Source: UC DAVIS RURAL MIGRATION BLOG, 4/9/20


The coronavirus, which likely originated in a food market in Wuhan in Hubei province in December 2019, quickly changed work and personal lives around the world. First in China, and then in many other countries, workplaces and schools closed and people were asked to stay at home to avoid catching and spreading the virus.

Many employers developed remote working arrangements, but essential employees continued to work, including farm workers.

Over 80 percent of employment in agriculture is covered by unemployment insurance (smaller employers and H-2A workers in some states are exempt), and employers report their employees for the payroll period that includes the 12th of the month. Across the US, UI-covered employment in crop, animal, and crop support agriculture peaked in July 2018 at almost 1.3 million and was less than a million in January 2018, and only slightly higher in March 2018 (final 2019 data are not yet available).

There is little seasonal variation in the employment of workers in animal agriculture, but March is the trough month for crop support employment (mostly workers brought to farms by labor contractors) and is one of the lowest months for crop employment across the US. March is a peak month of employment on Arizona and Florida crop farms as well as on Mexican farms that export fruits and vegetables to the US.

Farm employers are concerned about the impacts of Covid-19 on the supply of farm workers, most importantly because sick workers can infect co-workers who are then unable to work. Three other factors could affect the supply of farm workers: school closures, H-2A guest workers, and overtime.

First, with schools closed, some people who would normally do farm work may have to care for children, which could reduce the supply of farm workers. Half of the crop workers interviewed by the NAWS are parents with an average of two children under 18.

Even if not all crop workers have their children with them where they work, closed schools are likely to mean fewer farm workers.

Second, the Department of State issued over 200,000 visas to H-2A guest workers in FY19. These H-2A guest workers were in the US an average six months and filled a million or 10 percent of the million year-round equivalent jobs in US crop agriculture. DOS allowed US consular officials to waive in-person interviews for first-time and returning H-2A workers to facilitate their entry in 2020, removing a potential obstacle to expanding the number of H-2A guest workers.

Third, California farm employers in 2020 must pay overtime wages to farm workers after nine hours a day and 50 hours a week.

Many farmers aim to avoid overtime pay by hiring more workers or making other adjustments, but a diminished supply of workers due to closed schools and costly H-2A workers may make it hard to find additional workers.

Two thirds of crop workers interviewed by the NAWS in 2015-16 reported working more than 40 hours a week, including a third who worked more than 50 hours a week. Paying a third of farm workers overtime wages for five to 10 hours a week will raise labor costs.

Farm employers took a number of steps in March-April 2020 to slow the spread of Covid-19, including not filling buses to capacity and making several trips to allow more space for workers in employer-provided vehicles, practicing social distancing while working and during rest and lunch breaks, and conducting temperature checks before work starts. Some employers added hand-washing stations and provided education on how to prevent the spread of the virus, and some are offering jobs to nonfarm workers who lost their jobs.

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