FARM LABOR AND FARM LABOR WAGES 



IN 1929 



The farm labor situation in Montana during 1929 was more favorable to 

 farmers than in 1928 both from the standpoint of supply and prevailing wages 

 paid by farmers to labor. Demand on part of farmers for labor in 1929 was reduced 

 by reason of the drought especially as affecting the demand for grain harvest 

 labor. 



SUPPLY LARGER 



For the 10 months, March to December, the average supply of available farm 

 labor as reported monthly by crop correspondents was 99.2 per cent of normal. 

 For the same period in 1928 the supply averaged 97.0 per cent of normal. 



Demand for farm labor for the 10 months, March to December, averaged 

 86.8 per cent of normal compared with 93.9 per cent for the same period in 1928. 



The following table shows as a percentage of normal the reported supply 

 and demand for farm labor by months for 1929 and 1928. In these monthly aver- 

 ages is reflected the sharp decline in demand for farm labor compared with 1928 

 that started in August. This was due to the short grain harvest of 1929 and the 

 extensive use of combines which reduced harvest labor needs materially. 



The ratio of supply to demand for 1929 was 114,2 per cent compared with 

 the ratio of 103.3 per cent reported in 1928. 



SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR FARM LABOR 



SUPPLY PER CENT OF DEMAND PER CENT OF 



NORMAL NORMAL 



Month 1929 1928 1929 1928 



March 100 98 91 93 



April 98 98 94 96 



May 97 96 96 96 



June 98 97 92 93 



July 98 102 90 91 



August 98 95 84 95 



September 98 96 80 97 



October 100 94 82 94 



November 103 95 79 93 



December 102 99 80 91 



10 month average 99.2 97.0 86.8 93.9 



Ratio of supply to demand: 1929, 114.2 per cent; 1928, 103.3 per cent. 



FARM WAGES LOWER 



Farm wages, although starting the year at levels slightly above those of the 

 beginning of the preceding year, fell gradually during the season and at harvest 

 time were substantially lower than during the harvest of 1928. 



The quarterly averages for prevailing farm wages as reported in both 1929 

 and 1928 are shown in the following table: 



MONTANA FARM WAIVES 



BY THE MONTH BY THE DAY 



With Board Without Board With Board Without Board 



1929 1928 1929 1928 1929 1928 1929 1928 



January $46.25 $45.00 $67.50 $69.75 $2.60 $2.65 $3.60 $3.60 



April 54.50 55.25 74.75 74.50 2.60 2.70 3.70 8.65 



July 57.50 58.00 78.75 78.50 2.85 2.75 3.70 8.60 



October 57.25 65.50 77.00 83.25 3.50 8.70 3.80 4.85 



1929 FARM LAND VALUES 



Farm land values as reported by crop correspondents each March show a 

 decline in values on March 1, 1930, following the poor crops of 1929, and have 

 just about discounted the rise in values that followed the good crop years of 

 1928 and 1927. Montana land values declined sharply during the post war period 



