MANPOWER REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

INCLUDING A REPORT ON MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS, RESOURCES, UTILIZATION, AND

TRAINING

(By the U.S. Department of Labor)

TABLE 2.-ANNUAL EARNINGS AND NUMBER OF DAYS WORKED, FOR PERSONS WITH 25 OR MORE DAYS OF FARM

Source: "The Hired Farm Working Force of 1969," Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Economic Report No. 180, April 1970.

MIGRATORY FARMWORKERS

From the standpoint of both working and living conditions, the most disadvantaged farmworkers are those who migrate from area to area, following the crops. For many years, the total number of migratory farmworkers in the country remained at about 400,000, but it had declined sharply to about 250,000 by the end of the last decade. The number of people who actually migrate is much higher than this, however, since nonworking family members often accompany the crews. The migratory workers and their families may be away from their home base for several months out of the year. Their itinerary may span thousands of miles, many different employers, and a variety of crops. Jobs are intermittent, and slack periods with little or no earnings are common. In 1969, 172,000 migratory workers were employed more than 25 days at farm jobs. Their earnings averaged $1,937 for 152 days of farm and nonfarm work.

Migratory farmworkers travel out of economic necessity, not because of preference for nomadic life. Seasonal farm activities in the southern parts of Florida, Texas, and California, which are the home-base areas for the largest groups of migrants, do not provide sufficient employment and earnings. Workers depending on seasonal farm jobs must move with the crops in the hope of lengthening their periods of work and increasing their annual incomes. Migrants begin their annual

trek northward in the early spring, following a cycle of activities in a number of crop areas. In California, they typically cultivate cotton and vegetables and then move into the harvest of a variety of spring vegetable and fruit crops. In other Western and North Central States, they find spring jobs in sugar beet cultivation and in the strawberry harvest. During the spring, migratory workers also are found in fruit and vegetable harvest activities in the Atlantic Coast States. Summer and fall are the most active seasons; migratory workers are relied on to supplement local labor in harvesting tomatoes, grapes, peaches, pears, melons, cherries, blueberries, cucumbers, apples, tobacco, and other crops.

The peak employment of migratory workers in areas reporting to the Department of Labor usually occurs in August, with 197,000 employed in that month in 1970. Nearly three-fourths of these were interstate migrants. Virtually every State uses migratory workers at some time during the year, with the largest numbers in California, Michigan, Texas, and Florida. Other States with significant numbers of these workers were Ohio, Oregon, New York, Washington, and New Jersey.

Migratory workers' basis problem is, of course, irregularity of work, despite efforts by the public employment service to coordinate and regularize their employment. Harvest timetables may be upset by the vagaries of weather and crop failures. The number of workers needed may be overestimated, or the unexpected arrival of crews may upset prior plans and create labor surpluses in some areas while others are short of workers. And workers receive no pay for time spent in travel or waiting for work. In effect, some of the risks associated with the weather and other circumstances are shifted from employers to hired workersto a much greater extent than in other industries where the labor supply is less flexible and workers are protected by collective bargaining agreements. Furthermore, housing and sanitary conditions are often unsatisfactory in the migrant workers' camps, and adequate health services and child care are generally lacking. The majority of migratory farmworkers come from seriously disadvantaged groups. Many are Mexican Americans or Negroes, whose employment problems are compounded by discrimination.

The average level of education is low. Since families are constantly on the move, the schooling of children is often interrupted. Large numbers of migrant children who are in school are below the grade level normal for their age. Many drop out of school at an early age to help supplement family earnings and thus further handicap themselves in future efforts to enter more stable, better paid fields of work.

The difficulties faced by one of the largest group of migratory workers-the Mexican Americans whose home base is in southern Texas-are illustrated by a recent study of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The typical household head in the families surveyed was over 40 years of age, born in Texas, and employed in agriculture practically all his working life. He pieced together 32 weeks of employment in the course of a year. at a series of farm jobs in the valley and in other areas, for annual earnings of $1,813. (Female household heads earned only $1.007.) Most of the families are large, averaging six members, and wives and children were expected to work in the fields. The combined income of all family members averaged $3,350 during the year.

OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, SPECIAL

CONDITION

(This grant is subject to the Special Condition below, in addition to the applicable General Conditions governing grants under Title II or III-B of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as amended)

Definition of Migrant and other Seasonally Employed, Agricultural Employees. For purposes of this act, the following people will be eligible for programs funded under Section 312 of the Economic Opportunity Act:

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Migrant, and other seasonally employed agricultural families who have during the one year preceding the commencement of this program:

1. Earned at least 50% of their total earned income as agricultural employees;

2. Been employed only on a seasonal basis and not by one employer for the entire calendar year;

3. Have incomes below the poverty level. The poverty level is defined as an annual family income at or below the following limits:

Note: For families with more than 7 members, add $600 for each additional member in a nonfarm family and $500 for each additional member in a farm family.

4. In addition to meeting all three criteria above, they must have been classified as either:

A. Migrant Farm Worker

A migrant farm worker is a seasonal worker in agriculture or agriculturally related seasonal industry who finds jobs by moving each year to one or more work locations beyond normal commuting distance from a place he calls "home". Customarily he returns to his home when the crop season is over elsewhere. Even in this so-called "home" community, he may be disqualified for certain community benefits and services afforded other citizens because of his seasonal migration to other parts of the country.

The migrant farm worker population includes family dependents; some or all of whom may move with the worker for at least part of the season and may also work in agriculture and related seasonal industry, as defined in Migrant Farm Workers and Families in the United States, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service.

For purposes of this section agriculturally related seasonal industry is defined as farm work or work related to the crops which is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act as they relate to wages and hours, including overtime after a 40 hour week.

B. Farm Worker

A farm worker works on a farm devoted to diversified agriculture, performing duties requiring knowledge of livestock and crops and maintenance of structures and equipment: Prepares soil for planting by plowing, harrowing, and fertilizing seeds, cultivates, sprays, and harvests crops, using a variety of horse and tractordrawn machinery (Farm Equipment Operator): May irrigate crops (Irrigator II). Tends livestock and poultry, observing general condition and administering simple medications to animals, and fowls. Hauls feed to livestock during grass shortage and winter months. Operates, repairs, and maintains farm implements and mechanical equipment, such as tractors, gang plows, ensilage cutters, hay balers, cottonpickers, and milking machines. Repairs farm buildings, fences, and other structures. May haul livestock and produce to market as defined in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 1965, Volume I, Definitions of Titles. U.S. Department of Labor, Third Edition, Page 265.