July 25 -- The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) invites comments to OMB by August 26, 2024 regarding the Agricultural Labor Survey.
The 1938 Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended, requires USDA to compute parity prices of farm products. This computation uses an index of Prices Paid by Farmers which in turn is composed of five indexes, one of which is an index of wage rates. These estimates measure actual agricultural wage rates and the year-to-year changes. General authority for these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. Agricultural labor statistics are an integral part of National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) primary function of collecting, processing, and disseminating current state, regional, and national agricultural statistics. Comprehensive and reliable agricultural labor data are also needed by the Department of Labor in the administration of the “H-2A” program (non-immigrants who enter the United States for temporary or seasonal agricultural labor) and for setting “Adverse Effect Wage Rates.” The Agricultural Labor Survey is the only timely and reliable source of information on the size of the farm worker population. NASS will collect information using a survey. There is an increase in burden due to an additional mailing nation-wide to increase response and NASS having to collect data for the Agricultural Labor Survey in California due to the discontinuation of a data collection arrangement with the California Employment Development Department (EDD).
Agricultural labor statistics are an integral part of the primary function of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), which is the collection, processing, and dissemination of current State, regional, and national agricultural statistics. Wage rate estimates have been published since 1866 and U.S. farm employment estimates have been published since 1910. The information is used by farm worker organizations to help set wage rates and negotiate labor contracts as well as determine the need for additional workers and to help ensure federal assistance for farm worker assistance programs supported with government funding.
NASS Farm Labor:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Farm_Labor/
NASS submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202406-0535-002 Click on IC List for questionnaire, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this site.
FR notice inviting public comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-16366
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806
