Farm Labor Hiring Pace Behind Previous Years

Farm workers were hired at a pace that is behind last year according to a recent report by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The report posits no reasons why, but there could be many reasons why including weather impacting production, or possibly concerns over the hiring of migrant workers, something Secretary Sonny Perdue acknowledges.

“I recognize that many of our producers both seasonal types of crops as well as dairy farmers have a good of anxiety about that.”

Something that might bring in workers is news that wages are on the rise. According to the same report, average wage is now $13.23 per hour and field workers are making $12.22 per hour.