University of California College of Agriculture Agricultural Experiment Station Berkeley, California SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNIA CROPS SANTA BARBARA COUNTY Progress Report No. 42 R. L. Adams March, 1936 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE DAVIS (Farm Labor Survey — January -June, 1936) Progress Report #42 January, 1936 Seasonal Labor weeds for California Crops Santa Barbara 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. 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, hay balers, thresherrattJi, and shed packers of vegetabl 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 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 .-- Santa Barbara County is one of Cali- fornia's southern coast counties, its southeast corner being about 55 miles from the center of Los Angeles. It is bounded upon the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the east by precipitous mountain ranges, on the north and south by counties the terrain of which is similar to that of Santa Barbara County. The farming areas of the county consist of three principal areas. One in the northwest portion of the county opening upon the coast is approximately 8 miles by 20 in extent, lies along the Santa Maria River, and surrounds the towns of Santa Maria, Guadalupe, and Betteravia. Another area lies in the west central portion of the county. This area likewise opens upon the coast, extending about 36 miles up the Santa Ynez River. The western portion of this belt occupies an area whioh aver- ages about 8 by 11 miles, the eastern portion an area about 6 miles square, while the intermediary strip connecting these two areas varies from about 1 to 2 miles. The principal towns in this area are Lompoc and Santa Ynez. The third area occupies a strip of land bordering the ocean in the easterly half of the southern boundary of the county for a distance of about 30 miles, varying in width from about 3 to 4 miles. The principal towns of the third area are Golota, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria. The county contains a total of 1,683,200 acres, of which land in crops during 1935 was reported as:* ♦"Agricultural Crop Report of Santa Barbara County," compiled by Eugene S. Kellogg, County Agricultural Commissioner , January 1, 1936. Acreage Field crops 131,362 Vegetable crops 28,111 Orchards (bearing) 6, 345 Total 166,318 The farming area located in the northwest portion lies generally below the 600-foot contour; the west central portion below 800 feet; and the southern coastal belt below 250 feet. A variety of soils are represented, seventeen soil series being noted and twenty-nine soil types. The predominating soil textures are the lighter phases of sands, fine sandy loams, loams, and silty clay loams, with depths of from 3 to 6 feet or more. Crops, Acreages, and Production .-- The basis used in calculating occasional or seasonal need for labor, other than that furnished by farm operators and regul- arly employed workers, appears as table 1. TABLE 1 Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements — Santa Barbara County Crops Acreage Production Field crops: Alfalfa 7,920 37,950 tons Barley 21,140 282,964 cwt. Beans 41,862 284,614 cwt. Grain hay 27,500 41,224 tons Mustard 6,673 66,723 cwt. Oats 10,323 107,220 cwt. Onions 243 30,451 cwt. Potatoe s 1,659 359,679 cwt. Sugar beets 6,949 74,133 tons Wheat 5,313 73,310 cwt. Vegetable crops: Anise 150 60,000 crates Bell peppers 151 50,760 crates Broccoli 357 139,698 crates Cabbage 106 8,640 crates Carrots 5,569 1,670,700 crates Cauliflower 4,312 123,320 crates Celery 877 526,200 crates Endive (chicory) 261 65,250 crates Lettuce 7,133 828,240 crates Limas (green) 332 35,154 hampers Parsley 50 (A decreasing industry and ignored) Peas 4,398 395,820 hampers of 30 povnds Tomatoe s 1,792 403,200 packed lugs Orchard fruits: of 32 pounds net. Walnuts 3,260 1,824 tons Lemons 3,065 544,272 packed boxes Oranges 320 26,796 packed boxes Avocadoes 200 157 tons Miscellaneous : Vegetable and flower seeds 1,780 Bulbs 45 Note: The above recorded figures of vegetable acreages include a portion of San Luis Obispo County — the Oso Flaco district -- just across the Santa Maria River from Guadalupe and a part of the Guadalupe deal. This acreage and production amounts to about 25 per cent of the totals as tabulated above. 