SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey in April. More than 550 Illinois farmers and ranchers will be asked to participate in the survey online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The survey is an opportunity for producers to provide accurate information about hired farm labor, including total number of hired farm workers, total hours worked, and total wages paid for the weeks of Jan. 7-13 and Apr. 7-13, 2024.
“We ask about two separate time periods each time we collect these data in order to publish biannual data and capture seasonal variation,” said Mark Schleusener, Illinois State Statistician. “This method reduces the number of times we survey farms, while ensuring useful data are available.”
USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor use the survey data to estimate the demand for and availability of seasonal agricultural workers, establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, and administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs.
Survey recipients who do not respond by Apr. 17 may be contacted by NASS to arrange an interview or sent a reminder email. NASS will publish the data May 22 in the Farm Labor report available at nass.usda.gov/publications.
“When hiring workers and estimating expenses, timely and accurate agricultural labor data are vital,” said Schleusener. “By participating in NASS’s Agricultural Labor Survey, farmers and ranchers help ensure accurate information for farm programs.”
For assistance with the survey, or for more information, contact the NASS Heartland Regional Field Office at (800) 551-1014 or nassrfohlr@usda.gov.
— USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
