Median hourly earnings of the more numerous farmworkers in crops, nurseries, and greenhouses were $7.24 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.85 and $8.37 an hour, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.24 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $10.32.
Median hourly earnings for farmworkers who work with livestock were $8.22. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.98 and $10.32 an hour, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.27 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $13.01.
Median hourly earnings of graders and sorters of agricultural products were $7.67 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.88 and $9.30. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.22, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $11.80.
Median hourly earnings of agricultural inspectors were $13.76 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.44 and $18.79. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.10, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.94.
Median hourly earnings for agricultural equipment operators in 2002 were $8.31. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.96 and $10.78. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.11, the highest 10 percent more than $13.89.
Few agricultural workers are members of unions.
Agricultural workers play a large role in getting food, plants, and other agricultural products to market. Working mostly on farms or ranches or in nurseries, slaughterhouses, or ports of entry, these workers have numerous and diverse duties. Among their activities are planting and harvesting crops, installing irrigation, delivering animals, and making sure that our food is safe.
More than 4 out of 5 agricultural workers are farmworkers and laborers. Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse perform numerous activities related to growing and harvesting grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, fiber, trees, shrubs, and other crops. Among their activities are planting and seeding, pruning, irrigating, harvesting, and packing and loading crops for shipment. Farmworkers also apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to crops; repair fences; and help with irrigation. Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products, such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. Their duties include planting, watering, pruning, weeding, and spraying the plants. They may cut, roll, and stack sod; stake trees; tie, wrap, and pack plants to fill orders; and dig up or move field-grown and containerized shrubs and trees.
Farmworkers, farm and ranch animals care for live farm, ranch, or aquacultural animals that may include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, poultry, finfish, shellfish, and bees. The animals are usually raised to supply such products as meat, fur, skins, feathers, eggs, milk, and honey. The farmworkersÕ duties may include feeding, watering, herding, grazing, castrating, branding, debeaking, weighing, catching, and loading animals. On dairy farms, farmworkers operate milking machines; they also may maintain records on animals, examine animals to detect diseases and injuries, assist in delivering animals at their birth, and administer medications, vaccinations, or insecticides as appropriate. Daily duties of such farmworkers include cleaning and maintaining animal housing areas.
Other farmworkers known as agricultural equipment operators operate a variety of farm equipment used in plowing, sowing, maintaining, and harvesting agricultural products. The equipment may include tractors, fertilizer spreaders, haybines, raking equipment, balers, combines, and threshers, as well as trucks. These farmworkers also operate machines used in moving and treating crops after their harvest, such as conveyor belts, loading machines, separators, cleaners, and dryers. In addition, they may make adjustments and minor repairs to equipment. When not operating machines, agricultural equipment operators may perform other farm duties that are not typical of other farmworkers.
Agricultural inspectors, another type of agricultural worker, are employed by Federal and State governments to ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing the health, quality, and safety of agricultural commodities. Inspectors also make sure that the facilities and equipment used in processing the commodities meet quality standards. Meat safety is one of their prime responsibilities, and they try to ensure that the meat we eat is free of harmful ingredients or bacteria. In meat-processing facilities, inspectors may collect samples of suspected diseased animals or materials and send the samples to a laboratory for identification and analysis. They also may inspect livestock to help determine the effectiveness of medication and feeding programs. Some inspectors are stationed at export and import sites to weigh and inspect agricultural shipments leaving and entering the country, to ensure the quality and quantity of the shipments. A few work at logging sites, making sure that safety regulations are enforced.
Graders and sorters of agricultural products examine agricultural commodities being prepared to be packed for market and classify them according to quality or size guidelines. They grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition and discard inferior or defective products. For example, graders sort eggs are by color and size and also examine the fat content, or marbling, of beef, assigning a grade of "Prime,Ó "Choice,Ó or something else, as appropriate. The grade that is assigned determines the price at which the commodity may be sold.
