Workers Down, Wages Up

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reported farm and ranch operators in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota employed 30,000 workers in April, down 6 percent from the previous year. However, the average wage paid this year, $15.58 per hour, was 6 percent greater than the average wage paid last year. Farm workers were paid an average of $16.13 per hour while livestock workers were paid $12.42 per hour.