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Abstract
Organic farms are recognized as displaying trends of more labor intensiveness than conventional farms, despite smaller average acreages and larger percentages of family-based operations. Results indicate only half of all organic farm operations hired some positive quantity of non-family labor, although in total numbers, the quantity of non-family labor was more than twice that of family labor. This study utilizes national organic farm level survey data to determine the significance of organic farming systems use of hired non-family farm labor as a function of individual farm characteristics, especially as the farm structure evolves through extensification and alternate markets. Results indicate individual farm management characteristics affect non-family labor hired, both in magnitude and in absolute terms.