3 Operations Requiring Seasonal Labor and Times of Need * — Farm operations requiring the use of seasonal or occasional labor for the various crops raised in Santa Barbara County (including the Oso Flaco district of San Luis Obispo County, which properly is included with the Santa Barbara County acreages) are indicated in table 2. This tabulation does not include the employing of shed workers needed to wash, pack, and prepare various commodities for shipping and marketing. TABLE 2 Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Times of Needs by Crops — Santa Barbara County (and the Oso Flaco district of San Luis Obispo County) Crop Operation Time of need Field crops: Alfalfa Barley Beans Grain hay Mustard Oats Onions Potatoes Spring crop (350 acres) Fall crop (1,300 acres) Sus;ar beets May 15-31 June -July 10 September (Use of seasonal help inconsequential and hence ignored.) (Use of seasonal help inconsequential and hence ignored.) Two hoeings Piling (Use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.) (Use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.) (Use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.) Hand planting (15 per cent April of acreage) Hand weeding and thinning May 15-31 (one-third of acreage] Hand hoeing June 1-15 (two-thirds of acreage] June-July (one-third of acreage] Pulling, topping, and sacking Sept.-Oot. (one-half of acreage each month) Two hoeings (January (February Digging by hand (25 per cent April-May (one-half of acreage of acreage) Picking up and sacking Two hoeings Digging by hand (25 per cent of acreage) Picking up and sacking Thinning Hoeing (twice) each month) April-May (one-half of acreage each month) (May ( June Sept. -Oct. (one-half of ao 1*0 ago each month) Sept. -Oct. (one half of acreage each month) March (60 por cent of acreage) April (30 per cent of acreage) May (10 per cent of acreage) April (60 por cent of aoroago) May (90 per cent of acreage) June (4-0 per cent of acreage) (Tab'lo 2 continued on next page* ) ). Table 2 continued. 4. Crop Operation Time of need Field crops: Sugar beets Wheat Vegetable crops Anise Bell peppers Broccoli Cauliflower and cabbage Pulling, topping, and loading Sept. (15 per cent of output) Oct. (60 per cent of output) Nov. (25 per cent of output) (Use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.) Thinning Hoeing Harvesting (Y/ork done by regular crews) Pulling and preparing plants for setting in field Transplanting in field Hoeing (average one per season by seasonal workers) Cutting, trimming, and bunching Pulling and transplanting to field loo ing (average one per season by seasonal workers) Aug., Sept., Oct. (one-third of acreage each month) Sept., Oct., Nov. (one-third of acreage each month) Dec, Jan., Feb. (one-third of acreage each month) Aug .15-31 (3 per cent of acreage Sept. (17 per cent of acreage) Oct. (20 per cent of acreage) Nov. (20 per cent of acreage) Dec. (30 per cent of acreage) Jan. 1-15(10 per cent of acreage) Sept. (3 per cent of acreage) Oct. (17 per cent of acreage) Nov. (20 per cent of acreage) Dec. (20 per cent of acreage) Jan. (30 per cent of acreage) Feb. (10 per cent of acreage) Aug. (4 per cent of output) Sept. (9 per cent of output) Oct. (15 per cent of output) Nov. (27 per cent of output) Dec. (24 per cent of output) Jan. (14 per cent of output) Feb. ( 7 per cent of output) Aug. 15-31(3 per cent of acreage) Sept. (17 per cent of acreage) Oct. (20 per cont of acreage) Nov. (20 per cent of acreage) Dec. (30 per cent of acreage) Jan.l-15(l0 per cent of acreage) Sept. (3 per cent of acreage) Oct. (17 per cent of acreage) Nov. (20 per cent of acreage) Doc. (20 per cent of acreage) Jan. (30 per cent of acreage) Fob. (10 per cent of acreage) Table 2 continued on next page. *■ Table 2 continued. 