — one-third of acreage January 1-31 — one-third of acreage February 1-28 — one-third of acreage Karch 1-31 — one-third of job April 1-30 -- one-third of job l^ay 1-31 — one-third of job July 20-31 -- two-thirds of acreage Au.^ust 1-5 — one-third of acreage '■ugust — all acreage *'pril -- 50 per cent of new planting May — 50 per cent of new planting July -- 50 per cent of new planting August — 50 per cont of new planting March 1-31 April 1-30 ¥&y 1-31 June 1-30 1 100 50 > 100 100 100 50 100 100 100 Output per man- day 0.33 acre 0,5 acre ■ 10 hours 0.20 acre 0.42 acre 24 hours per acre each time varies greatly viTith yiold 0.17 acre u.'i acre 1 acre 1.5 acres varies — average 450 pounds (re- quires 1 man continuously on each 10 acres) Table contiruod on next page. Crop _^ sparaj^us ( contin- ued) Celery (Fall) Operation Time of need by months far cent of work done by seasonal help lullino; plants "Scratching" (Weeding) 3 to 5 t3.mes > 100 100 100 Washing and trimming — April 10-30 putting in May 1-31 \ 100 lugs June 1-30 for cannery lacking for shipment not classed as "field" labor -- April 15-30 — 25 per cent bed of job May 1-31 -- 50 per cent of job June 1-15 — 25 per cent of ;ob ^ N June ir--30 — 30 per cent of acrca'':e July 1-51 — 60 per cent of acreage Auf^:ust 1-5 — 10 per cent of acreage rianting — Juno 15-30 — 30 per cent by machine of acreage July 1-31 — 60 per cent of acreage August 1-5 — 10 per cent of acreage July 15-31 -- 2-1/2 days per acre August 1-31 — 2-1/2 days per acre September 1-30 — 1 day per acre October 1-15 — 1 day per acre Cultivating July 15 — 2 times on all (8 times) acres A.ujT.ust 1-31 — 4 times on all acres ^ 50 September ]-30 — 4 times on al3 Qcros October 1-1; all acres ^ Earvestinc; Cctobor 15-31 of crop FoveiTiber 1-30 cent of crop December 1-31 cent of crop January 1-10 - of crop (Remainder scattering and inconsequential) y > 100 - 2 times on -- 5 per cent - 40 per -- 45 per - 8 per cent > 100 Output per man-dav 1 man to each 50 acres (or 1 ton per day hence omitted. varies greatly but average 30 man-hours per acre of field (range 8 to 80 man-hours) one-fourth acre one-half acre total of 7 man days per acre (varies greatly) 6 acres 18.8 half crates per man -day "Table continued on nc'xT; "page . ■ \ i t i ^^ 1 1 i 1 f t i i Table 2 continued. Crop Gucumoers Teas — market Tomatoes ruit crops I OPTS Operation Feeing 3 ti-jfios FickinT. P'ooinp; Picking — 3 pickings Transplanting to beds Flanting by- hand — two-thirds of acreage Replanting (uiissos) I'ouin.^ — first second I ickin:^ I runinf^ Time of ncjcd by months .■_ay -- cO per cent of job June — 50 per cent of j;ob July 15-31 — all acreo/To 4u-ust ]-31 — all acreage Sopte-"bor 1-15 — all acreaf^.o 'ebruary -- 50 per cent of job A'iarch — 50 per cent of job April 15-30 — 15 per cent of crop May 1-31 — 85 per cent of ) crop J February 15-28 — 50 per 00 it of job March 1-15 -•• 50 per cent of job April 15-30 — 50 per cent of job !'ay 1-15 — 50 per cent of job May -- 50 per cent of job "1 Juno — 50 per cent of job ^ May lO-Til — all acres "1 June 1-30 — all acres _) ;.u,cf;ust lt-31 — 15 per cent'' of crop Septoi-n-^.