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Onboarding dairy farm employees: New research published!

The Cornell Ag Workforce Development team collaborated with the Ag Workforce Development Council, NEDPA, NYCAMH, agribusiness, and CCE to carry out a project to help dairy farms develop better new employee onboarding programs for their farms. The project was funded in part by NY Farm Viability Institute. We were able to work with 36 farms across the state to improve onboarding practices, in spite of challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected complete data about project results from 17 farms and were able to evaluate the effects of our onboarding development project. The results of our findings were recently published in the Journal of Dairy Science for sharing throughout the U.S. and globally. Thanks so much to our participating farms!

Our full research article is available here: Onboarding dairy farm employees: Improving the new employee experience. For convenience, I’ve copied the article abstract below:

The first days and weeks on the job set the course for a new dairy farm employee. This project involved an educational intervention to increase the use of new employee onboarding practices in dairy farms and analyzed the resulting effects on (1) levels of onboarding practice use, (2) manager perceptions of employee performance, (3) manager satisfaction with the onboarding program, (4) manager concerns about compliance with state and federal employment regulations, and (5) employee turnover. Onboarding advisors (educators and consultants) provided templates, examples, and intensive facilitation directly with farm managers to learn and adopt onboarding practices. A total of 36 dairy farms participated in the onboarding project, and 17 provided a complete set of data from before and after the intervention and were included in this analysis. Dairy managers’ self-reported data indicated statistically significant increases, measured on a 4-point scale, in their levels of onboarding practice use after the intervention for compliance (increase from 2.47 to 3.24) and clarity (increase from 2.53 to 3.24). Of 23 recommended onboarding practices, dairy managers reported tripling their adoption of mission statements, first-day safety training, and sharing job descriptions, whereas adoption of 5 other practices more than doubled. Managers’ satisfaction with their onboarding program significantly increased, going from a mean of 2.65 before the intervention to 5.06 afterward on a 7-point scale. Dairy farm managers reported they were more concerned about their compliance with federal and state employment regulations after participating in the onboarding project, possibly due to increased awareness and rapidly changing regulations. Finally, of the 11 farms that reported complete employee turnover information, an encouraging decline in turnover was observed from before (44%) to after the intervention (28%), but the result was not statistically significant. Our findings demonstrate that, according to self-report, an educational intervention providing templates, resources, and access to professionals with human resource management (HRM) skills was effective in helping farms improve onboarding and increase adoption of specific HRM practices.

We’re planning to refresh and update the onboarding project and enroll some new New York farms during the summer of 2025. Please reach out to us if you are interested in participating, it can be farms of any type who are interested in improving your new employee onboarding program.

By Richard Stup, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Onboarding dairy farm employees: New research published! appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.

Ag English Mentorship program now just $99/person – registration closing April 16

Cornell Ag Workforce Development has launched its third opportunity for Spanish speakers to engage in our Ag English Mentorship program at a limited discounted rate of just $99/person. Registration closes April 16.

Are you ready to help your Spanish-speaking farm employees advance their careers and strengthen communication on your farm? The Agricultural English Mentorship (AEM) program, created by Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development (CAWD), is designed to address the language challenges faced by many farm workers and to provide them with the skills they need to succeed.

With over 60% of farm employees in the U.S. being native Spanish speakers, language barriers can impede productivity and career advancement. The AEM program offers a solution by providing farm employees with the opportunity to improve their English language skills in a way that is practical, engaging, and directly relevant to their daily work on the farm.

What is the Agricultural English Mentorship (AEM) Program?
The AEM program combines professional English instruction, personalized mentorship, and hands-on learning to enhance the language skills of Spanish-speaking farm employees. The program is designed to be both educational and practical, incorporating real-world farm scenarios that directly relate to the work your employees are doing every day.

A mentor must register at no additional cost with the English learner and commit to 15 minutes of mentorship each week. Mentors do not need to know Spanish to participate. The dual goals are to teach specific farm terminologies and to strengthen relationships between the English-speaking mentors and their Spanish-speaking employees while learning English.

Course Format:

  • Agricultural Focus: AEM is tailored specifically for Spanish-speaking farm employees, using visual and auditory learning tools that are closely linked to farm work and terminology.
  • English Instruction: Participants can learn at their own pace with pre-recorded videos, followed by live Zoom sessions where instructors provide individualized guidance on topics like pronunciation, grammar, and conversational skills.
  • Mentorship: Each farm is encouraged to assign an English-speaking mentor to meet with employees weekly. These 15-minute sessions will focus on farm-specific vocabulary and exercises, fostering stronger relationships and better communication between Spanish-speaking employees and English-speaking leadership.