5. Crop Opo ration Time of need Field crops: Cauliflower and cabbage Cutting and trimming Packing in crates Carrots Hand hoeing (close to rows) and hand wooding Pulling, bunching, tying, and placing in field crates of four dozen bunches Celery- Pulling, stripping, trim- ming, and placing plants in pans of water; trans- planting into field Harvesting Endive (chicory) Thinning and weeding Cutting and placing in field crates Nov, (l per cent of output) Dec. (6 per cent of output) Jan. (19 per cent of output) Feb. (25 per cent of output) Mar. (22 per cent of output) April (18 per cent of output) May (6 per cent of output) (Rest scattering and incon- sequential) Aug. (3 per cent of acreage) Sept. (7 per cent of acreage) Oct. (22 per cent of acreage; Nov. (5 per cent of acreage) Dec. (6 per cent of acreage) Jan. (13 per cent of acreage) Feb. (16 per cent of acreage) Mar. (ll per cent of acreage) Apr. (5 per cent of acreage) May (3 per cent of acreage) June (4 per cent of acreage) Jan. (13 per cont of output) Feb. (5 per cent of output) Mar» (6 per cent of output) Apr. (13 per cent of output) May (16 per cent of output) Juno (ll per cent of output) July (5 per cent of output) Aug. (3 per cent of output) Sept. (4 per cent of output) Oct. (7 per cent of output) Nov*. (8 per cent of output) Dec. (9 per cent of output) July $0-31 (10 per cent of acreage) Aug. (80 per cent of acreage) Sept. 1-5 (10 per cent of acreage) Nov. (6 per cent of output) Dec. (36 per cent of output) Jan. (23 per cent of output) Feb. (29 per cent of output) Mar. (6 per cent of output) Aug, (3 per cent of acrcago) Sept. (38 per cent of acreage) Oct. (46 per cont of acreage) Nov. (13 per cont of acrcago) Nov. (3 por cent of output) Dec. (17 per cont of output) Jan. (21 per cent of output) Fob. (46 por cent of output) Mar. (13 per cent of output) Table 2 continued on next page Table 2 continued. Croi Field crops: Lettuce Lima beans ( green ^ Parsley- Peas Tomatoe s Orchard fruits: Walnuts Lemons Operation Time of need Thinning and wooding Nov* (7 per cent of acreage) Dec. (22 per cent of acreage) Jan. (7 per cent of acreago) Mar. (22 per cent of acreage) Apr. (20 per cent of acreage) May (23 per cent of acreage) June (7 per cent of acreage) Cutting and placing in field crates Hoeing (twice) Picking Mar. (7 p^r cent Apr. (22 per cent May (7 per cent Juno (22 per cent July (20 per cent Aug. (23 per cent Sept. (7 per cent (Rest scattering sequential ) May and Juno of output) of output) of output) of output) of output) of output) of output) md incon- July 20-31 (30 per cont of output ) August (70 per cent of output) (Area discontinuing production — hence ignored.) Hoeing (average of one by seasonal workers) Picking Picking Picking up Picking Oct . , Nov . , and De c . (one-third of acreago each month) Jan. (14 per cent of acreage) Fob. (42 per cent of acreage) Mar, (34 per cent of acreage) Apr. (9 per cent of acreago) (Balance scattering and incon- sequential) Sept. (24 per cent of output) Oct. (61 per cent of output) Nov. (12 per cent of output) (Rest scattering and incon- sequential ) Sept. and Oct. (one-half of output each month Jan. (2 per cent of output) Fob. (3 per cent of output) Mar. (4 per cont of output) Apr. (8 per cent of output) May (13 per cont of output) June (14 per cent of output) Table 2 continuod on next page. « Table 2 continued. 7. Crop Opuration .imo o >T' need Orchard fruits: Lemons Oranges Avocados Miscellaneous : Vegetable and flower seeds Picking (continued) Picking Picking (50 per cent by- seasonal workers) July (20 per cent of output) Aug. (15 per cent of output) Sept. (6 per cent of output) Oct. (8 por cent of output) Nov. (4 per cent of output) Dec. (3 per cent of output) Valencias_ (60 por cent of output] May~Nov., inclusive (14.3 por cent of output each month) Have Is (40 por cent of output) Jan. -Apr . , inclusive (25 per cent of output each month) Doc, (7 per cent of output) Jan. (8 per cent of output) Fob. (12 per cent of output) Mar. (13 per cent of output) Apr. (19 per cent of output) May (16 por cent of output) June (13 per cent of output) Wooding Weeding and thinning Weeding, thinning, and ( transplanting ( Roguing Wooding, thinning, trans-) planting, roguing, and ) breeding ) Roguing, harvesting, pollin-) ating, seed cleaning, and ) brooding ) Brooding, roguing, harvesting seed cleaning, pollinating, and threshing Breeding, harvesting, pollin- ating, and seed cleaning Brooding, harvesting, sood) cleaning ) Seed cleaning Feb. Mar. Apr . May May June July ,) A ug. ) Sept ) ) Oct. ) Nov. Doc . Fi ndings of Soasonal Labor Noeds . — Details and summaries of soasonal labor requirements of Santa Barbara County agriculture* arc presented as table 3. The "size of job" arc figures drawn from tablo 1 in terms of either acreage or output in tons, crates, boxos, or whatever unit is commonly used. The "output por man day" is an average figure for the entire acreage or output figured in packed crates, hampers, or boxes (in case of fruits and vcgotables). 