Harvest mechanization helps agriculture remain competitive
California farmers have remained competitive in the global marketplace by using technology to reduce their costs and to expand production. Case studies of rice and processing tomatoes show that harvest mechanization has reduced labor use by 92% to 97% and has also reduced...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2000-05-01
|
| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v054n03p51 |
| Summary: | California farmers have remained competitive in the global marketplace by using technology
to reduce their costs and to expand production. Case studies of rice and processing
tomatoes show that harvest mechanization has reduced labor use by 92% to 97% and has
also reduced labor costs, down from half to two-thirds of total costs to less than
20%. Mechanization is at least partly responsible for the steady increase in production
of these two crops. Although mechanization has reduced the number of labor hours for
harvesting, overall employment for rice and processing tomatoes has risen due to increased
production, and so have harvester operator wages. Further advances in tomato harvest
technology will continue to reduce labor needs, while the rice industry will experience
moderate changes. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |