Throughout the course of the year, hired labor makes planting and harvesting of America’s farmland possible. On my family’s Illinois farm, we relied on both paid and unpaid friends and family to bring in our hay. Nearby farmers however relied on seasonal migrant labor to harvest vegetables.
Today I’m a statistician overseeing the analyses and publication of environmental, economic and demographic data on U.S. agriculture. In that role, my team produces data on farm labor that provides the basis for employment and wage estimates for all farm workers directly hired by U.S. farms. It is also used by the U.S. Department of Labor to administer the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.