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 cauliflowor; trimming and crating celery, etc.), thon the average shown is per man based on the entire crow. Length of day is 9 hours, November to February; 10 hours, March to October, unless other- wise stated. Wide variations in output occur between farm and farm, field and 4' 8 field, and soason and season, because of differences in soil types, climatic con- ditions, weeds, yields, and other factors influencing tho amount of work that a laborer can perform in a given day» Morcovor, tho 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. Tho column headod "available days" re- flects (a) limitations set from the period within which tho work must be performed because of the nature of the task, such as transplanting, thinning, wooding, and cutting, and (b) available days as determined by weather conditions, inclomcnt 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 abovo in connection with "output per man day." i * TABLE 3 Seasonal Labor Needs — Santa Barbara County -- by Months and Tasxs Required Available Required number Month Croo and ta.sk Size of task Output per man-day man-days days of workers* January Anise: Harvesting 20,000 crates 32 crates 625 17 37 Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower: Planting (Jan.l -15) 650 acres 23 man-hours per acre 1 ,.661 17 98 Hoeing 1,425 acres 1 acre 1,425 17 84 Harvesting broccoli 19,600 crates 90 crates 218 17 13 Bunching broccoli (27,200 dozen ( bunches (32 dozen per 8-hour ( day 850 17 50 Her\ r estir.g cabbage and 25,000 crates 90 crates 278 17 16 cauliflower Packing cabbage and 25,000 crates 145 crates 173 17 10 cauliflower Carrots: Weeding and hoeing 725 acres 60 man-hours per acre 4, 833 17 285 Harvesting 217 ,000 5-dozen crates 14 crates per 7-hour day 15 ,500 17 912 Celery: Harvesting 121,000 crates 32 crates 3, 781 17 223 Endive (chicory;: Harvesting 13,700 crates 22 crates 623 12 52(for 12 days] Lettuce: Thinning and weeding 500 acres 0.5 acre 1 ,000 17 60 i Peas: Picking 55,000 hampers 9 hampers 6 ,100 17 360 Lemons: Picking 11,000 boxes 9 boxes 1 , 222 17 72 Navel oranges: Picking 2,700 boxes 18 boxes 150 17 9 Avocados: Picking 13,000 pounds 600 pounds 22 17 2 Totals 34,680 17 2,040 man-months February Anise: Harvesting 20,000 crates 32 crates 625 21 30 Spring-crop potatoes: Hoeing 350 acres 3 acres 120 21 6 oroccon, Cccuuage , ano cauin lower. Hoeing 650 acres 1 acre 650 21 31 Harvesting broccoli 9,800 crates 90 crates 109 10 11 (for 10 days) Bunching broccoli 19,600 dozen bunches 32 dozen per 8 -hour day 612 10 62 (for 10 days) Harvesting cabbage and 33,000 crates 90 crates 367 21 18 cauliflower Packing cabbage and 33,000 crates 145 crates 228 21 11 cauiif lower tD f Table continued on next page. ! ■:•>•« * I - \ \ 82 < ii 4 » .. ... . ... ■ " ** : i • ; t I • i f • i te qui red Available Required number Li r\ n + Vi IVI U I i I'll Crop and task Size of task Output per man- day i nan- days days of workers* X t- UI uci-i. j Carrots: Weeding and hoeing 900 acres 60 man-hours per acre 6,000 21 286 f ront 1 d . ) Harvesting 84,000 crates 14 crates per 6,000 21 286 7 -hour day Celerv: Harvesting; 153,000 crates 32 crates 4,781 21 227 30,000 crates 22 crates 1,364 21 65 167,000 hampers 9 hampers 18 , 334 21 873 Lemons: Picking 15,000 boxes 9 boxes 1,667 21 80 Navel oranges: Picking 2,700 boxes 18 boxes 150 21 7 Avocados: Picking 18,000 pounds 600 pounds 30 21 2 Seed crops: Weeding 1,780 acres _„ 840 21 40 Totals 31.096 21 1,481 man-months Sugc.r beets: Thinning 4,200 acres 0.5 acre 8,400 20 420 Cabbage and caulif lower: Harvesting 29,000 crates 90 crates 322 20 16 Packing 29,000 crates 160 crates 181 20 9 Carrots: '/needing and hoeing 6,100 acres 60 man-hours per acre 4,067 20 203 Harvesting 100,000 crates 14 crates per 7,143 20 357 7-hour day Celery: Harvesting 31,500 crates 32 crates 984 20 49 Endive (chicory): Harvesting 8,500 crates 22 crates 390 10 39 (for 10 days) Lettuce: Thinning and weeding 1,600 acres 0.5 acre 3,200 20 160 Harvesting 58,000 crates 25 crates 2,300 20 116 Dry -packing 52,000 crates 20 crates 