Tips for helping to keep a man on a small farm

[jackrussell101]

My farm is an awkward size, not really big enough to justify a full time employee, but then in busy periods it's busy enough and having a second person around is quite useful for certain jobs.

Just wondering if there's any work I could create and expand onto the additional enterprise to help justify setting on a full time employee.

Have thought about maybe hedgecutting or some sort of agri contracting, but don't want to get borrowing thousands investing in new kit to do it. I'm open minded and maybe something non-ag could be a goer? Any ideas? Many thanks

 

[Bald Rick]

Any neighbours you could job share him with?
Possibly won't work if you have similar enterprises but might be worth investigating

Alternatively, what are his/her best skills? Develop them. No point hedgecutting if they don't like tractor work for example

 

[David1968]

My farm is an awkward size, not really big enough to justify a full time employee, but then in busy periods it's busy enough and having a second person around is quite useful for certain jobs.

Just wondering if there's any work I could create and expand onto the additional enterprise to help justify setting on a full time employee.

Have thought about maybe hedgecutting or some sort of agri contracting, but don't want to get borrowing thousands investing in new kit to do it. I'm open minded and maybe something non-ag could be a goer? Any ideas? Many thanks

I know someone who got a firewood processor for just this reason. Bought in a lorryload of wood and filled tote bags with firewood.
If you have some shed space to store the totes, and you think there'd be demand, it's ideal for a slack day here and there.

 

[Veryfruity]

I share my man, he works with me Jan-august for the fruit season, then the rest of the time at the olive mill.

Years ago, seed cleaning I came across a farm that assembles fencing panels to pick up the slack times.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

My farm is an awkward size, not really big enough to justify a full time employee, but then in busy periods it's busy enough and having a second person around is quite useful for certain jobs.

Just wondering if there's any work I could create and expand onto the additional enterprise to help justify setting on a full time employee.

Have thought about maybe hedgecutting or some sort of agri contracting, but don't want to get borrowing thousands investing in new kit to do it. I'm open minded and maybe something non-ag could be a goer? Any ideas? Many thanks

There’s quite a lot of young people, farmers sons or daughters who don’t have enough work at home, will be looking for a day or two a week to supplement income

 

[delilah]

Finding the right person will be harder than finding work for them. Find the person first, then find the additional enterprises that fit his/her interests and skill set.

 

[ajcc]

Fabrication, landscape gardening, digger work, timber work, forestry, game keeping, wildlife management. But reckon @delilah has first essential nailed.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

In these modern days of flexi-time not everyone wants to work full time all year round. Some people may be happy to drop a day or two off per week in slack periods.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Loads of farms looking for part time staff
You will never make anything part time Contracting ,just hire yourself out
Or hire somone in in your case

 

[Dry Rot]

There’s quite a lot of young people, farmers sons or daughters who don’t have enough work at home, will be looking for a day or two a week to supplement income

Older people too. Might not want to do a full eight hours or the 6 day week and might be more reliable too.

 

[PSQ]

In these modern days of flexi-time not everyone wants to work full time all year round. Some people may be happy to drop a day or two off per week in slack periods.

Long weekends and 3 or 4 day weeks through quiet times seems to suit many semi retired farm workers.

Plan your 2 person jobs for the days they're in.