Course Topics Include:

  • Lesson 1: The Alphabet and Vowel Sounds
  • Lesson 2: Introductions and Greetings
  • Lesson 3: Farm Mission Statements
  • Lesson 4: The History of the Farm (Learning Numbers)
  • Lesson 5: The Employee Handbook
  • Lesson 6: The Values and Culture of the Farm

By participating in AEM, farm employees will gain confidence in their English skills, helping to improve workplace communication, enhance productivity, and open doors to career advancement.

Course Dates and Materials:
This course is offered virtually through the Moodle app, accessible from your phone or computer. Materials will be available beginning April 14, and live discussion sessions will be held via Zoom every Friday from April 18 through May 23, 2025 from 2-3 PM EDT. Participation in the Zoom sessions offers valuable collaborative learning opportunities and personalized guidance from instructors, so attendance is highly encouraged. To get the most out of the course, it is recommended that you dedicate at least two hours per week to the activities. Having an English-speaking mentor on your ranch is a key component to success in the program.

We highly encourage attendance at these live Zoom sessions to maximize learning and take full advantage of the personalized instruction available. To get the most out of the course, we recommend that participants set aside at least two hours per week for course activities. The involvement of an English-speaking mentor is a critical component of success in this program and will greatly enhance the overall learning experience.

Register: https://cvent.me/ZOl88m

For more information or to sign up for the Agricultural English Mentorship program, contact Mary Lewis at ml2656@cornell.edu

Supported by Northeast Extension Risk Management Education

TRANSLATED BELOW

Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral Agrícola de Cornell ha lanzado su tercera oportunidad para que hispanohablantes participen en nuestro programa de Mentoría en Inglés Agrícola con un descuento limitado de solo $99 por persona. La inscripción cierra el 16 de abril.

¿Listo para ayudar a sus empleados agrícolas hispanohablantes a progresar profesionalmente y fortalecer la comunicación en su finca? El programa de Mentoría en Inglés Agrícola (AEM), creado por Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development (CAWD), está diseñado para abordar las dificultades lingüísticas que enfrentan muchos trabajadores agrícolas y brindarles las habilidades necesarias para el éxito.

Con más del 60% de los empleados agrícolas en EE. UU. siendo hispanohablantes nativos, las barreras lingüísticas pueden obstaculizar la productividad y el desarrollo profesional. El programa AEM ofrece una solución al brindarles a los empleados agrícolas la oportunidad de mejorar sus habilidades en inglés de una manera práctica, atractiva y directamente relevante para su trabajo diario en la finca.

¿Qué es el Programa de Mentoría en Inglés Agrícola (AEM)?
El programa AEM combina instrucción profesional en inglés, mentoría personalizada y aprendizaje práctico para mejorar las habilidades lingüísticas de los empleados agrícolas hispanohablantes. El programa está diseñado para ser tanto educativo como práctico, incorporando situaciones reales de la vida agrícola que se relacionan directamente con el trabajo diario de sus empleados.

Un mentor debe registrarse sin costo adicional con el estudiante de inglés y comprometerse a 15 minutos de mentoría semanales. No es necesario saber español para participar. El objetivo es enseñar terminología agrícola específica y fortalecer las relaciones entre los mentores angloparlantes y sus empleados hispanohablantes mientras aprenden inglés.

Formato del curso:

  • Enfoque agrícola: AEM está diseñado específicamente para empleados agrícolas hispanohablantes, utilizando herramientas de aprendizaje visuales y auditivas estrechamente relacionadas con el trabajo agrícola y la terminología.
  • Instrucción en inglés: Los participantes pueden aprender a su propio ritmo con videos pregrabados, seguidos de sesiones en vivo por Zoom donde los instructores brindan orientación individualizada sobre temas como pronunciación, gramática y habilidades de conversación.
  • Mentoría: Se anima a cada granja a asignar un mentor angloparlante para que se reúna con los empleados semanalmente. Estas sesiones de 15 minutos se centrarán en vocabulario y ejercicios específicos de la granja, fomentando relaciones más sólidas y una mejor comunicación entre los empleados hispanohablantes y los líderes angloparlantes.

