Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin Included in USDA's Next Labor Survey

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Wisconsin Included in USDA's Next Labor Survey
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/02/2020

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service will hold its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey during the second half of April. The study will collect information about hired labor from more than 600 Wisconsin farmers and ranchers.

"The beginning of the year is the time when agricultural producers plan out the rest of their growing seasons and it is a great time to assess on-farm labor needs," said State Agriculture Statistician Greg Bussler. "The data that farm operators provide through NASS's Agricultural Labor Survey help federal policymakers base farm labor policies on accurate information."

USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor will use statistics gathered in the Agricultural Labor Survey to establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs, and assist legislators in determining labor policies.

In the survey, NASS asks participants to answer a variety of questions about hired farm labor on their operations, including total number of hired farm workers, the average hours worked, and wage rates paid for the weeks of January 12-18 and April 12-18.

NASS will compile and publish the results of the survey in late May.

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