With the late start to the planting season, farmers in the midwest have also been hiring fewer workers.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service says farmers in the lake region of Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota employed 52,000 workers during the week of April 6th to the 12th. That was down 7% from the same time last year, but there is some good news. Wages are up for farm workers.

The average pay for agricultural workers in the lake region was $11.25 per hour, up 17 cents from a year ago.