Labor and American Agriculture

Excerpt from the Introduction: The use of labor in raising crops has a rich and varied tradition in the history of U.S. agricultural development. In this issue of the Journal of NAL Associates we examine that segment of the American population involved in agricultural labor. While technological development of labor-saving equipment served as a prime impetus to increasing agricultural efficiency, labor has continued to be an integral component of the production process. Sources of labor have been sought and found from various population groups over a period of time, from indentured servants and slaves, to Asian immigrants and, most recently, to Mexican and Mexican-American workers. The papers in the Journal explore a variety of issues concerning agricultural labor - from labor legislation and collective bargaining to productivity of workers within a specific industry. A review of the history of factors affecting agricultural labor can provide insights into the course of movements in labor and methods of utilizing labor effectively today in the face of rising costs of alternative production resources.