-r 1-30 -- 45 per cent of crop October 1-31 ~- 40 per cent of crop (I'ickir,'- extends until frosts occur, which is sometiiTiCS after Ilcvembcr 10) ] er cent of ■'.vork done by seasonal heir 100 No vcTTi •;(-■, r acre a -'c Deci;m'jor acrc^.rc January - icroa'Tc - oi'c-t1-ird of - one -third of one-third of 100 100 100 80 100 100 100 100 100 11. C'utput per _ man-day total of 20 hours per acre (varies r'.rcatly) 1 nan for each 2 acres con- tinuously varies — average re- quirement is r;;out 14 mc.n-bours per acre 12 hampers f;,000 plants 0,5 acre 2 hours per acre 1 aero ] ton on Stone 0,66 ton on San Marzano average 0,75 ton 0,25 acre Table continui.d on next pa7,e. * I i ! ■ i ! i 1 1 12. Tablo ? continued. _______ — - ' ' ■ lor cent of Crop Cporation Timo of ncod by months work done by seasonal help Cutput per man- day r Gcxrs Spr 2.viii2" Soptombcr — 1 timo on all [ oontin- acreage uod ) December — 1 timo on 50 per cent acreage January — 1 time on 50 per cent acreage Mi^rch 2 times on all 2 acres ' 50 acreage April -r- 2 times on all acreage Hay -- 2 tim.os on all acreage June — 1 time on all acrca'?:c Blip.ht con- ?>Sarch trol Apri 1 avf-rafn 'boiit ^^ay ► 50 20 hours por r June aero for about 25 per cent cach 1 s on F! on m.onth I i ckinr July 1-31 60 per cent of crop August 1-31 — 30 per cent ^ 100 1200 pounds of crop (= 30 boxes) ooptembcr 1-10 — 10 per of crop * Sugar boot hooing in August is in San Joaquin County, and Ey-Fass district of Yolo County. Findings of Seasonal Labor Needs . — Details and summaries of seasonal labor requirements of agriculture in the delta region are presented as table 3. The "size of task" are figures drawn from table 1, in terms of either aoroaf_;o or output in tons, crates, boxes, or whatever unit is commonly used. The "outya;t per man-day" is an average figure for the entire acreage or output figured in crates, hcjnpers, boxes, or other units as indicated in the table. If the work is of a nature that roruircs a crew — different members of which perform different tasks -- then the average shown is por man based on the entire crew. Length of day is 9 hours, Fovombcr to February; 10 hours, March to October, unless otherwise stated. Wide variations in output occur between f-rm and farm, field and field, and season and season, because of differences in soil typos, climo.tic conditions, weeds, yields, and other factors influencing the -.mount of work that a laborer can perform in a ^T'ivcn day. ?''oroov€;r, the basis of output is a mature, experienced molo worker with- out reference to use of vrom.en, children, and more or less inoxperiencod 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 no,turo of the task, such as transplanting, thinnin",, weeding, and cutting, and (b) available days as determined by weather conditions, inclement vreathor reducin-- the number of daj's v/hon a required task can be performed. The "required number of indivirtuals " is 'i;iven in terms of workers as noted above in connection with "output per man-day." i f. % r 13. Tt is probable that the estimated number of workers reouired, as recorded ?n table 3, will often be too low, for the rrason that "peaks" frequently occur, during which an unusually lar^e yropcrtion of the job is o'one 'n a very short periods This would naturally require a much greater number of workers than when the work is spread over a lon,q;er period, even thou^'h the total a-uount of labor (in man-days) remains the same. ♦ « i TABLE 3 Seasonal Labor Needs -- Delta -- 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 Potatoes: Harvesting 186,000 cwt. 40.0 cwt. 4,650 IS 259 Beets (for seed): Planting by hand 1,125 acres 0.75 ?cre 1 , 50C 18 84 Carrots (for seed): Trans- planting