Dairy Labor News
A second human case of bird flu has been confirmed in the United States since the virus was first confirmed in dairy cattle in late March,
Managing a farm is no easy job. Managing people – in some cases – is even more stressful.
The language barrier is often a challenge for dairies, as the owner and employees don’t always speak the same language. Now that barrier is extended as K’iche’ is becoming more well-known on U.S. dairy farms.
The key to maximizing the return on investment of a dairy’s workforce lies in the management’s ability to humanize operations, understand employee needs, and deploy individual skills appropriately.
Recently Assemblyman James Gallagher proposed a California bill to pull back current overtime rules and mandate overtime for farmworkers working more than nine hours in a day or 50 hours in a week.
“The single most important tool to predict peak performance is a very well-developed job description,” Dave Mitchell says.
What does an incredible leader, filled with so much knowledge and wisdom, who has had his hand in the tremendous growth and advancement of an organization like Milk Source, teach employees?
In recent years, agricultural employers consistently emphasized talent acquisition, but there has been a noticeable shift towards prioritizing retention as the primary focus in 2024.
The list of challenges facing animal agriculture is complex and multifaceted. This is what Dr. Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University Dairy Extension shared at the 2023 Milk Business Conference in Las Vegas.
On January 25, 300 farm workers protested Washington’s agricultural overtime law that went into full effect on the first of the Year. This comes after a two-year phase-in.
With rising minimum wage and other industries competing for employees, labor prices have continued to creep higher. While we want to blame overtime rules, that isn’t necessarily the only culprit.
The availability of livestock workers was ranked as more limited than crop workers and finding long-term help seen as more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.
The immigration debate has been a continued conversation that has offered little to no solutions in Washington. Meanwhile, labor continues to be a No. 1 headache that farmers from coast to coast are challenged with.
From English classes to a rideshare program, Vir-Clar Farm is finding new ways to attract employees and make them feel valued.
When the opportunity came up for Schilling Farms to purchase a second dairy nearly 40 miles away, this meant also taking on a dozen more employees. This one tactic helped give their employees an engagement boost.
Labor contributes up to 10-15% of the cost to produce milk. The magnitude of the expense drives dairies to increase labor efficiency. However, labor efficiency does not equate to labor productivity.
There is a direct correlation between solid meetings and return on time.
The University of Missouri became the first college to land an electric autonomous tractor, a tool that will drive teaching and research into the future.
When Julie ten Hoeve called her son’s high school to report Ian being absent to help chop corn on the family’s 650-cow dairy farm, she worried about what the school would say. The school’s response eased her mind.
The House Agriculture Committee’s Agricultural Labor Working Group has released an online survey. Feedback from farmers and employees is requested to provide insight into dairy’s significant workforce challenges.
When it comes to farm culture, actions speak louder than words. A leader’s influence sets the tone and establishing a good farm culture is not only essential, but also vital to retain employees.
Brett Barlass works hard to set a positive culture on his Hilmar, Calif. dairy. The long-term manager finds unique and fun ways to engage with his employees, making meetings more fun and effective.
In early 2022, a possible trucker shortage grabbed headlines, but John Phipps says even today, there isn’t much hard data to substantiate that alarm.
Reshaping how we view training can give employees the boost they need. Producers should take a broader view to reenergize and empower the workforce.
Providing housing options for dairy farm employees at Larson Acres has taken the turnover rate from an already low 7% all the way down to less than 1%
Regardless of a dairy’s size, a balanced suite of leadership skills is necessary to manage and motivate team members for the sustainability of a dairy’s workforce.
The first step to winning the war for workers is to keep your star employees happy. Here’s how three farmers retain and attract employees.
With the exclusion of firefighters and other personnel responding to emergencies, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is now issuing a permanent heat rule effective July 17 for outdoor workers.
Workers who help produce sour cream for brands, including Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Hello Fresh, have gone on strike. Teamsters Local 662 members at New Dairy Select Milk, a subsidiary of Borden Dairy are striking.
Don’t let day-to-day farm tasks stand in your way of showing some extra gratitude to your hardworking employees.