In the Northern Plains Region (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) there were 41,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on farms and ranches during the week of July 11-17, 2021, up 14% from the July 2020 reference week, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Workers numbered 45,000 during the week of Oct. 10-16, 2021, up 15% from the October 2020 reference week.

Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $17.08 per hour during the July 2021 reference week, up 2% from the July 2020 reference week. Field workers received an average of $17.01 per hour, up $0.18. Livestock workers earned $16.36 per hour, up $0.79. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate at $16.71, was up $0.41 from the 2020 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 47.1 hours during the July 2021 reference week, compared with 44.6 hours worked during the July 2020 reference week.

Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $17.25 per hour during the October 2021 reference week, up 2% from the October 2020 reference week. Field workers received an average of $17.21 per hour, up $0.17. Livestock workers earned $16.45 per hour, up $0.93 from a year earlier. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $16.91, was up $0.46 from the October 2020 reference week. Hired laborers worked an average of 48.8 hours during the October 2021 reference week, compared with 46.0 hours worked during the October 2020 reference week.