to field 667 acres 0.5 acre 1,334 18 75 Onions (for seed): Planting 233 acres 0.2 acre 1,165 18 55 Jelery (fall): Harvesting 90,240 half crates 18.8 half crates 4,800 6 800 (January i-lO) Pears: Pruning 1,500 acres 0.25 acre 6.000 18 334 Spraying 1,125 acresi 2.0 acres 553 18 32 20,012 18 1,112 man-months February Mi nt s : Vv e e d i n g 63 acres T 0 . .33 E' ere 1 91 20 1 n J. \J Onions (intermediate crop): Wee dine 1 000 acre<3 (( 1 non X f \J\j\J \>\J Potatoes: Harvesting 93,000 cwt. 40.0 cwt. 2,325 20 117 Sugar beets: Thinning 730 acres 0.5 c ere 1 ,460 20 73 Carrots (for seed): Trans- planting to field 666 acres 0.5 acre 1,332 20 67 Onions (for seed): Planting 234 acres 0.2 acre 1,170 20 59 Peas (market): Hoeing 1,250 acres 'ft 875 20 44 Tomatoes: Transplanting to beds 3,456,000 plsntstll 5,000 plants 692 10 70 (February 15-28) 9,045 20 453 man-months March Mints: Weeding 126 a.cres "t* 0.33 acre 382 22 18 Onions (intermediate crop): Weeding 1,000 acres 2,000 22 91 Onions (late crop): Weeding 2,300 acres 4,600 22 210 Potatoes: Harvesting 93,000 cwt. 40.0 cwt. 2,325 22 106 Table continued on next page . Tcble 5 continued. Kfcquired AvailE.ble Required number of C rop r iid t?^sk Size of task Output Der man-day man -days days workers* Siicrr r boets : Thi nnine 7,304 acres 0 . 5 a.cre 14,608 22 fifi4 1 J v.' W ^ 1 & 1 1 ^ f1 f ffirst "timc!) 730 acres 1.5 acres 487 22 Beets (for seed); Koeing 1,500 acres 0.75 acre 2,000 22 Q1 Cptrrots (for seed;: Hoein? 800 acres 0.75 acre 1,067 11 QV \i»'ii-rcn xD-ox/ 375 acres 0 . 5 acre 750 11 ov Onions (for seed): Hoeing n 4? acre 1 , 112 22 SI ox fin ''i?5 p^crf't? f -/- 187 023 31 Pos.s ( Tn£Lrke't ) ; Hosinp' 1 , 250 acre s V 875 22 AO Torn?.toes: Tri'-nsplsnting to be ds 3,456,000 plsntstW 5,000 plants 692 11 Oo Pcrrs: Snr vine 4, 500 •- cres f- 2.0 : cres 2,250 22 xuo Eliffht control 1 , 125 o.cres "t" 2.0 coCros 563 22 ?fi 220,734 22 iIi--^ri"-[IlUXl Lilt* ftpril .'ilfclfa: Mowing v/ith tractor 5 , 208 acres "t 20 acres 251 15 1 ft X o V**piXX XW"" 0\J I Mowing with horses 5,208 acres T 8 ucres 651 15 ( Anri 1 1 O-'^O^ \*xJJ* XX XW «->V/ / Raking with tractor 5, 208 acres 40 acres 131 15 Q ( Anr»i 1 1 O-'^n ) XX Xw~%j\j y Raking with horses 5 ,208 acres ^ 20 f-cres 261 15 V ftp I XX x\j ~ / Shocking 10,417 acrest 40 t.cres 261 15 \ xip * XX XV/ *JO / Trimming 13,750 acrest 10 icres 1,375 15 92 (Anril 10-30) Stacking 3, 713 tons 1 7.5 tons 496 15 ■^4 fwDril 10-30) Baling 5 , 625 tons 1" 3.5 tons 1,608 15 1 OR fAnril 10-30^ \ *»p X X X X w ^-fW y Mints: Weeding 252 acres t 0.33 acre 764 22 Onions (intermediate crop): Aee ding 1,000 acres 2,000 22 3 X Onions (icte crop): Weeding 2,300 acres 9,200 22 419 Potatoes: Cutting seed 8,640,000 pounds 1,000.0 pounds 8 , 640 22 393 Plc.nting (includ- ing fertilizing) 3,600 - crest 1.0 acre 3,600 22 164 Sugar beets: Thinning 20,815 acres 0.5 acre 41,630 22 1,893 Hoeing (first time) 7,304 acres 1 .5 acres 4,870 22 222 Table continued on next page. V li ble 5 continued- hequired number of I.'onth Crop o-ad tasit oiie of task OutuUt ijer man- day r:an— aays du-Y s workers* Sunflov/ers: Tiiii.ninc and (ri;jril oontin- Hoeing 667 acres 1 . vj acres OD / XX 61 15-30} 15-3C) ued; Bests (for seed): Hoeing 750 acres X • 9 acres XX 46 i^vrix Carrots (for seed}: -oeing X , ouu acres u . ( 0 acre 97 Lettuce (for seed): Thinning and r'oeing 750 acres 0.5 acre X , DUU 69 Onions if or seed): Hoeing 467 acres 0 . 