HELP WANTED

Finding good employees is a challenge; keeping them is the other half of the battle.

-  Mark Moore

Good help is hard to find. That's been a continual mantra of dairy herd managers looking to find employees to fill critical roles on the farm. In today's job market, it has become even more challenging because of a variety of converging factors. Employers need to look more closely at how they find new employees and how they can best retain these workers.

"The labor shortage is a significant issue in the dairy industry," says Jim Versweyveld, Extension farm management outreach specialist with the University of Wisconsin. While all dairies are impacted in some way, a limited pool of potential employees is particularly difficult for larger dairies.

The first step is to get employees for an interview. A shrinking rural population, combined with increased competition from other industries, can drastically impact who a farm manager can get to answer a help-wanted ad. Versweyveld's advice: Cast a larger net.

"Historically, farm managers have relied on word of mouth when they have vacancies on the farm," he says. "There's certainly nothing wrong with that approach, but in this labor market I would argue that approach probably isn't enough because employees have so many different options. You need to look at different ways to attract potential employees."

That means stepping up your recruitment game to include prospective employees who may not have a farm background but may want the experience of working on a farm.

"Many of our 4-H and FFA members today do not come from a farm, but they may be looking to gain on-farm experience," Versweyveld says. "You may also want to explore options such as social media."

Have a Plan in Place

After you have a few applicants coming in for an interview, the most challenging part of the employment process begins. It starts with a written plan.