2,600 20 130 (half time) ppQQ' Pi f* Vi Ficr 135,000 hampers 10 hampers 13,500 20 675 IiPmnnc! Pi nk" i ncr 22,000 boxes 10 boxes 2,200 20 110 Navel oranges: Picking 2,700 boxes 20 boxes 135 20 7 Avocados: Picking 20,000 pounds 600 pounds 34 20 2 Seed crops: Weeding and thinning 1.780 acres 1.300 20 65 Totals 45,772 20 2,289 man-months April Onion seed: Hand planting 40 acres 3 acres 14 7 2(for 7 days) Spring-crop potatoes: 16(for 10 days Hand digging 40 acres 0.25 acre 160 10 (12.5 per cent of acreage) 47(for 15 days] Picking up and sacking 1,750 tons 2.5 tons 700 15 Sugar beets: Thinning 2,100 acres 0.5 acre 4,200 22 191 Table continued on next page. 5 — - « ■ Table continued. .._ | 1 Required Available Required number Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day man-days days of workers* April Cabbage and cauliflower: (cont'd.) Harvesting 24,000 crates 100 crates 240 22 11 Packing 24,000 crates 160 crates 150 22 7 Carrots: Weeding and hoeing anj] +00 OP cL.nu Ldb.t\ On+nni" npr mfln-Hf V v u i, u !.■ \— - i in cj< 1 1 *»i _y Have; rf — July .Lima Deans \ior gruen crop/ 4 o^f or 7 days; (cont'd.) Hoeing 110 acres 5 acres o 1 Lemons: Picking 110 ,000 boxes 10 boxes 1 f 1UU 4O Valencia orctnges. riOKin^ CJ j L t\J\J UU AL O Cj\J UUAI>0 120 26 IP beed crops, weeding, imnning, i.rc:nspj.cini.ing, rog.ui.ng, Dollinating, and breeding j. ■ / oL/ cicres A £PO PA 170 iouais J.J ■ -«J X o CL ■JJ / 111. -II IIJvJIlLIIo August Anise; Thinning Q f+ V* O O O P^ Ck r»a i cow •a ACil-fcsr* S H^v«5^ **U \1 UI »J U -AJf £a / Broccoli, caDDcge , ana cauniiower. 43(f or 8 d°vs) riail L J. lit; p X rr^"!^— ton 1 1 y* 345 8 — > v» Ci V» i^, per duL> 1 tg Harvesting broccoli j , DUU dlcb TOO /^v^ + cso li cii/Co A ouncning urocco.ii 1 1 POO rfn7pr AO Ha7 £30 6 3fi(for fi davq) vJ(J^Av>l \J vX "J" / U U 1 U j 1 1 o o uarroLs. weening c.nu noemg J.OJ cXt/ 1 Co U\J IUCLI L I l\J U 1 o (JCI 3S o.cr e narVcSXing -L L -t Li u UCO L v i 3,426 26 132 / —IlUU X QCLj/ ueiery. rxanxing ID IIiclXi*"Uci-Jf o pel If! 1 44. 423 CJiluXVu ^ OillUwI J / • X 11 J. 1111 J. Xlg OuIlU 4(for 5 days) WCCUl Ii o 10 acres 0»5 acre 20 5 J.JXj\Jww V>I LI LCD PS f* v*f^ tp9 7 , 640 26 294 Dry-packing 170,000 crates cU crates O , DUU o— V.' 2fi 5 occQ crops. Drucuxng, roguing, H P» VI r 0 O + 1 nff COO/l-^l o CCU OiLaJllil^ , poinn^ Ling , ana unresnmg i,/ou :-cres PA (CO i oxais PA T 7 n-mnn + he J. , f J J IliO.il — ILIKJ 11 UliO September Onions: Pulling, topping, and sacking 16,000 cwt. 2 cwt. 8,000 25 320 Fall -«rop potatoes: Digging (by hand) ( 160 acres) 160 acres 0.25 acre 640 25 26 Picking up and sacking 6,500 tons 2.5 tons 2,600 25 104 Table continued on next page. 1 • - ■ { - . - S 4. ^ »- - > 1 i r j ■ i -. .- 1 1 ; 1 . j r i - \. • r • y ... ** t. 5 J I \ i i ' > > V Reoui re d Available Re ^uir s d number Month Crop and task Size oi task 111 1+ m 1+ T1 Ci YT\ QV1 rt c T T WUL^Ut Pel IliCUl— U CLJ utctxi— Ucxy 0 days September Sugar beets ( cont ' d . ; Pulling, topping, and loading 12,000 tons 6 tons 0 nnn 80 Anise: Thinning 50 acres acre pnn C 9 AC\( -T n y» ^ vc ^ Hoeing 50 acres 1 acre !^n i n Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower: Planting 800 acres 1 SAD 1 , 0 L iU PS per acre 10(forl5 days) Hoeing 150 acres i acre i ^n 1 ou 1 0 Harvesting broccoli Q( for 1 S d,iv^ ) Bunching broccoli /I O *7 o m ^iU Q U <£ C 1 1 J. «J 42(for 15 days) Carrots: Weeding and hoeing 400 acres 0 u\3.ii— days Harvesting Of ,UJU CFalgS i 1 * ci ales per A 7 ft A 4, / CO 1 SP /— nour ua,y coo\i ui 0 ucLj 0 y Celery: Planting 90 crates 10 man— cays i AAn c: 0 Endive (chicory;: Thinning and cU^i or d udy s y weeding 100 acres u.o acre pnn c Q Lettuce: Harvesting oo,uuu craxes O C y» v% *" -fr ^» 0 ^pn Dry-packing ■Jc,UiJO Lralcb Of! i^ya+oo CL C- ^ O C , U VJ w PS ??0 (hal f t imr-1 CCjKJ \ Hull u J. iuL y jjima ueans. ricicing 000 ?5 120 Tomatoes: Picking XUu , UvJU crai.es i no J. Uv Walnuts: Picking up 912 tons <;00 pounds 9 ,120 25 365 Lemons: Picking 30,000 boxes 10 boxes 3,000 25 120 Valencia oranges: Picking p /'inn Krvveo Pf~\ Virtvoo Seed crops: Breeding, roguing, narvestmg, seeu— cleaning, pollinating, and threshing i 7cn a /■» v> ^ o 1 , / OU dCrcS p^n i o i,ais P T "^l mon-mnnthc uctober Onions: Pulling, topping, and sacking lb , UUU CA'T, . c(7CWX * r nnln Fall-crop