The hourly wages of migrants in Wayne County, New York in 1968 were higher than state or Federal legal requirements. However, for many migrant workers, the irregularity of migrant employment made it less profitable over the harvest than a steady job at the lower legal rates. Moreover, a person who could be employed at a steady job as a…

Due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's definition of a farm as an "economic unit which produces at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products a year", more than 570,000 farms were eliminated from the 1975 agricultural census. In addition, over 12,000 farms went out of business, continuing a trend begun in 1940. Although American food prices…

The purpose of this thesis was to define key elements of the migrant labor system structure by mapping its boundaries. Elements of the social structure in areas where large numbers of potential migrants were found and personal reasons given for joining the migrant stream were examined to understand how the structure is perceived by and motivates…

Evidence suggests that living and labor conditions have improved very little among agricultural laborers and are particularly hopeless among migrants. Since the government, food producers, industry, and consumers are all beneficiaries of the present farm system, it is unlikely that farm workers will be able to unionize and control their own…

Since migration is strongly influenced by economic variables, an economic model was developed to identify, locate, and track migrant and seasonal farmworkers as they move throughout the United States. Focusing on the Florida-based migrant agricultural workers who migrated at least once during the past five years, the model included the following…

On November 5, 1971, the subcommittee heard testimony on the: (1) history of land ownership in rural America, (2) extent of corporate and conglomerate involvement in rural America and the resulting economic consequences, and (3) impact of the large vertically ano horizontally integrated corporations and conglomerates on the well-being of rural…

Migrations from 1900-1920 were analyzed, focusing on the overall pattern of Mexican migrations to the United States during the two decades; migrations to Texas, the major recipient of migrants during the period; and migrations into the lower Rio Grande Valley. Data were based on official registrations either entering the United States or leaving…

On January 11, 1972, the subcommittee heard further testimony on land ownership, use, and distribution in rural America. Witnesses gave testimony on: (1) Land ownership in California and the Nation; (2) the difficulties encountered in finding out who owns the land; (3) the implications of the continuing trend toward ever-higher concentration of…

A delineation of the results of an effort to satisfy the needs of the Pennsylvania farmer and to procure gainful employment for migrant workers is the stated purpose of this 1970 annual report by the Rural Services Section of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Employment Security. The report divides Pennsylvania into 7 crop-reporting areas, in which…

The study focused on the income in agricultural jobs, in nonagricultural jobs, and in total for Puerto Rican, white, and black farm workers who worked at least parttime in New Jersey. Objectives were to examine income differences between and within the three groups, and to pinpoint some of the socioeconomic characteristics that are important in…

On January 13, 1972, the subcommittee resumed its hearings on land ownership, agribusiness, and agrigovernment in California. Witnesses testified on: (1) the impact of land use, ownership, and distribution on farmworkers, farmers, and consumers; (2) the national policy of land ownership and distribution; (3) California's water project and…

Focusing on the migrant farmworkers in eight South Carolina counties which employed a large number of migrants, the situational study examined some of their socioeconomic characteristics and problems. A questionnaire was administered to obtain data on: the number and location of migrants, racial and family composition, family economy, housing…

During the 1978 agricultural season, migrant farmworkers and their families occupied 2,079 rental units at 26 migrant housing centers provided by the Office of Migrant Services. Supportive services at the centers included day care centers for children two to five years of age, a few infant care facilities, and access to medical serivces,…

In its report accompanying the 1974 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Senate Labor Committee concluded that in general child labor in agriculture was physically and mentally detrimental to the health and well-being of participating children, acting as a social depressant, stunting their intellectual growth and capacity, and…