Staffing Requirements

[capfits]

Over the years staffing requirements have seemingly reduced as mechanisation has taken the toil out of many aspects of farming.
However there is always a need for good mix of staff on all types of units as existing labour changes due to age, health and choices.
At present I could look on my own Facebook feed and note around 15 farm vacancies within a 30 min drive of here mostly but not exclusively on arable tattie units with a few livestock positions too.
Then there are contractors struggling for staff, dealers looking for staff and even three farm management positions due to retirements.
We have even had someone hand in their notice ourselves looking for new opportunities, and the older generation is looking at winding it down as they should.
Traditionally it has been family members here, but as the offspring make their own choices that line dries up, and goodluck to them.
We have also been down the apprentice or equivalent route they have stuck for a good number of years generally and then moved on as their circumstances have changed.

Of course as these changes take place we look at what we are doing and how we do it,
So genetics, easier calving cattle, more placid cattle, faster finishing cattle. Not so fecund ewes ie twins no triplets woolshedders.
Management feed hoppers, outside feeding, more mechanisation, contractors etc
Mechanisation bigger systems, autonomous machinary.
Reducing akward areas or even size.

These are some of the things that we do, what are the rest of you looking at for future to ensure staffing and work are aligned?

 

[DairyGrazing]

Dairy farm here, doing some small and big things.

Staff not an issue short or medium tern. Very worried long term currently all local staff, foresee going abroad for them in the future. Maybe Georgia, Kazakstan, Lithuania, Estonia etc

1) Building a rotary to milk quickly and easily so people can go home at 5.30pm. Eventually move to 4 on 2 off 6 on 2 off rota.
2) Bringing all silage and stock back to the main holding so no dilution of effort
2) Developing old buildings so I can provide everyone with high quality housing in a good catchment for Schools.
3) Doing anything I can to mechanise all task possible automatic scrappers, looking yokes, TMR to youngstock so no bucketing nuts, locking yokes
4) Regular days out, training/courses compulsory, meetings to sit down and talk about where we are going, farm clothing


Almost no staff turn over for the last 30 years but I've had to take some nonsense on the chin but probably my fault for being a soft touch.

 

[rusty]

Going to look at Robot diet feeder. There is potentially a reasonable grant coming up on the equipment . I currently do all the feeding in a morning while others milk and do the cubicle beds. If the feeding could be automated I wouldn’t have to start at 5:00 am 7 days a week for 7 months and would be able to provide cover for other staff members.

 

[Chae1]

Try and do as much as possible ourselves.

Buy bigger machines, more technology to make job easier.

 

[DairyGrazing]

Going to look at Robot diet feeder. There is potentially a reasonable grant coming up on the equipment . I currently do all the feeding in a morning while others milk and do the cubicle beds. If the feeding could be automated I wouldn’t have to start at 5:00 am 7 days a week for 7 months and would be able to provide cover for other staff members.

Thinking about this as well. Against a 70k diet feeder, 80k telehandler, 70k tractor and wages. Probably stacks up depending on layout even without the grant.

 

[HarryB97]

Thinking about this as well. Against a 70k diet feeder, 80k telehandler, 70k tractor and wages. Probably stacks up depending on layout even without the grant.

Great till it plays up… keep the diet feeder in the back of the shed in case!

 

[DairyGrazing]

Great till it plays up… keep the diet feeder in the back of the shed in case!

For sure!

 

[rusty]

Great till it plays up… keep the diet feeder in the back of the shed in case!

Ours won’t be going anywhere but we would probably sell the spare. The advantage of the Lely Vector type of feeding Robot is they need minimal modifications to your existing layout and if it breaks you can still use your old machine to feed.

 

[2wheels]

Try and do as much as possible ourselves.

Buy bigger machines, more technology to make job easier.

aye that is probably the best way but it makes things difficult if someone falls ill/gets injured. however a good insurance helps.