42 acre X , XXc 51 Asparagus: Koeing (new crop) 4,014 acres 1 . C acre 4 , UX4 oo 183 Cutting ou , cxsD acres tt xou 9 yyu 6,033 Washing, Trimming and Putting in T T (April 10-30) Lugs 60,325 acres 24 , 140 20 1,207 Celery: Weeding seed bed 1 7 Q D o /» v*d c S 41 P 1 1 X X 493 (April 15-30) Peas: Picking O C T V, TY\r\ V* c^o , iu riajnpcrs c , OH** XX 214 (April 15-30) Tomatoes: Planting by hand ci , uuu o-cres U • civile 4 onn 1 1 X X 364 (April 15-30) Pears: Spraying 4, 500 acres c.u acres p psn p? cc 103 Blight control 1 , ±cD acres i *c . u acrt? s PP cc 26 OUO , OCX PP Cc 13,881 man-months May Alfalfa: Mowing with tractor 0 , (cuo acres t PAT COX PA c^ 11 Mowing with horses 0 , tiUo acres • 8 acres DOX PA CI 28 Raking with tractor 0 , cUo acres acres XOX 6 Raking with horses a , tiuo acres icu acres PAl COX PA C^i 11 Shocking lu , 41 1 acre SI 4U acres COX PA CI 11 Trimming ± J , /DO acres i xu acres X , O / 0 PA 58 St acking 0 , 4J.D tons ' 1 .0 Lons T 1 PP X , XCc PA C*i 47 Baling id , / 3U tons 1 3.5 tons O , 040 PA C'i 152 Mints: Weeding idDc; acres! 0.33 acre *7 ( d4 p/ c'i 32 Onions (intermediate crop): Weeding 1,000 acres s 1 AAA 1 , OOU c4 42 Onions (late crop): Weeding 2,300 acres «• 9,200 24 384 Potatoes: Cutting seed 3,600,000 pounds 1,000.0 pounds 3,600 24 150 Planting (including fertilizing) 1 , 500 acres f 1.0 acre 1,500 24 63 Cultivating 9,000 acres 5-0 acres 1,800 24 75 - Hoeing 12,000 acres 0.75 acre 16,000 24 667 Table continued on next page. * Table 0 continued . Required Available Required number of OxOD CijQ l/J\ Size of task Output per man-day man- days days workers* 5,843 acres 0.5 acre 11,686 24 487 ( contin- noeing V I irsi. uxniy y 20,815 acres 1,5 acres 13,877 24 579 ued) (second tirns) S,130 acres 2.0 acres 4,565 24 191 1,333 acres 1.0 acre 1,333 24 56 -lay 1-15) yeets ^lor ssea.J. r.Ocjing 750 acres 1.5 acres 500 12 42 (: ljlippj.ng Oil XOp 01 SiJuu SLaXKE 13 wixn jtcnxi G 1,500 acres 5.0 acres 300 24 osrroLS \,ior s^^ay 10-31) nosing 6,000 acres 1.0 acre 6,000 16 375 ( x^cj-rs. opic-jing 4, 500 acres 1" 2.0 :.cres 2,250 24 94 D±i gnx. con t-ro J. 1 , 125 acres t 2.0 acres 563 24 24 346.313 24 14,430 man-months J uns AJ.I cLll cl> tVlU W Xflg WXLIl 5,208 c crest 20 acres 261 26 11 iviow ing wx i/ii nu z ot; o 5,208 rcres't 8 acres 651 26 26 tiCKing wiun x3 uxy XD-OX 1 Cucumbers: Picking 506 acres 4,048 16 f Till w 1 R "^1 ^ uxy X J— ox j Pears: Picking 15,500 tons 1,200.0 pounds 22 . 500 26 ooc 117.157 26 -i , DU ( man-months August Alfalfc: i-iowing with tractor 5,208 acrest 20 acres 261 20 XX ilowing with horses 5,208 acres^ 8 acres 651 26 OP Raking with tre.ctor 5,208 acrest 40 acres 131 26 c D R-king with horses 5,208 acres'" 20 acres 261 26 XI Shocking 10,417 acrest 40 acres 261 26 11 Trimming 13,750 acres-*- 10 acres 1,375 25 53 Stacking 8,415 tons i" 7.5 tons 1,122 26 44 Baling 12,750 tonst" 3.5 tons 3,643 25 141 3e:ns: Hoeing (first time) 1G,000 acres 1.0 acre 16,000 17 942 (August 1-20) (second time) 16,000 acres 2.0 acres 8,000 9 889 (August 20-31) Onions 'l-'te crop): Harvest (pulling, topping, and sacking) 241,500 cwt. 30.0 cwt. 8,050 26 310 Table continued on next page, y-' Table 3 continued- 1 Required Available Require d number of Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man -days days workers* .August Potatoes: Cultivating 9,000 acres 5.0 acres 1,800 26 70 (contin- Harvesting 353,400 cwt. 40.0 cwt. 8,835 26 3^0 