Dairy Labor News
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.
The workplace trend, quiet quitting, has gotten a lot of attention lately. Instead of going above and beyond, employees are wanting more from their work-life balance. The question is how do you keep employees motivated?
How can you reward team members for good work, increase employee retention and achieve your operation’s goals? Consider implementing an incentive pay system to reward your farm employees.
One, two, three strikes you’re out. While this saying goes hand in hand with baseball, some farmers are wondering how many strikes until they let an employee go, as they deal with one issue after the next.
These scorching summer temps are not only taking a toll on crops and livestock, but farm employees as well.
How can we find, train, motivate and keep the best workers to manage our cows?
“To be truly successful, it’s all about the people behind the cows.”
The need for workers has the National Milk Producers Federation renewing its call for dairy farms to be given access to the H-2A Ag Guest Work Visa Program.
House Bill 4002, which will phase out Oregon’s agricultural overtime pay exemption, has been officially signed by their governor. Oregon farmers will be required to pay workers time and a half after 55 hours in 2023.
A COVID-era policy is about to expire, changing the requirements for employers verifying the identity of their workers.
Like many dairies, Desperado Dairy and Du Brook Dairy had a difficult time retaining dependable workers. That changed in 2018, when the dairy teamed up with the Florence West Prison to help fill the vacant positions.
Agriculture is a dangerous business, and dairy is no exception. Knowing the high rate of both injuries and fatalities in agricultural operations, steps to make your dairy workplace safer is essential.
Don’t let your farm be just another place to work. Instead, take time to create a positive experience and craft a wow culture for your employees.
“Nearly every working manager is more competent and comfortable doing tasks,” says Bob Milligan with Dairy Strategies. “That makes it easy to avoid the people side. It is rational but not effective.”
Defining roles keep workers from stepping on each other’s toes.
With recent changes to agriculture overtime laws out east, all eyes have now turned west. Oregon farmers learned the outcome of House Bill 4002, ending the state’s agricultural exemption from higher overtime wages.
Labor is a top concern for dairies. Business experts say the ability to fill agricultural jobs will continue to be a challenge, but illustrates a few trends that may make it a bit easier than the last two years.
Contemplating how to handle New York’s agriculture overtime ruling, New York governor Kathy Hochul has yet to decide if she will accept the state wage board’s proposal to lower overtime for ag to 40-hours a week.
Labor shortages are all-to-common and dairy farms across the U.S. have been feeling the pinch. Roger Herrera understands all too well the constant labor headache, but he is committed to become the employer of choice.
New York ranks fourth in the nation for milk production. If the recent state board recommendations are approved by the state labor commissioner, New York will also rank in phasing in a 40-hour overtime threshold.
The strain of the labor pool facing agriculture is evident. At the IDFA Dairy Forum, its President and CEO, Michael Dykes made the prediction that Congress will pass immigration reform in the next five years.