One of the biggest differences came in field crop labor in the Corn Belt states, which no doubt reflects falling corn prices. Hourly wages there fell from $13.85 per hour a year ago to $11.92.
Click here to view a larger image of the table (PDF, 760KB).
Compensating for that dive was the rise in wage in the Mountain states in the livestock industry, which posted $11.26 in April 2014 and increased to $12.04 in April 2015. This reflects continued strong cattle market prices, no doubt helped by a wet spring and good range pasture outlook for the season.
Despite the continued drought in California and parts of the Southwest, labor rates remained steady in those areas.
Hourly wages in this report do not reflect housing or other benefits that may be offered. The full report can be found on the USDA’s economics, statistics and market information system. FG