potatoes: Digging (by hand; (160 acres; 160 acres 0.2b acre Picking up and sacking 6,500 tons 2.5 tons 2,600 24 108 Sugar beets: Pulling, topping, and loading 45,000 tons 6 tons 7,500 24 313 Anise: Thinning 50 acres 0.25 acre 200 5 40(for 5 days) Hoeing 50 acrss 1 acre 50 10 5 (for 10 days' Table continued on next page. NT 3* Table continued. Required Available Required number HE 4- I- wiontn Crop and task Size of task Output per man- day man -days days of workers* October Broccoli, cabcage, and cauliflower: ( cont ' d . ) Planting 950 acres 23 man-hours 2,185 24 93 Hoeing broccoli 800 acr^s 1 acre 800 24 34 Harvesting broccoli 21,000 crates 100 crates 210 5 42(for 5 days ) Bunching broccoli 42,000 dozen 40 dozen 1,050 5 210(for 5 days) Carrots: Weeding and hoeing 1,225 acres 6 man-days 7,350 24 307 Harvesting 117,000 crates 14 crates per 7-hour day 8,358 24 347 Endive (chicory): Thinning and weeding 120 acres 0.5 acre 240 24 10 Peas: Hoeing 1,500 acres 1 acre 1,500 24 61 Tomatoes: Picking 246,000 crates 40 crates 6,200 24 259 Walnuts: Picking up 912 tons 200 pounds 9,120 24 380 Lemons: Picking 44,000 boxes 10 boxes 4 , 400 24 183 Valencia oranges: Picking 2,400 boxes 20 boxes 120 24 5 Seed crops: Breeding, harvesting, pollinating, and seed-cleaning 1,780 acres -— 4.200 24 175 Totals 64.723 24 2.699 man- -months November Sugar beets: Pulling, topping, and loading 19,000 tons 6 tons 3,167 22 144 Anise: Hoein? 50 acres 1 acre 50 10 5(for 10 days) Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower: Planting 950 acres 23 man-hours 2,185 22 100 Hoeing 950 acres 1 acre 950 22 44 Harvesting broccoli 37,800 crates 90 crates 420 22 19 Bunching broccoli 75,600 dozen 36 dozen 2,100 22 96 Harvestin? cabbage and cauliflower 1,300 crates 90 crates 15 2 8(for 2 days) Packing cabbage and cauliflower 1,300 crates 145 crates 9 2 5(for 2 days) Carrots: Weeding and hoeing 280 acres 6 man- days 1,680 22 77 Harvesting 134,000 crates 14 crates per 7-hour day 9,572 22 455 Celery: Harvesting 31,500 crates 32 crates 984 22 45 Endive (chicory): Thinning and weeding 35 acres 0.5 acre 70 5 14(for 5 days ) Harvesting 2,000 crates 22 crates 92 4 23 (for 4 days) Table continued on next page . «i Table continued Month Crop and task Size of task Output per man-day Required man- day s Available days Required number of workers* November ' cont ' d . ) December Lettuce: Thinning and weeding Peas: Hoeing Tomatoes: Picking Lemons: Picking Valencia oranges: Picking Seed crops: Breedings harvesting, and seed-cleaning Totals Anise: Harvesting Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower: Planting Hoeing Harvesting broccoli Bunching broccoli Harvesting cabbage and cauliflower Packing cabbage and cauliflower Carrots: Weeding and hoeing Harvesting Celery: Harvesting Endive (chicory): Harvesting Lettuce: Thinning and weeding Peas: Hoeing Lemons: Picking Avocados: Picking Seed crops: Cleaning Totals 500 acres 1,500 acres 50,000 crates 22,000 boxes 2,400 boxes 1,780 acres 0.5 acre 1 acre 40 crates 9 boxes 18 boxes 1,000 1,500 1,250 2,445 150 3,850 31.489 20,000 crates I, 425 acres 950 acres 33,600 crates 67,200 dozen 8,000 crates 8,000 crates 335 acres 150,000 crates 190,000 crates II, 000 crates 1,600 acres 1,500 acres 15,000 boxes 10,000 pounds 1.780 acres 32 crates 23 man-hours 1 acre 90 crates 36 dozen 90 crates 145 crates 23 man-hours 14 crates per 7 -hour day 32 crates 22 crates 0.5 acre 1 acre 9 boxes 600 pounds 625 3,642 950 374 1,867 89 55 856 10,715 5,938 500 3,200 1,500 1,667 17 400 22 22 22 22 22 22 46 68 57 112 7 175 22 1.451 man-months 20 20 20 20 20 10 10 15 20 20 10 20 20 20 20 20 31 182 48 18 93 9(for 10 days) 6(for 10 days) 514(for 15 days) 536 297 50(for 10 days) 160 75 83 1 20 26.457 20 1,323 man-months * Monthly basis unless otherwise noted. H ! \ 4 » - j 1 i I I ' 1 * i i * : i '..'*"'■ i 17. Notes Notes on Table 1 .