Ag Sector: More Workers and Higher Wages

There were 23,000 workers hired directly by farms in the Cornbelt II Region (Iowa and Missouri) during the reference week of July 7-13, 2019, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Farm Labor Report. Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage rate of $15.08 per hour, up $1.24 from July 2018. The number of hours worked averaged 37.2 for hired workers during the reference week, compared with 33.4 hours in July 2018.

During the reference week of October 6-12, 2019, there were 26,000 workers hired directly by farms in the Cornbelt II Region (Iowa and Missouri). Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage rate of $15.10 per hour during the October 2019 reference week, up $0.57 from October 2018. The number of hours worked averaged 38.3 for hired workers during the reference week, up from 35.6 hours in October 2018.

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Iowa Milk Production Down 1 Percent in October

Milk production in Iowa during October 2019 totaled 442 million pounds, down 1 percent from the previous October according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during October, at 217,000 head, was the same as last month but down 3,000 from last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,035 pounds, up 10 pounds from last October.

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Siouxland Ag Lenders Report Things Looking Up…kinda

The popular media is having a “hayday” with the uptick in farm bankruptcies; up 24 percent over 12 months ending in September 2019; and Dean Foods Co., the biggest US milk company filing for bankruptcy protection this week. According to a Farm Bureau Federation report, Iowa had a total of 24 Chapter 12 Farm Bankruptcies during that time period and increase of 10 from the previous 12 months.

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