Dairy Labor News
Three farmers share what they have done to keep their good employees, including how they hired some unique employees that have become a good fit for their operations.
When it comes to hiring potential candidates from Mexico to come work on your farm, there are many things to consider before you make the move. Victor Ochoa of Swineworks answers big questions on producers’ minds.
On Valentine’s Day, Red Top Jerseys in El Nido, Calif., dairy team suffered an enormous loss, as the dairy lost three of its long-term employees in a tragic car accident.
Feed and labor are the two biggest budget items for dairies. With the costs of both climbing, could autonomy be a possible solution for the labor shortage on dairy farms today? John Deere is planning on it.
In Wisconsin, Vir-Clar Farm has worked hard at building a positive, family-like culture on their Fond du Lac dairy, which includes implementing a ride-share program that is a win-win for their employees and the dairy.
More states are requiring overtime pay for ag employees. A recent USDA Ag Prices Report outlined that labor expenses were up 7.3.% compared to 2020 and is at a 20-year high.
Having employees take ownership and complete tasks is ultimately what managers seek in employees. Consider these tips to help boost your team’s leadership.
Meetings are an inevitable element of business, but they can be a boon or a bore, depending on how they are run.
One thing that farms can provide that can help attract and retain employees— housing. According to the National FARM program, dairies providing housing for their employees is a valuable benefit for farm workers.
If you’re short on employees, you’re not alone. New forces are at work, and I don’t see them changing any time soon.
A recent USDA Ag Prices Report outlined that labor expenses were up 7.3% compared to 2020. Ben Laine with Terrain says that it’s not about the cost of labor, it’s about the availability of reliable labor.
Letting an employee know how he or she is performing can encourage the employee to perform at a high level, and letting the employee know he or she has fallen short can help reinforce expectations.
Farmers are confronted with a long list of challenges and labor is one of the biggest concerns facing dairy. Arizona dairy farmer, Casey Dugan, recently spoke about labor and hiring inmates on AgriTalk.
Dairy farmers and their employees don’t have the luxury of skipping work for a snow day. Know how to keep your team safe and warm.
“I’m here to tell you that the labor market is never looking back to where it has been.”
Managers tend to focus on two groups: the overachievers and the underachievers. As a result, he says, you neglect the employees who could become high performers — aka the B players.
One common challenge that pretty much every dairy producer can comment on is labor challenges. While labor shortages are no longer a stark headline, they certainly continue to be a headache dairy farms are faced with.
When it comes to turnover, leading experts say a producer shouldn’t just chalk it up that an employee left for more money. Pausing to understand your workforce’s needs can help minimize turnover in the long run.
Despite having a current expiration date of Oct. 31, 2022, employers should continue using the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification until further notice.
Freed up labor needs to be redirected toward cow management to make robot milking successful.
Labor shortages are no longer a stark headline, but instead a continued headache dairy farms are faced with. Recently on an Ag Future podcast, Dr. Luke Miller with Alltech spoke about training and retaining labor.
Conflict. Everyone wants to avoid it, but experts say that’s never a good move.
When you hire a new employee, you have two responsibilities: Make sure the employee fills out a W-2 and a form I-9, and then verify, to the best of your knowledge, the identification cards they show you are real.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday announced a final rule aimed at improving living conditions for temporary immigrant farmworkers.
Labor struggles in the dairy industry and a sharp focus on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, was recently discussed during an episode of The Dairy Download from International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides that eligible employees are entitled to paid sick time because of COVID-19, and employers are eligible for a tax credit to offset the expense.
Here are five bad habits to break to be a better farm leader.
Grain shipments on some railroads could stop as early as Wednesday, two days ahead of a possible rail strike. A rail stoppage is growing more likely as the country’s main rail unions remain at odds with rail companies.
Get to know your employees as people beyond what they bring to work.