The changing structure of agriculture has had important effects on labor use and the composition of the farm work force. The number of family workers has consistently declined since the early 1900s, but hired farm employment stabilized during the 1970s after years of decline. Data indicate that there are two distinct groups of hired farmworkers--those who are engaged in farmwork on a casual or seasonal basis and those who are more dependent on hired farmwork for their livelihood and family support. Some policy issues relate to both groups, but the primary target for farmworker policy should be the group most dependent on agriculture for family income.