-- Acreage figures appoaring in table 1 are from the Jan- uary 1, 1936 "Agricultural Crop Report of Santa Barbara County," by Eugcno S. Kellogg. This report is likewise tho basis for most of the production shown in this table. In some instances tho figures wore dotorminod on tho basis of reported yields per aero. Production reported as carlots was recalculated to a crate, ham- per, or packed lug basis. Notes on Table 2 . — Data concerning "time of need," as shown in this table breaks down required hand labor utilizing seasonal labor into the period when tho work is porformcd, in order to permit a subsequent determination of labor needs by months (tabic 3). Some operations aro performed to only a limited extent with seasonal hand labor. For instance, hand planting of onions is estimated to be practiced to the extent of but 15 por cent of tho planted acreage, the balance being seeded with horse-drawn equipment. Likewiso about 25 per cent of the potato acreage, of both spring and fall crops, is dug by hand, the balance being dug with machines. Whon the part-acreage tasks involve two or more months, then the proportionate acrcago for oach month is shown. For example, hand digging of the 25 por cent of spring-crop potatoes occurs in April and May, so that half of tho total job was assigned to each month. The amount of work done each month is based on the cropping program fol- lowed during 1935. The allotting of amounts of work is basod on findings concern- ing local farming practices and required time to "mako" a crop, resulting from inquiry of producors and records of carlot shipments, tho latter proving helpful in fixing dates of planting and of subsequent tasks involved in producing a given crop. Proportionate amounts of output harvostod oach month determined from data of local practicos with respect to harvesting and from carlot shipments of perishable products and of lemons . Notes on Table 3 . — Table 3 is tho condensed summary of labor needs as worked out for Santa Barbara County as a result of findings pertinent to 1935. Tho data are presented by months with tho tasks which were performed in oach month indicated by both crop and task. The size of the job was calculated from the data appearing in table I (acreage and production) and table 2 (task, time of perform- ance, and percentage of work pertinent to a given month). The output per man day was calculated as indicated in the foreword presenting table 3. Tho number of required man-days is a result of dividing the size of task by output per man day. The available days for the different task involves two variables. Tho first is the number of days when field work is possible because of favorable weather conditions. Tho basis for this column was determined from a study of tho monthly weathor charts of the United States Vfcathor Bureau for the years 1933, 1934, and 1935. These data indicated available days per month as follows (based on a 2S-day -working month without allowance for holidays): Month Available Length of Month Available Length of days work day days work day hours hourc January 17 9 July 26 10 February 21 9 Augus t 26 10 March 20 10 September 25 10 April 22 10 October 24 10 May 25 10 November 22 9 June 24 10 Decombcr 20 9 1 i « \ i l \ ... — J 'i i I \ ....... r 18. The second factor influencing the number of available days was the size of the job. If the output was for but a few cars, then the number of days was limited to efficient work of getting out these cars within a specified limited time. If a field operation had to be performed in a period less than the number of available days during the month, then the specific number of days was noted. These restrict- ions are shown in parentheses. For example, in April hand planting of onion seed was limited to 7 days of the number available during the month, planting celery in September to 5 days, harvesting cabbage and cauliflower to 4 days in November, etc . The totals of table 3 show the total required man-days of needed seasonal labor, the available days for field work during the month, and the necessary number of men (as defined in the opening paragraph of table 3) required on a monthly basis to care for the tasks ordinarily performed by occasional or seasonal workers. In an area such as Santa Barbara County, involving a substantial acreage of truck crops, the findings as set forth in this report are bound to fluctuate materially from year to year, because of the influence of market outlook upon what and how much acreage is planted and when it is planted, because of variable seasonal conditions affecting yields, times of performing operations, and available days, and because of harvesting operations being timed to provide products for shipment when the outlook appears