 

[ollie989898]

Going to look at Robot diet feeder. There is potentially a reasonable grant coming up on the equipment . I currently do all the feeding in a morning while others milk and do the cubicle beds. If the feeding could be automated I wouldn’t have to start at 5:00 am 7 days a week for 7 months and would be able to provide cover for other staff members.

My buddy is looking at these also. Very clever concept. Does it load itself or does it need a human to control the robot grab/loader thing??

 

[Chae1]

aye that is probably the best way but it makes things difficult if someone falls ill/gets injured. however a good insurance helps.

Machines are more reliable than people in my experience.
If they let me down it's normally my fault.

 

[2wheels]

Machines are more reliable than people in my experience.
If they let me down it's normally my fault.

so true.

 

[paul&mandy]

No1 wants to do sheep work. Even a cruise round in brand new gator with no actual work just checking everything's up. Our holiday cover just arrived from Poland where we're away in the lakes. They are just willing to do whatever.

 

[Boysground]

I think the best thing we can do here is improve the staff work balance. I’ve been trying to plan a shift system for a while but not got one to work yet. I like the idea of 4,2,6,2.

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[rusty]

My buddy is looking at these also. Very clever concept. Does it load itself or does it need a human to control the robot grab/loader thing??

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj6osCGuKOEAxVR_7sIHRjMA1AQwqsBegQIEBAG&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dz99F_dopOTE&usg=AOvVaw3jmN6sUCWMXYg-dmRBDkPJ&opi=89978449

It’s fully automated. You drop your blocks of forages in the designated areas of the ‘Kitchen‘ and the grab gets what it needs for each load. The robot tub feeder views what feed is left at the feed fence and works out when it needs to do another load. The only human input is refilling the kitchen with more blocks of forage every few days.

 

[ollie989898]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj6osCGuKOEAxVR_7sIHRjMA1AQwqsBegQIEBAG&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dz99F_dopOTE&usg=AOvVaw3jmN6sUCWMXYg-dmRBDkPJ&opi=89978449

It’s fully automated. You drop your blocks of forages in the designated areas of the ‘Kitchen‘ and the grab gets what it needs for each load. The robot tub feeder views what feed is left at the feed fence and works out when it needs to do another load. The only human input is refilling the kitchen with more blocks of forage every few days.

Impressive, so you stack the grub in the kitchen in the right locations and it does the rest. Can the feeder wagon part go across the yard and serve multiple buildings?

 

[rusty]

Impressive, so you stack the grub in the kitchen in the right locations and it does the rest. Can the feeder wagon part go across the yard and serve multiple buildings?

Yes, I think the put something like metal pins in the floor that it can follow to guide it between sheds and the kitchen. It recharges its battery back at the kitchen while being reloaded. Other companies do a similar set up but they tend to use feed bins with a chain and slat floor for the forages to fill the feeder.

 

[Boysground]

There’s a system working not far from me, have been dropping hints with the company that put it in that i’d like a nose. Not got there yet

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[betweenthelines]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj6osCGuKOEAxVR_7sIHRjMA1AQwqsBegQIEBAG&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dz99F_dopOTE&usg=AOvVaw3jmN6sUCWMXYg-dmRBDkPJ&opi=89978449

It’s fully automated. You drop your blocks of forages in the designated areas of the ‘Kitchen‘ and the grab gets what it needs for each load. The robot tub feeder views what feed is left at the feed fence and works out when it needs to do another load. The only human input is refilling the kitchen with more blocks of forage every few days.

Or you could just drop the blocks of forage at the feed fence and feed cake in the parlour/robot.

Might lose a bit of milk but save lots of dosh!


Farmers really are fantastic at over complicating things

 

[Bald Rick]

Or you could just drop the blocks of forage at the feed fence and feed cake in the parlour/robot.

Might lose a bit of milk but save lots of dosh!


Farmers really are fantastic at over complicating things

Robotics come back to staff shortages or just removing the idiot.

Be great if they didn’t need human input … but they do, often daily