Furloughed Farm staff ?

[Beefsmith]

Just wondered if anybody had furloughed any staff? Not heard of anything local to us where proper full timers have been put on the scheme.

 

[Clive]

certainly nothing to stop you doing so if you choose

as in an different thread i’m beginning to wish i had done so

 

[Brisel]

No one around here that I'm aware of. Other than the upsets in the market prices for farm produce, life goes on as normal. CV19 meant that we cancelled our schools visits and Open Farm Sunday back in February, we might actually get some of those jobs done we seem to run out of time for. Even if it doesn't rain until harvest we still need to be ready for it.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

always something to do on a farm so no excuses to furlough staff , you'll be complaining of how much it costs to service machines or gutters falling off sheds because they're full of rubbish or stock getting out of fields as the fence is knackered next

 

[Muddyroads]

Opposite here. Had a local guy helping out while he’s been furloughed from his regular job. He didn’t want much money as he’s being paid anyway and would have gone stir crazy at home. He’s been a great help catching up on the never ending jobs list.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I kept all my staff on from the Forage side . Set them to on tbe farm , nothing like the joy I get from seeing the results of our hard work , just wish we could have some rain to get the seed growing

 

[solo]

Neighbouring dairy farm has furloughed staff as cows now out to grass instead of indoors. Milk not required so needed to cut costs and reduce milk yield I understand

 

[Tarw Coch]

Neighbouring dairy farm has furloughed staff as cows now out to grass instead of indoors. Milk not required so needed to cut costs and reduce milk yield I understand

It’s a funny old job this milking cows, mine always go up when they go out to grass.

 

[Zippy768]

certainly nothing to stop you doing so if you choose

as in an different thread i’m beginning to wish i had done so

Obviously we don't know the details of your business and can only comment on what you write. But I am surprised at your suggestion of furloughing staff.

From your posts in another thread, one can't help but think that if weather was more favourable in the Autumn and spring, you wouldn't be considering it.
From the outside, I cant see how your farm and farm staff have been affected by C19 for u to consider it. Likewise I hope you discussed your thoughts with them - or they dont read here - because they might like their 100% wage.

That being said, as taxpayers we will all be footing the bill for this - imo overkill - furloughing system. I suppose its better to play the game, - if you can - than be played by it!

 

[Clive]

Obviously we don't know the details of your business and can only comment on what you write. But I am surprised at your suggestion of furloughing staff.

From your posts in another thread, one can't help but think that if weather was more favourable in the Autumn and spring, you wouldn't be considering it.
From the outside, I cant see how your farm and farm staff have been affected by C19 for u to consider it. Likewise I hope you discussed your thoughts with them - or they dont read here - because they might like their 100% wage.

That being said, as taxpayers we will all be footing the bill for this - imo overkill - furloughing system. I suppose its better to play the game, - if you can - than be played by it!

my farm business includes commercial property which has been affected by c19

however when furloughing staff you only have to think c19 could adversely affect your business, if later it turns out otherwise they are not asking for the cash back

back in march it would have been quite reasonable to think c19 may affect markets (it has for some ag sectors) so deciding to not push low potential crops or plant spring crops could have been legitimately made and could still be made today


as for discussing with staff it’s a management decision so not really up for debate if i decide to do so, however i would pay them 100%

it has however been discussed, one staff member being very keen from the start as he has a wife that needs care due to pre existing medical issues

not sure we will go this route however, with hindsight i should have done it for at least 50% of staff in march and not planted spring crops but it’s a bit late now !

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Done the reverse. Took on one more, he was a furloughed refrigeration engineer very local, who fancied a change and being able to be home mid afternoon for his young sons. Now slightly overstaffed, which is how I like it but got one due to retire in November.

 

[Fraserb]

Done the reverse. Took on one more, he was a furloughed refrigeration engineer very local, who fancied a change and being able to be home mid afternoon for his young sons. Now slightly overstaffed, which is how I like it but got one due to retire in November.

We've gained a couple of extras at the moment as well.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

We've gained a couple of extras at the moment as well.

It is a great opportunity to get some good people. I prefer to choose employees on attitude rather than experience.

 

[Fraserb]

It is a great opportunity to get some good people. I prefer to choose employees on attitude rather than experience.

We've a physiotherapist milking cows, mechanic piloting a tractor and my neighbours daughter on calf feeding.

 

[yellow belly]

my farm business includes commercial property which has been affected by c19

however when furloughing staff you only have to think c19 could adversely affect your business, if later it turns out otherwise they are not asking for the cash back

back in march it would have been quite reasonable to think c19 may affect markets (it has for some ag sectors) so deciding to not push low potential crops or plant spring crops could have been legitimately made and could still be made today


as for discussing with staff it’s a management decision so not really up for debate if i decide to do so, however i would pay them 100%

it has however been discussed, one staff member being very keen from the start as he has a wife that needs care due to pre existing medical issues

not sure we will go this route however, with hindsight i should have done it for at least 50% of staff in march and not planted spring crops but it’s a bit late now !

Not planting a combinable crop here just saves harvesting which pays for its self on every crop
Not Drilling on land is the fastest route to poor soil and still needs weed control
We learnt that on bareland set aside
Last years summer cover crops Have not produced better or cleaner crops this year

 

[Bogweevil]

And more to the point, how many staff will you make redundant once the employers contribution in kicks in by August?

 

[BBC]

We've a physiotherapist milking cows, mechanic piloting a tractor and my neighbours daughter on calf feeding.

When I was about 20, to help out a neighbour my father said he would give their son, who had just left the army, a bit of work to tide him over.

”Have you ever driven a tractor before?”

”No, but I can drive a tank ....”

On that basis he was put on a 7610 and sent rolling as felt he shouldn’t come to much harm. Couple of hours later he appeared. “I’ve got a slight problem ...”

Shall we just say that his tank driving prowess was called into question amongst many other things, after it took most of the afternoon to extract the tractor and rolls from the ditch in which he had parked them.

 

[ridger]

When I was about 20, to help out a neighbour my father said he would give their son, who had just left the army, a bit of work to tide him over.

”Have you ever driven a tractor before?”

”No, but I can drive a tank ....”

On that basis he was put on a 7610 and sent rolling as felt he shouldn’t come to much harm. Couple of hours later he appeared. “I’ve got a slight problem ...”

Shall we just say that his tank driving prowess was called into question amongst many other things, after it took most of the afternoon to extract the tractor and rolls from the ditch in which he had parked them.

Suppose the tank would have handled the ditch ok though

 

[Pebd99]

Took one on as he couldn’t social distance on a digger on a building site ??‍. Haven’t ever gotten so much done so early in the year and other jobs that were never going to get done. Might try and keep him on.
He was going to be getting furlough payment for 80% but that was for a basic 35 hour week so was taking a fairly sore hit from his normal 55-60 hour weeks.

 

[Boysground]

I’ve gained staff. Bg junior was supposed to be starting a job in Canada so I now have him here until he can travel. My student is full time rather than 2 days a week as lackham college is closed and one of my night milkers who left to go to uni is back milking as she has nothing else to do.
It’s been great we are right up with the work and there has been a massive tidy up. Won’t be furloughing anybody unless the milk gets significantly worse.

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