Know How / Staff management Must reads Staff matters: Change of ownership and skilled-worker visas Why staff leave farming businesses and how to keep them Overseas staff: Tips to ensure eligibility to work in UK How dairy farmers can address sector’s labour crisis Case studiesSee all STAFF MANAGEMENTHow a thriving dairy values staff as decision makersStaff walk the fields together to measure grass at Sam Carey’s three dairy farming businesses. A one-person job on most dairy farms, Mr Carey encourages a collaborative approach to measuring… DAIRYHow best to achieve a work-life balance on dairy farmsWork-life balance will mean something different to everybody. There are some who will scoff at the term while, for others, it is a key part of business management. With the… DAIRYHow 10 in 7 milking helped work-life balance and cow healthOne of the biggest challenges for the UK dairy industry is attracting new staff and holding onto them, so when spring milk producer Mark Hoskins had a vacancy in his… PIGSHow staffing has enabled a Norfolk pig producer’s expansionUnprecedented challenges in the British pig industry have not deterred the Farmers Weekly 2021 Pig Farmer of the Year from thinking about how he can future-proof and ensure the longevity of… DAIRY6 lean management techniques to improve dairy efficiencyApplying lean management principles to running a dairy farm has reduced wastage and increased efficiency at Tyddyn yr Eglwys, near Llanfyrnach in Pembrokeshire. Dylan and Hannah Harries have been working… PIGSHow staff training is benefiting performance on pig unitA varied, extensive training programme has helped maintain and improve employee knowledge at one of the largest family-run pig genetics businesses, Rattlerow Farms. The programme has also improved staff motivation… Practical adviceSee all STAFF MANAGEMENTFarm recruitment: How to tackle issues around medical historyMost farmworkers do a wide range of physical jobs, so it is useful to know if they have a condition that may hinder their ability to perform these tasks or… DAIRYAdvice on getting extra help for autumn block-calvingAn intense workload at calving, combined with a winter routine, often creates a temporary labour gap in an autumn block-calving herd. One extra person – sometimes only a half –… STAFF MANAGEMENT13 ways to incentivise and reward farm staffAgriculture is not immune to the acute labour shortages plaguing many UK industries. In the current fluid jobs market, farmers are experiencing challenges in recruiting good staff and keeping them… STAFF MANAGEMENTFarm staff: Employed, self-employed, worker - know the rulesIn what can often be a rush to hire a new recruit, clearly defining the employment status of that individual can sometimes be overlooked. Are they an employee, a worker… DAIRYHow to get staff on board to cut mastitis in your dairy herdPeople are motivated by feelings, not facts, and dairy farmers need to use this to help cut mastitis rates in their herd. This is according to Danish dairy consultant Vibeke… STAFF MANAGEMENT10 ways to attract and retain staff in pig industryRecruiting and retaining staff is an ongoing challenge for the pig industry. However, there are 10 points employers should consider to make themselves more attractive to potential employees, according to… InsightsSee all BUSINESSCould apprenticeships solve UK farming’s labour challenges?Lantra, the largest provider of end-point assessments for apprenticeships in the agriculture sectorv has carried out a new survey of employers. Reporter Debbie James examines the results. The skills shortage on… STAFF MANAGEMENTFarm payroll: Rules employers need to considerGone are the days when farmers only had to work out income tax deductions and national insurance contributions (NIC) before paying staff. With pension auto-enrolment, new rules on holiday pay,… STAFF MANAGEMENTUK horticulture careers towards seasonal labour crisisWith robotic pickers and packers many years away for most commercial horticulture businesses and labour availability falling dramatically, the industry is on the verge of a crisis. Industry leaders want… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTHow leadership training can help secure the future of farmingSome of the biggest organisations in farming have come together to raise awareness of leadership training across the industry. Now in its second year, the #AgriLeadershipWeek social media campaign will… STAFF MANAGEMENTSurvey reveals farm managers' salaries, bonuses and perksFarm managers now earn a salary package averaging £53,306, and the age of people commanding that level of pay is getting younger. The survey, Farm managers in 2022, their jobs… AGRICULTURAL TRANSITIONWhy training and development are key to farming competitivenessGood farm management, employee recruitment and staff retention are seen as key for UK agriculture to become more productive and sustainable – while meeting ever-increasing consumer expectations. The need for… BUSINESSSafety data drives productivity and cost controlUsing information gathered to improve safety and wellbeing to manage performance probably isn’t your first thought when you think about how to make a farm safe but here’s the thing:… BUSINESSSeasonal worker accommodation solved with Bunkabin unitsThousands of seasonal workers are needed on British farms each year, with demand higher than ever despite the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit. Jobs are available on fruit farms, arable farms,… STAFF MANAGEMENTFarm apprenticeships: Everything you need to knowApprenticeships are mutually beneficial arrangements between an employer and an employee that allow practical skills to be built up alongside an educational programme. Employers enjoy being able to mould young… BUSINESSCampaigning for access to horticultural workersAccessing seasonal labour can be a fraught area for growers at the best of times, but sourcing workers during a global pandemic is a challenge of seismic proportions. The horticulture… BUSINESS MANAGEMENTStudy reveals what a farm manager is worthThe average farm manager earns £49,523 including any bonuses and profit share payments. In addition to this, they receive an estimated £8,368 in non-cash benefits such as housing, vehicle use… BUSINESSRedefining agricultural relationships in unpredictable timesThe AF Group have published their new report outlining the attitude and actions needed for successful and fruitful supply chain partnerships for British farmers. “Whilst it’s true that UK agriculture…
