Sep 23, 2021USDA-NASS to include Colorado, Montana in ag labor survey
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in October. The survey will collect information about hired labor from more than 1,400 farmers and ranchers in the Mountain Region states of Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
“Agricultural labor data are critical in helping producers when hiring workers and estimate expenses,” said William Meyer, Director, Mountain Regional Field Office. “The data that farm operators provide through NASS’s Agricultural Labor Survey also allow federal policymakers to base farm labor policies on accurate information.”
USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor use the results of this survey to estimate the demand for, and availability of seasonal agricultural workers, 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 total hours worked, and total gross wages paid for the weeks of July 11-17 and Oct. 10-16.
Survey participants can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.
“By asking about two separate time periods each time we collect data during the year, we are able to publish quarterly data and capture seasonal variation,” said Meyer. “This approach reduces the number of times we survey farms, while ensuring that accurate and timely data are available.”
All previous Farm Labor publications are available online on the NASS website. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Field Office in your state.
- Arizona – Dave DeWalt 1-800-645-7286
- Colorado – William R. Meyer 1-800-392-3202
- Montana – Eric Sommer 1-800-835-2612
- New Mexico – Longino Bustillos 1-800-530-8810
- Utah – John Hilton 1-800-747-8522
- Wyoming – Rhonda Brandt 1-800-892-1660