ued) Sugar beets; Hoeing (third time ) 9,130 acres 2.5 acres 3,652 26 141 Topping and loading 173,824 tons 6.0 tons 28,971 26 1,115 Sunflowers Cutting off heads by hand 400 acres 1.5 acres 267 13 21 (August 15-31) Beets (for seed): Cutting off branches and drying in piles 1,500 acres 0.5 acre 3,000 26 116 Threshing from stock 960 acres -f 1.8 acres 534 13 42 (August 15-31) Carrots (for seed): Harvest (cutting by hand and piling) 1,000 acres 0.4 acre 2,500 9 278 (August 20-31) Lettuce (for seed): Cutting and throwing on wagons 1,200 acres 0.33 acre 3,637 26 140 Threshing, screening, and sacking 600 acres"/" 0.5 acre 1,200 26 47 Onions (for seed): Picking (hand cutting) 234 acres 0.17 acre 1,377 4 345 (r^ueust 1-5) Threshing, screening, and winnowing 350 acresi" 0.4 acre 875 26 34 Asparagus: Hoeing (new crop) 4,014 acres 1.5 acres 2,676 26 103 Cutting Celery (Fall): Pulling plants 715 acres 0.25 acre 2,860 4 715 (August 1-5) Planting (by machine) 715 acres 0.5 acre 1,430 4 358 (Aueust 1-5) "Scratching" (weeding) 7,150 acres 0.4 acre 17,875 26 688 Cultivating 14,300 acres t 6.0 acrss 2,384 26 92 Cucumbers: Picking 506 acres 7,843 31 253 Tomatoes: Picking 4,500 tons 0.75 ton 6,000 13 462 (.!lugust 15-31) Pears: Picking 6,750 tons 1,200.0 pounds 11,250 26 433 148,721 26 5.721 man-months September Alfalfa: Mowing with tractor 5, 208 acres "1" 20 acres 261 25 11 Mowing with horses 5,208 acres + 8 acres 651 25 27 Raking with tractor 5,208 acres + 40 acres 131 25 6 Raking with horses 5,208 acresl" 20 acres 261 25 11 Table continued on next page . o * 1 — . - ... . i^equired number of Month urop and task ■ '1 OI LJ.S £i I'iC-li Lt ."J o workers* September Alfali'a (continued} , contin- onocAing TD AT 7 f- fTpc? T dC P5 T* 261 25 11 ued; i rirnrning 1 ''i 7 Sn p r"rp<;"^ 10 '-^ f*. TP 1 , 375 25 55 W + ^ 1^ ^ /*P oX.^CKing 7 ton«? 1 ,122 25 45 bi.ling IP 7 t n>no +" 3, 643 25 146 (Ssptember 20-30^ ceans. riiinsr, wmarowing 2 410 8 302 rotC'tocs: Cultiv^^tmc: 0,000 c.cros 1 POO 48 P7Q non r»w+ 6, 975 25 279 Sugar boets: Topping s.nd T fi7 fil t one; B ^ 0 t O *7 R 27 , 936 25 1, 118 ounixowers. vjULi.ing oi i iicc>.ub uy n nu U W CAV^l C" O X • 5 c cru s 534 25 22 c^ic ex \^ X. w O 1 (September 1-7) 1 . 8 :!icr'6 s 134 6 23 r\ Mct'^i-i f-^^M <-mnr4 U v*T r A o "f* osLrrous ^lor seeo/- ncirvesi/ (September 1-20) J. , \J\J\J o 19 inr3snj.ng, sciccning u.nu SctCKing 300 25 12 7 150 ^ Gres 1 . 0 ci.cr8 7, 150 25 286 X** J www U-^rfl CO f f 1 0 y* r- R 2,384 25 96 (September 1-15) Cucumbers: ricking ouD o.cres *B 91 0 , / y D io 253 Tom2.toes: Picking lOjbUO tons (J . / 0 ton io , uuu oc: CO 720 re&.rs. opr3.ying 1 TPS 25 45 (September I-IO) i-i eking 2,250 tons 1,200.0 pounds 3,750 8 459 Onions {icte crop): Harvest (cutting, topping, and (September 1-15) sacking) 100,625 cwt. 30.0 cwt. 3.355 13 259 92,739 25 3.710 man-months ( Table continued on next page. no T_tlt 3 continued ■ Month October November December Required Avail:-, bio Hequir- d numo^r of Crop end tr.sk Size of t"sk Output per m:^n-day n-dr ys - d-ys [— -."orl-ars* Alfr.lfa: St-JC.king 3,713 tonsT 7.5 tons 496 8 62 (October 1-10 ) Baling 5,525 tonsT 3.5 tons 1,608 12 134 (October 1-15) ceins: Piling, windrowing 12,000 ceres 1.66 acres 7,229 24 3C£ Threshing 6,400 acres t 4.0 acres 1,600 24 67 Corn: i-icking, husking, end - hauling to cribs 9,000 acres 0.75 acre 12,000 24 500 Grrin Sorghuns: H-:.rv3sting (with combine; 3,000 ucresi- 2.5 