To investigate the effect of technological change upon farm labor use, a stratified random sample of 696 farm workers from a population of 12,215 in Kern County, California, provided a basis for analysis. Some major findings were: (1) The high peak of seasonal labor use has been eliminated, (2) The need for migratory labor is decreasing, (3)…

Effective February 1976, the Rural Manpower Services Department was integrated totally with the Placement Department, thus removing any rural/urban separation of services. This new concept allowed the provision of equal services to all segments of the work force. Continuing emphasis was placed on providing manpower services to rural residents with…

A stratified random sample of 69 6 workers in 361 households in Kern County, California, was selected to investigate the changes in labor use resulting from farm mechanization, and to explore the trend towards a stable labor force. Some major findings were: (1) Mechanization of the cotton harvest has erased the high peak of seasonal farm labor,…

Stressing the provision of services to migrants and seasonal farmworkers in keeping with the U.S. District Court Order requiring and quantitatively proportionate service to this labor segment, the Rural Manpower Service provided a comprehensive program of service to all rural elements in Louisiana. Working in close conjunction with the Service was…

Describes 1984-88 employment and wage trends among California hired farmworkers, following immigration reforms. Describes farm employment trends by commodity and region. Discusses emergence of two-tiered farm labor market. Large farms tended to hire workers directly. More contractors shared expanding labor-contractor market. Suggests implications…

The long-term decrease in farm employment has moderated in recent years, although technological gains continue, and farmers often need to moonlight in nonfarm jobs in order to remain in the business. (Author)

It is stated that the United States is experiencing in the agricultural sector two simultaneous surpluses which together are referred to as the "farm problem:" these are surpluses of products and labor. The primary reasons for the labor surplus are relatively rapid adoption of technological innovations, the approximation of a competitive…

This digest reviews the population characteristics of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children. Since the 1960s, federal programs for migrant workers and their families have multiplied. However, these programs have differing definitions for "migrant and seasonal farmworker," and no current data system provides a reliable count…

This report provides information on the characteristics and work patterns of United States agricultural workers performing seasonal agricultural services (SAS) during fiscal year 1990. SAS crops include the majority of nursery products, cash grains, field crops, and all fruits and vegetables. More than 2,000 personal interviews with SAS workers…

The report includes a conference summary, introductory remarks, keynote address, four conference papers and comments on each, and summary of major policy issues. The keynote address reviews policies and practices affecting migrant children, the roots of the migratory farm labor system, impact of migrancy on families; services for migrant children,…

The study described the development of the New England Farm Workers' Council, Inc., and documented significant interactions among selected elements of the Puerto Rican migrant farm labor system in the Connecticut Valley. These elements were the migrant farmworker community, the farm labor employers, and agencies of the federal government and of…