Attended by 67 representatives of farmworkers in South Carolina, the conference aimed to examine the new laws related to migrant farmworkers and their effect upon the migrant situation in the State; to explore some of the problems of implementation as it relates to agencies that are to carry out the new laws; to discern some of the effects these…

RESULTS OF THE COMMITTEE'S STUDY AND OBSERVATION OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LABOR FORCE IMPORTATION FOR PLANTING, HARVESTING, AND PROCESSING OF FIELD AND ORCHARD CROPS IN NEW YORK STATE ARE REPORTED. MAJOR SECTIONS INCLUDE--(1) TRENDS IN FARM LABOR FOR 1963, (2) PUBLIC HEALTH, (3) SOCIAL WELFARE, (4) LABOR CAMP HOUSING AND SANITATION,…

EARLY ATTEMPTS DURING THE 20TH CENTURY TO ORGANIZE FARM WORKERS, TO GAIN WAGE INCREASES, AND TO SECURE EMPLOYER RECOGNITION OF A UNION AS THE WORKERS' AGENT FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FAILED. AN ESTIMATED 380 AGRICULTURAL STRIKES INVOLVED OVER 200,000 WORKERS IN 33 STATES BETWEEN 1930 AND 1948. THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, ENACTED AS A RESULT…

In 1970 about a fourth of the country's farm workers were underage, working and living in conditions which are "sub-sub-substandard" in most parts of the country. These workers are often swindled or exploited by labor contractors or crew men. Since the work is seasonal, families are forced to travel great distances, under difficult circumstances,…

Due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's definition of a farm as an "economic unit which produces at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products a year", more than 570,000 farms were eliminated from the 1975 agricultural census. In addition, over 12,000 farms went out of business, continuing a trend begun in 1940. Although American food prices…

Migratory farm workers employed in 688 countries in 46 states in 1965 represent a 9 percent increase over 1964. Average earnings for the migratory farm worker in 1965 were $1,737. In spite of the new legislation, which is described, there are additional needs in the areas of wages, child labor, health, education, day care, housing, sanitation, and…

THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY UNDERLYING THE REGULATION OF FOREIGN WORKER IMPORTATIONS INTO THE UNITED STATES FOR AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT IS THAT EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH WORKERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IF IT WILL HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON DOMESTIC WORKERS. THE "ADVERSE-EFFECT" POLICY HAS BEEN FOLLOWED SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF PUBLIC LAW 78 IN 1951 WHICH GOVERNED…

Evidence suggests that living and labor conditions have improved very little among agricultural laborers and are particularly hopeless among migrants. Since the government, food producers, industry, and consumers are all beneficiaries of the present farm system, it is unlikely that farm workers will be able to unionize and control their own…

From August 1975 to January 1976, a study was conducted to provide an assessment of the migrant and seasonal farmworker situation. Inquiry was along the topic divisions of demographics, employment and manpower, housing, education, health, supportive services, economic development, Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) 303 and other…

The number of farms in rural America continued to decline. In 1974, 23,420 farms went out of business. Farm subsidy payments, originally designed to assist small farmers, contributed little to the survival of the small farmer. The 1974 increased costs in fuel and fertilizer alone reduced net farm income by $5 billion--approximately a $2,500…

This paper, by a teacher of migrants, summarizes various farm labor laws and child labor laws pertaining to migrant and seasonal workers. The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act of 1983 provides workers with assurances about pay, hours, and working conditions, including safety and health. This legislation permits anyone…

Living and working conditions of the migrant farm worker were investigated to develop corrective legislation and arouse sympathetic public opinion. The report (1) describes characteristics of migrant farm workers and families, (2) itemizes migrant health projects in existence, (3) narrates observations of tours to migrant labor camps, (4) reports…

Discrepancies in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (one of America's largest industries) and its relationship to farmworkers and small farmers are discussed in this report. Statistics supporting this are: (1) although 60% of all substandard housing is in rural areas, less than 25% of all Federal housing has been allocated for these areas; (2)…

Little of the profits produced by American agriculture stays in rural America. During 1973, the farmer received less than 46 cents of every food dollar spent at the supermarket even though food prices continued to soar. Farm subsidy payments, originally designed to protect the small farmer's income, were diverted to corporate giants, large…

In 1970, many Americans are examining anew the costs of achieving efficiency in agriculture through bigness. The exodus of small farmers continues--more than 2.7 million farmers have abandoned farming or sold out to bigger competitors since 1950--while Government agricultural policy remains attuned to the interests of large farmers. All small…