acres 1,200 24 50 Potatoes: Harvesting 316,200 cwt. 40.0 cwt. 7,905 24 330 Sugrr beets: Topping '^nd loiding 136,576 tons 6.0 tons £2,763 24 949 Sunflowers: Cutting off ha^ds by hr:.nd 800 rcres 1.5 acres 534 24 23 Celery (Fill): "Scratching" (October 1-15) (weeding; 7,150 ocres 1.0 acre 7,150 12 596 Cultivating 7,150 acres t 6.0 acres 1,192 12 100 (October 1-15) Harvesting 56,400 half cr:tes 18.8 half crates 3,000 12 250 (October 15-31) Tomatoes: Picking 12,000 tons 0.75 ton 16,000 24 667 82, 677 24 3, 445 man-months Corn: Picking, husking, ..nd hiuling to cribs 12,000 :-cres 0.75 acre 16,000 23 696 Onions (intermedicte crop): Transplanting 500 acres one-eighth :.cre 4,000 23 174 Potr.toes: Ku,rvesting 279,000 cwt. 40.0 cwt. 6,975 23 304 Sugi.r beets: Topping and lo-.ding 37,248 tons 6.0 tons 6,208 23 270 Celery (F?.ll): Harvesting 451,200 half 18.8 h-.lf crates 24,000 23 1, 044 crates Pe:.rs: Pruning 1,500 fcres 0.25 sere 6,000 23 261 63,183 23 748 man -months Corn: Picking, husking, end hauling to cribs 9,000 i.cres 0.75 acre 12,000 18 667 Onions (intermediate crop): Transplanting 500 T.cres one-eighth acre 4,000 18 223 Table continued on next page to 1 ^ TablJ 5 continued. Month December (contin- ued) Crop ^^nd task Pot::toes: Hf.rvesting Sugar beets: Topping "er conditions. The basis for th'^s column was detcrrined from a study of" the monthly weather charts of tho United '=^tates "'eather '^urcau for tho years 1933, i:v'34, and 1935. These data indicated available days per month ■'s follows (based on ;? 26-day vforking month vdthout allowance for holidays): Month Available length of J'onth "vailab • e lon'-th of days work day days work day hours hours January 18 9 July 26 10 February 20 9 August 26 10 March 22 10 ■ September 25 10 Apri 1 22 10 October 24 30 Kay 24 10 November 23 9 June 26 10 December 18 9 Source of data: Based upon precipitation records of the Stockton and Sacramonto stations of the United States iVoather Bureau for tho years 193o, 1934, and 1935. The second factor influoncin- the number of available days wa? th': size of the job. If the output was only a few cars, tron the nurrbor of days wa-s limited to tho ti-'.G needed to got out those cars efficiently. If a field operation had to be pcr- for-Ticd in a period less th-'.n tho num'icr of available days ''n tho month, then the spe- cific number of davs was noted. The-^e restrictions arc shown in parentheses. For oxainple, in Cctobor the bar-, est in- o" celery was limited to the las^: hr-lf of tho month . t \ t • , I ■ • ' t 27. T'-'C totals of tablo 3 s):o"' the tot-^l rcquirod man-days of ncedod seasonal labor, the av'-UF.' ]o drvs for ''i.ad work durln- the month, and the necessary number of m^n Us defined in the orcninr, p-jra-r^.Fh of tablo 3) required on a monthly basrs to care for the tasks ordinarily pcrform.^.d by seasonal vrorkors . In -n area such as the, D.ltr., involving- ' v:.rioty of annu-,1 crops, the findings as set forth in this report are bound to riuctuito matorirJly from ye?.r to year, bec-nse of the ir-rkct outlook upon what ^nd how mu(>h acroar.e s planted, and when it is r.lnntcd; because of wri-blc seasonal conditions affecting yields, time of per- forming operations, and available days; and because of harvesting operations on cer- tain crops bcin"-, srecded up to supply a ^rood market, or rot^rded to avoid a poor one. rcsultinc in marked variations in the need for harvest labor. i i