Latest News From Human Resources

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

In the world of dairy farming, maximizing profits and ensuring financial viability is a constant challenge.

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.

“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?

It’s important the friends, family, and business professionals close to farmers are prepared and able to effectively communicate in a mental health crisis.

Are you pulling your hair out because your milking parlor is constantly running behind schedule? This is one of the biggest frustrations and time and money drains for a lot of dairies. 

Consultant Bruce Vande Steeg has found creating a vibrant farm business starts with the leadership.

Laurenio Vitorino came to America at only 15-years-old. After facing years of hardships and bullying, he found his calling working at a nearby dairy. 34 years later, he continues to bring excellence to the table.

To create a safe and comfortable work environment for your farm employees, it’s important to address the specific challenges posed by cold weather on the farm.

From improved telehealth services to reimagined small-town hospitals, the National Rural Health Association is working to help folks in farm country tap into more and better medical care options.

For long-term success, farm leaders should regularly assess the landscape of their operation and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Farmers routinely handle high-dollar transactions — and the nature of the payments, often through unsecure methods, leaves them susceptible to foul play.

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.

These 10 steps can help keep your employees from walking away.

Prioritizing culture is often overlooked when it comes to employee management and retention.

From English classes to a rideshare program, Vir-Clar Farm is finding new ways to attract employees and make them feel valued.

Finding enjoyment working with family, youth and their community.

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.

One dairy’s unique approach to employee retention.

“There are some things that we've adopted over the years that really aren't particularly useful and I think in some cases even detrimental to our performance,” says Dave Mitchell.

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%

“Most farms don’t have the time, capabilities, perspectives, resources or desire to do all the tasks it takes to run an operation," says Steve Kluemper, AgriStrategies LLC founder. "A lot of growers hire to fill gaps."

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.

Don’t let day-to-day farm tasks stand in your way of showing some extra gratitude to your hardworking employees.

Dangerous gases from manure, silage, and equipment pose a hazard – often unseen and potentially deadly – to dairy employees.

The Committee on Ag is looking to solve workforce issues with the formation of the Ag Labor Working Group. "Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue," said Co-Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ar.).

The Committee on Ag is looking to solve workforce issues with the formation of the Ag Labor Working Group. "Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue," said Co-Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ar.).

To boost employee retention, farms need leaders who can effectively inspire and guide others. The job often requires its leaders to possess a handful of characteristics not necessarily used on other areas of the farm.

It's hard to stay competitive in today's job market. Here are four reasons why employees are in the driver's seat in 2023.

An ongoing march to pay farm workers more continues to unfold in the state of New York as agriculture labor regulations have drastically changed. From farm owners to farm workers, this has all led to confusion.

Half of success is showing up certainly holds true for labor-dependent farms. Although Brett Barlass, dairy manager of Yosemite Jerseys in Calif., shares he went nine years without a no-call or a no-show employee. 

Screen potential employees for these qualities.

Competing for talent is the most concerning human resource matter for agriculture and food employers, followed by recruiting difficulties.

As more dairies face labor challenges, the need for extra help on a farm is evident and Miguel Rangel, DVM, a past visa recipient, says that government-issued visas can help fulfill that labor need.

As the leader of your operation, having hard conversations with employees can sometimes be part of the job.

The challenge to attract and retain employees on U.S. dairy farms has been a constant struggle for the past few years. Farmers need to take a fresh look at how they put together a workforce to better attract employees.

When turnover on a dairy is low, employees are motivated and teams work together to reach goals, one has to wonder, what are these managers doing differently?

We all need to find and keep great people for our farms. This is truer than ever before. Maybe you have heard the phrases, "we need the right people on the bus" and "they need to be in the right seats." 

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. 

The American Psychological Association finds the degree of stress placed upon farmers so unique it has given it its own name, “Farmer Stress.”

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.

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.

Often the first focus of a dairy isn’t on human resources, but more importantly on the day-to-day tasks. However, leading dairy experts strongly encourage producers to start dedicating time to HR.

President Biden traveled on Sunday to the U.S./Mexico border amid a surge in illegal border crossings. The administration announced a new program for up to 30,000 migrants a month to enter the U.S. legally.

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.