Summer: that magical time of the year when crops are developing quickly, drawing farmers out to admire the productive beauty of spring’s work. The first signs of success or failure are becoming clear: tillage, seed selection, planter accuracy, fertility, weed control…all good? It’s amazing what can be learned through a bug-splattered windshield. To the significant others forced to go along, don’t be fooled. Checking fields in a truck that hasn’t been cleaned since before the last frost…is NOT a date. Get a rain check.
When was the last time you nosed your pickup into employee workspaces to make sure that they have the inputs they need to grow into the successful contributors your farm business depends on:
- How well positioned is your farm business with leaders ready to lead through the challenges ahead?
- Who is the emerging talent within your team with growth potential to fill those needs?
- When will your business need those leaders ready to engage bigger roles ensuring your farm a future with stability and growth?
- What training and development opportunities do you have in place to cultivate those key employees?
Those are hard questions. If we were still talking crop, by now you’d be calling your seed salesman or equipment dealer…we all know new paint always arrives with promise, regardless of color. In this case the first conversation you need to have is with those employees that will be the brace roots that anchor your farms future. Discuss with them what their short- and long-term career goals are, and what career opportunities and aspirations you have for them as a key member of your team.
The busy summer season is a great time to pull a “team sample” of where your workforce’s strengths and weaknesses are. Look for areas that could use a few more “units” of skills development. By evaluating now, plans can be made to take advantage of employee development opportunities in the upcoming off season. There are many that don’t come with the sticker shock of new iron; here are just a few to grow on:
On-line Certificate Programs: (Many available in English and Spanish)
Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development – Agricultural Supervisory Leadership
Cornell Pro-Dairy Online Courses
Cornell Small Farms Courses & Trainings
Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship:
New York State Registered Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship-Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development
Safety Training:
NYCAMH On-Farm Safety Trainings
There are many programs available, not just about learning but mentorship and turning knowledge into practical skills that keep your best talent rooted in your farm. When your team sees that you’re invested in their growth, they’re more likely to stay and grow alongside your business. That means lower turnover, less time spent recruiting, and more time enjoying the fruits of your labor.
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By Jay Canzonier, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Crop inputs: are your employees getting enough? appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
Exciting news is on the horizon for New York’s dairy farms as we prepare to launch the innovative Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship. This structured program is the pathway for enhancing the skills of dedicated individuals within your dairy workforce, resulting in a team of highly trained employees, streamlined operations, and increased productivity. Dairy farms throughout New York are actively identifying potential candidates for the Dairy Specialist Apprenticeship, with cohorts forming as we speak.