In the Northern Plains Region which includes Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota there were 35,000 workers hired directly by farm operators on farms and ranches during the week of April 11-17, 2021, down 17% from April of last year.  According to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $16.53 per hour in April, up 4% from April of last year. Field workers received an average of $16.55 per hour. Livestock workers earned $15.40 per hour.