.Overall employment of agricultural workers is projected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations over the 2002ø12 period, primarily reflecting the outlook for farmworkers, who make up the large majority of all agricultural workers. Low wages, the physical demands of the work, and high job turnover should result in abundant job opportunities, however.
Continued consolidation of farms and technological advancements in farm equipment will dampen employment growth. Nevertheless, those farms remaining in operation will still need workers to help with their operations, and farm labor contractorsÕ employment of farmworkers is expected to increase steadily. Nursery and greenhouse workers should have the most rapid job growth, reflecting the increasing demand for landscaping services.
Slower-than-average employment growth also is anticipated for agricultural inspectors. Governments at all levels are not expected to hire significant numbers of new inspectors, choosing to leave more of the routine inspection to businesses. Slower-than-average growth also is expected for graders and sorters, and agricultural equipment operators, reflecting the agriculture industryÕs continuing ability to produce more with fewer workers.
Farmworkers learn through short-term on-the-job training. Most do not have a high school diploma. The preponderance of workers without a high school diploma is particularly high in the crop production sector, where there are more labor-intensive establishments employing migrant farmworkers.
In nurseries, entry-level workers must be able to follow directions and learn proper planting procedures. If driving is an essential part of a job, employers look for applicants with a good driving record and some experience driving a truck. Workers who deal directly with customers must get along well with people. Employers also look for responsible, self-motivated individuals, because nursery workers sometimes work with little supervision.
For graders and sorters, training requirements vary on the basis of their responsibilities. For those who perform tests on various agricultural products, a high school diploma is preferred and may be required. Simple jobs requiring mostly visual inspection may be filled by beginners provided with short-term on-the-job training.
Becoming an agricultural inspector requires relevant work experience or some college course work in a field such as biology or agricultural science. Inspectors are trained in the applicable laws or inspection procedures through some combination of classroom and on-the-job training. In general, people who want to enter this occupation should be responsible, like detailed work, and be able to communicate well. Federal Government inspectors whose job performance is satisfactory advance through a career ladder to a specified full-performance level. For positions above this level—usually supervisory positions—advancement is competitive and based on agency needs and individual merit. Advancement opportunities in State and local governments and in the private sector often are similar to those in the Federal Government.
Advancement of agricultural workers depends on motivation and experience. Farmworkers who work hard and quickly, have good communication skills, and take an interest in the business may advance to crew leader or other supervisory positions. Some agricultural workers may aspire to become farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers, or farmers or ranchers themselves. ( Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.) In addition, their knowledge of raising and harvesting produce may provide an excellent background for becoming purchasing agents and buyers of farm products. Knowledge of working a farm as a business can help agricultural workers become farm and home management advisors. Those who earn a college degree in agricultural science could become agricultural and food scientists.
The duties of farmworkers who perform outdoor labor are related to the work of fishers and operators of fishing vessels; forest, conservation, and logging workers; and grounds maintenance workers. Farmworkers who work with farm and ranch animals perform work related to that of animal care and service workers.
Information on agricultural worker jobs is available from:
Information on farmworker jobs is available from:
Information on obtaining a position as an agricultural inspector with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) through a telephone-based system. Consult your telephone directory under "U.S. GovernmentÓ for a local number, or call (703) 724-1850; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. The first number is not toll free, and charges may result. Information also is available from the OPM Internet site: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov
CLICK HERE for information about current operational service levels4 November 2004 - Changing immigration Status While in the UK (Switching). CLICK HERE for more information29 October 2004 - Important information about the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
Summary of: http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/work_permits.html
Despite these differences, supervisors share many of the same tasks. They check work sites to determine what needs to be done. Supervisors train workers who do not have experience. If work is not satisfactory, supervisors talk to workers about improving their performance. The likelihood of even slight injury is low.
Summary of: http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id=100230
You should be paid at least the national minimum wage for the work. The scheme is run for the Home Office by Operators who recruit suitable people and place them on farms. How can I apply?People who want to join the scheme must apply to the Operators. How long can I stay in the UK under the scheme?You can take part in the scheme for a minimum of five weeks and a maximum of six months at a time. If there is work for you to do, you can apply to stay longer under the scheme, but only up to six months at the most.
Summary of: http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/work_permits/saws.html
The worker must be provided with a complete statement of hours worked and related earnings on each payday. The employer must pay the worker at least twice monthly or more frequently if it is the prevailing practice. Online Consultation Get a detailed, written opinion online in less than 72 hours from a licensed immigration attorney. Telephone Consultation Get a one half-hour telephone consultation with a licensed immigration attorney. Plus, a detailed, written opinion online in less than 72 hours.
Summary of: http://usimmigration.visapro.com/H2A-Visa-2.asp
Most workers learn through short-term on-the-job training; agricultural inspectors need work experience or a college degree in a related field. Most farmworkers receive low pay and often must perform strenuous work outdoors in all kinds of weather, but many prefer to work and live in a rural area. Among their activities are planting and harvesting crops, installing irrigation, delivering animals, and making sure that our food is safe. Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products, such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. Other farmworkers known as agricultural equipment operators operate a variety of farm equipment used in plowing, sowing, maintaining, and harvesting agricultural products.
Summary of: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos285.htm
Most workers learn through short-term on-the-job training; agricultural inspectors need work experience or a college degree in a related field. Most farmworkers receive low pay and often must perform strenuous work outdoors in all kinds of weather, but many prefer to work and live in a rural area. Among their activities are planting and harvesting crops, installing irrigation, delivering animals, and making sure that our food is safe. Nursery and greenhouse workers prepare land or greenhouse beds for growing horticultural products, such as trees, plants, flowers, and sod. Other farmworkers known as agricultural equipment operators operate a variety of farm equipment used in plowing, sowing, maintaining, and harvesting agricultural products.
Summary of: http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/farmi01.shtml
The filing requirements and employers' obligations are presented in capsule form. The Department of Labor regulations at 20 CFR Part 655, Subpart B govern the application process. Who May Apply An agricultural employer who needs workers to perform labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature may apply. What to Submit Application for Alien Employment Certification (Form ETA 750, Part A. The rate must also be at least as high as the applicable Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) or the applicable prevailing wage rate, whichever is higher.
Summary of: http://www.usda.gov/agency/oce/oce/labor-affairs/h2asumm.htm
The SAWP was developed by HRSDC and CIC in cooperation with agricultural producers and a number of foreign countries including Mexico and several Commonwealth Caribbean countries. If you are interested in hiring foreign workers under the SAWP, please contact HRSDC to ensure that your commodity sector is currently being serviced in your province. If your commodity sector is currently not serviced in your province, a comprehensive labour market study is required before allowing for the entry of foreign workers. Be prepared to fill a SAWP employer-employee contract. Once HRSDC has approved your job offer, you and the two non-profit organizations will receive a copy of the HRSDC confirmation.
Summary of: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/epb/lmd/fw/seasagri.shtml
The information is obtained directly from farm workers through face-to-face interviews. Since 1988, when the survey began, nearly 43,000 workers have been interviewed. The NAWS is performed under contract to the Department of Labor (DOL) and its information is made available to the public via periodic research reports and a public use data set. The survey samples crop workers in three cycles each year, reflecting the seasonality of agricultural production and employment. Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Office of Program Economics, Research Report No.
Summary of: http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/agworker/naws.htm
Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Agriculture Information Bulletin Number 652. Department of Labor, and to assure necessary protections for farmworkers, agricultural associations, and agricultural employers. The law requires people who use the services of a farm labor contractor to take reasonable steps to determine that the contractor has a valid certificate of registration. Third, farm labor contractors, agricultural employers, and agricultural associations must make and preserve written payroll records. Field work is work related to planting, cultivating, or harvesting operations (which occurs in the field rather than in a processing plant or packing shed).
Summary of: http://www.usda.gov/oce/oce/labor-affairs/mspasumm.htm