UNITED STATES FARMWORKER FACTSHEET

I think that one day the labor of farmworkers will be valued.

— NC Farmworker

overview of farm work demographics economic profile Agricultural labor includes planting, · There are 2.5-3 million farmworkers in Farmworkers’ mean and median cultivating, harvesting, and preparing the United States. individual incomes from agricultural crops for market or storage. employment range from $15,000 – · The states with the highest farm- $17,499. The mean and median total Migrant farmworkers travel from place worker population are California, family incomes are $20,000 – $24,999. to place to work in agriculture and Texas, Washington, Florida, Oregon move into temporary housing while and North Carolina. Where does your food working; seasonal farmworkers work dollar go? · Nearly 72% of farmworkers identify primarily in agriculture, but live in one as male and, on average, are 38 community year-round. years old. The h-₂a program in the United · 80% of all farmworkers are Hispanic States allows foreign “guestworkers” or Latino. Over 90% of h a workers to perform seasonal farm work under a -₂ are from Mexico. temporary work visa tethered to a 15.8¢ 84.2¢ particular agricultural operation, · 63% of farmworkers are married. Farm Marketing share association of agricultural operations, share · 57% of workers have children. or crewleader. Farmworkers are often paid a piece · 39% are living apart from nuclear Farmworkers are usually employed by rate for their work. A piece rate is a family members. growers and/or by crewleaders, who fixed rate of compensation based on serve as intermediaries between · 53% of farmworkers have work a worker’s output such as an amount growers and workers. authorization such as U.S. citizenship, of compensation per box, bin, barn, Immigration to the United States legal permanent residency or a visa. bucket, truckload, field, or bucket of product cut, harvested, packed or increased notably in the decade · 84% of farmworkers are seasonal prepared for sale. In some states, following the 1994 signing of the North workers and 14% are migrant. American Free Trade Agreement workers earn just 45 cents per bucket · 500,000 children work in agriculture. (nafta). Over two million Mexican of harvested sweet potatoes. farmers were driven out of business following this agreement.

“Something that I’d like to change… the pay, for sure. You’re like, this is hard and they pay you so little. I don’t know why farm work, which is harder, pays so much less.” –NC Farmworker There are 2.5–3 million health and safety profile farmworkers organizing for change farmworkers in the As one of the most dangerous occu- Across the country, farmworkers are United States. pations in the U.S., farmworkers face health risks including: organizing for justice and empower- ment to improve their conditions. · heat illness, musculoskeletal pain, “agricultural exceptionalism” and chronic disease To learn more and get involved, visit: Farmworkers were excluded from the saf-unite.org/content/campaigns · pesticide exposure and toxic National Labor Relations Act of 1935, chemical injuries which protects workers acting Farmworkers’ mean and collectively to form unions. · crowded and substandard housing median incomes from The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 · barriers to health care including agricultural employment (flsa) originally excluded all farmwork- cost of health care, language ers, and was amended in 1978 to barriers, and lack of transportation are in the range of mandate minimum wage for workers 45% of agricultural workers are $15,000–$17,499. on large farms only. The flsa has uninsured. never been amended to provide over- published by time for farmworkers, and only a few Every day, about 167 agricultural Student Action with Farmworkers in states have passed laws requiring it. workers suffer a lost-work-time injury. partnership with the Farmworker Advocacy In 2012, 374 farmers and farmworkers The flsa allows children as young as Network. With support from the Z. Smith reportedly died from a work-related 10 to work in farm work under certain Reynolds Foundation. conditions and with their parents’ injury, resulting in a fatality rate of 20.2 consent. Children must be at least 14 deaths per 100,000 workers. Most data reported is from National to perform most other types of work, On average, 113 youth under the age Agricultural Workers Survey (naws). Survey under both federal and state laws. of 20 die annually from farm-related was taken by agricultural workers during injuries. the fiscal years 2013-2014. Other Although farm work is highly resources referenced from: mechanized and is considered one of 1. Findings from the National Agricultural the most dangerous occupations in “Farmworkers feed the world. Workers Survey (naws) 2013 - 2014: A the country, farmworkers are largely I think if everybody knows the Demographic and Employment Profile of United States Farmworkers. 2. Farmworkers’ Health exempt from most federal workplace importance of farmworkers, Fact Sheet (Data from the National Agricultural safety regulations. Farmworkers are they will want to keep them Workers Survey) 3. The National Institute for niosh 4. typically less-protected or excluded Occupational Safety and Health ( ) US healthy.” Sweet Potatoes Price Received: 20.70 USD/cwt from other employment-related protec- for 2016 5. Sorry, Breitbart: Immigrant tions at the state level including state –NC Health Outreach Farmworkers are Much Less Likely to Use snap, The New Food Economy. 6. Where Does Your minimum wage laws, unemployment Coordinator Food Dollar Go?, Farm Credit Midatlantic 7. benefits, and workers’ compensation. United States Department of Labor