USDA NASS

 

LINCOLN, Neb. May 28, 2020 – In the Northern Plains Region (Kansas, Nebraska, North
Dakota, and South Dakota) there were 42,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on farms
and ranches during the week of April 12-18, 2020, up 40 percent from the April 2019 reference
week, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Workers numbered
35,000 during the week of January 12-18, 2020, up 40 percent from the January 2019 reference
week.

Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $15.93 per hour during the April
2020 reference week, up 2 percent from the April 2019 reference week. Field workers received
an average of $15.89 per hour, down 24 cents. Livestock workers earned $14.59 per hour
compared with $13.42 a year earlier. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at
$15.20, was up 60 cents from the April 2019 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average
of 41.5 hours during the April 2020 reference week, compared with 42.9 hours worked during
the April 2019 reference week.

Farm operators in the Northern Plains Region paid their hired workers an average wage of
$16.41 per hour during the January 2020 reference week, up 4 percent from the January 2019
reference week. Field workers received an average of $16.83 per hour, up 19 cents. Livestock
workers earned $14.63 per hour, up 121 cents. The field and livestock worker combined wage
rate, at $15.55, was up 85 cents from the January 2019 reference week. Hired laborers worked an
average of 40.9 hours during the January 2020 reference week, compared with 42.9 hours
worked during the January 2019 reference week.