Temas del curso:

  • Lección 1: El alfabeto y los sonidos vocálicos
  • Lección 2: Presentaciones y saludos
  • Lección 3: Declaraciones de misión de la granja
  • Lección 4: La historia de la granja (Aprendiendo los números)
  • Lección 5: El manual del empleado
  • Lección 6: Los valores y la cultura de la granja

Al participar en AEM, los empleados de la granja adquirirán confianza en su inglés, lo que les ayudará a mejorar la comunicación en el trabajo, a aumentar su productividad y a abrirles las puertas al desarrollo profesional.

Fechas y materiales del curso:
Este curso se ofrece virtualmente a través de la aplicación Moodle, accesible desde su teléfono o computadora. Los materiales estarán disponibles a partir del 14 de abril y se realizarán sesiones de discusión en vivo por Zoom todos los viernes del 18 al 23 de mayo de 2025, de 2 a 3 p. m., hora del este. La participación en las sesiones de Zoom ofrece valiosas oportunidades de aprendizaje colaborativo y orientación personalizada por parte de los instructores, por lo que se recomienda encarecidamente la asistencia. Para aprovechar al máximo el curso, se recomienda dedicar al menos dos horas semanales a las actividades. Contar con un mentor angloparlante en su rancho es clave para el éxito del programa.

Recomendamos encarecidamente la asistencia a estas sesiones de Zoom en vivo para maximizar el aprendizaje y aprovechar al máximo la instrucción personalizada disponible. Para aprovechar al máximo el curso, recomendamos que los participantes dediquen al menos dos horas semanales a las actividades del curso. La participación de un mentor angloparlante es fundamental para el éxito de este programa y mejorará considerablemente la experiencia de aprendizaje en general.

Registro: https://cvent.me/ZOl88m

Para obtener más información o inscribirse en el programa de Mentoría en Inglés Agrícola, comuníquese con Mary Lewis en ml2656@cornell.edu.

Con el apoyo de Northeast Extension Risk Management Education

Farm-provided Employee Housing Webinar today at 12 PM

Join Jay Canzonier of Cornell Ag Workforce Development and Anna Meyerhoff of NYCAMH for the Farm-provided Employee Housing on Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour today at 12 PM. Learn about successful strategies for fostering a safe and positive culture around housing and get insights into the new Agricultural Employee Housing Expense Calculator and its early impact on participating farms!

Advance registration is required.

📅 Date: March 12, 2025
🕒 Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
📌 Topic: Farm-provided Employee Housing
🎯 Register now.

Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour is a bi-monthly webinar series offering expert insights on key topics affecting the agricultural workforce. Featuring Cornell experts and guest speakers, these sessions provide valuable strategies on everything from regulatory compliance and leadership development to creating a positive culture within farm businesses.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity for interactive discussions and practical takeaways!

Change your clocks, change your batteries

Source: National Fire Protection Association

As we “spring forward” this weekend for daylight savings, it’s the perfect time to also check your smoke alarm batteries. In farm-provided employee housing, safety is a top priority and ensuring smoke alarms are working properly can make all the difference in an emergency. Don’t wait—take a few extra minutes to change those batteries and protect your families and coworkers year-round. 

The following information from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is to help make sure all smoke alarms have working batteries, accounting for the multiple types of smoke alarms on the market and their varying battery requirements: 

  • Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away. 
  • Smoke alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away. 
  • When replacing a battery, follow manufacturer’s list of batteries on the back of the alarm or manufacturer’s instructions. Manufacturer’s instructions are specific to the batteries (brand and model) that must be used. The smoke alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.

By Jay Canzonier, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Change your clocks, change your batteries appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.

Registration required for Farm-provided Employee Housing webinar on March 12th

Join Jay Canzonier of Cornell Ag Workforce Development and Anna Meyerhoff of NYCAMH for the Farm-provided Employee Housing on Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour on March 12th. Learn about successful strategies for fostering a safe and positive culture around housing and get insights into the new Agricultural Employee Housing Expense Calculator and its early impact on participating farms! Advance registration is required.

📅 Date: March 12, 2025
🕒 Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
📌 Topic: Farm-provided Employee Housing
🎯 Register now.

Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour is a bi-monthly webinar series offering expert insights on key topics affecting the agricultural workforce. Featuring Cornell experts and guest speakers, these sessions provide valuable strategies on everything from regulatory compliance and leadership development to creating a positive culture within farm businesses.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity for interactive discussions and practical takeaways!