Human Resources
For long-term success, farm leaders should regularly assess the landscape of their operation and adjust their strategies accordingly.
These 10 steps can help keep your employees from walking away.
“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.
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.
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.
Fifteen years ago, Audubon, Iowa, was the typical picture of rural decline. Disheveled downtown buildings and vacant storefronts signaled the death of small businesses and a sense of community. Then, a small group of people decided to change that.
Why all the fuss over community in rural America these days? For Jason Hocker, AMVC partner and veterinarian, it’s simple.
Providing housing for farm workers is an excellent way to increase employee retention, heighten morale and boost performance.
Unemployment among the top pork-producing states stands around 3.3%. Despite higher wages and competitive benefits, pig farm employment has declined over the last five years.
I wanted to be defensive. I wanted people to understand why it’s important and why it matters. I wanted to find a way to explain “our side of the story.”
Pay equity and transparency as well as posting salary levels are becoming increasingly essential to recruit and retain top talent.
When it comes to motivating animal caretakers to consistently comply with biosecurity practices, a new study says you can’t stop at the training step alone.
Hiring the right people these days feels like navigating a maze without a map. The challenge isn’t just finding qualifications on paper, but rather it’s uncovering the intangibles that define a perfect fit.
Finding skilled labor is a major challenge. However, there are strategies farmers can use to make their operations more attractive workplaces. And here’s the good news—it doesn’t necessarily require offering higher pay.
It’s important the friends, family, and business professionals close to farmers are prepared and able to effectively communicate in a mental health crisis.
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.
Farmers routinely handle high-dollar transactions — and the nature of the payments, often through unsecure methods, leaves them susceptible to foul play.
Hormel Foods Corporation has earned a prestigious spot on Newsweek magazine’s list of America’s greatest workplaces for diversity.
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.
If your available labor pool seems to be getting more shallow, Rachel Beardsley, partner at Fragomen, an immigration law firm, says ag business managers can think more creatively.
Attracting and retaining farm staff continues to be one of the most pressing issues in the swine industry. As profitability swings and disease levels fluctuate, here are ways to keep employees on the farm.
In 2014, biosecurity changed at Eichelberger Farms in Wayland, Iowa, when an ugly four-letter word rocked the U.S. pork industry: PEDV.
Positive feedback is 1200x more effective than ignoring problems.
What if there was one tool to focus on using to achieve the best recruitment and retention?
So, how do you know how your employees want, or need, to be treated? It turns out that small talk can make a big difference.
Every team has one. That employee who is not contributing his or her fair share. As the boss, you must coach this employee to be an all-star — or show them the door.
Learn how to avoid these frustrating and deal-breaking mistakes.
This business practice reduces employee expenses and optimizes asset needs.
What is the best way to fill current and future labor needs on your farm? Never stop recruiting.
The power of encouragement on your farm is massive, says Bob Milligan, senior consultant at Dairy Strategies.