favorable so that during any one month marked variations in need for harvest labor result from cycles of speeding up shipments and from slacking off. Miscellaneous Notes Containers (kind, size, contents, net weight, number per car . — The basis used for converting carlots and market packages to production is shown as table 4. Size is given as outside dimensions, in order of length, width, and depth, by inches, unless otherwise noted. Net weight is in pounds. i 4' t TABLE 4 Data Concerning Containers and Carlots Containers Product Kind Size Contents Net weight Packages per car Anise and Celery Crate 24x20 3/8x24 Sit 4, or 5 dozen 50-60 320 Cauliflower and Cabbage Crate 21 5/8x18x13 8 - 15 heads 42 288 Carrots Crate 21 5/8x18x13 4 - 6 dozen 50-60 348 Endive and Lettuce Crate 20§xl7-|xl3 4 - 6 dozen 60 (Dry- packed) 320 Lima beans (green) Crate 19^x16x18 35 640 Peas Hamper 30 650 Tomatoes Los Anceles J-J WO * *X X i-. W Jim \AJ lug 16 1/8x13-3x5 3/4 32 650 Lemons Box 25 5/8x13x10 300 - 588 78 348 Oranges Box 25 5/8xll^Jclli 126 - 360 76 Avocados Picking boxes* 23x17^x7 3/4 40 * As delivered to packing house. Anise . -- Anise, grown for its roots (shipped mostly to New York Italians for use as salad and for making anisette wine). Produced similarly to celery. Can be planted at any time of the year, making a crop in 3-g- to 5 months after planting (depending upon temperatures prevailing during the growing season). Bro ccoli . — Fields of broccoli are cut over from fifteen to twenty- two times. The first five cuttings normally produce heads, the next two cuttings about an equal quantity of heads and sprouts, the last ten to fifteen cuttings, sprouts. The plants yield over a period of 2 to 3 months in sandy soils and 3 to 5 months in loam soils. Cutting takes place every 6 to 7 days during the early part of the harvesting season, lengthening to 7 to 10 days as the season continues. Bunchers can assemble about eight dozen bunches made up of heads per hour and about three dozen of sprouts* Heads constitute about 25 per cent of the total, thus making an average bunching rate of about four dozen per hour for the season. Carrots . — Not thinned but given a very careful weeding, picking every weed out by hand, and close hand hoeing. Jl 1 • i j | 1 ) ■ i I t f s i > 1 i | ; - • ; i • • ! i .; t ! 1 ! 1 | i * I I ! • i ! 1 i i i 4 * 20. Harvesting is governed by the demands of the sheds and averages about 7 hours a day. Cauliflower and Cabbage . — These crops are packed in the field. The average rate of packing is about twenty crates per man per hour, plus the use of an addi- tional 25 per cent of labor for lidding, making a general average per man day of 145 crates during the months of November to February inclusive and 160 crates per day for the other months. Celery . — Pulling, trimming, and placing seedlings in pans of water pending field setting requires 130 man hours per acre (936,000 plants). Planting is done on listed beds, each bed containing two rows of celery 14 inches apart and 7 inches between plants. Pulling and trimming celery for yield as given (namely, 600 five dozen crates per acre), including placing in field crates for transporting to the packing sheds is at an average rate of thirty-two crates per 9-hour man day. Lettuce . — The difference in the number of crates of lettuce roportod as harvested and as dry-packed is duo to the fact that about 10 per cont of the harvest is packed in the sheds for eastern shipment, the balance being packed in the field for trucking to local markets. No data of the amount sent to the sheds wore found, so that an arbitrary allocation of 10 por cont monthly was mado in calculating the table (#3). Dry-packing of lettuce is confined to an average of but 5 hours por day (because of woathor limitations), resulting in an average output of twenty packed crates per man day of 5 hours. Thus the required number of men arc profitably employed but half-time so far as this particular job is concerned. Lemons and Oranges .-- Rate of output is reported as packed boxes. In general three field boxes make two packed boxes. Avocados Figured on basis of 50 per cont harvested by soasonal labor. Reported by: R. L, Adams College of Agriculture University of California Berkeley, California Assisted by: January 17, 1936. i '■si' tlx « t t ! I