A recent dairy conference, organised by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), in Ballynahinch,  opened the debate about farm labour and workload management on Northern Ireland dairy farms.

Guests on the day heard from four key speakers on the topics of labour efficiency, the psychology of people and the importance of looking after yourself as the farmer.

The conference was opened by Chris Osborne UFU and the presentations began with an overview of a recent CAFRE Labour Study where CAFRE Dairy Adviser Anna Truesdale outlined some of the key findings. The average dairy farmer in the study was working 66 hours per week! At the conference, over 80% of attendees thought they did ‘too much work on the farm’ and a number of those in attendance hadn’t had a single day away from the farm in the last three months.

Anna urged participants to review their own farms and identify the most time-hungry tasks. She presented a few time saving ideas that other farmers have used successfully including use of heat and health monitors, cubicle bedders and milk taxi’s as well as reviewing the efficiency of infrastructure, for example adding laneways within the overall layout of the farm. She suggested farmers take ‘a cows-eye view’ in terms of analysing cow flow through sheds as well as proposing a ‘quick-fix’ – that all gates on the farm should swing and as many jobs as possible should be made able to be done by just one person.

Nollaig Heffernan of Heffernan Consultancy Ltd. delivered a detailed discussion on motivating and managing people. She explained how important it was for those in the room to have a ‘why’ – that is the ‘why’ behind their business and business model and urged farmers not to diminish the impact that investment in people can have on their bottom line.

Nollaig continued outlining how investment in safe working practices, creating standard operating procedures as well as having tidy, organised yards will all help to create a more attractive working environment for current and potential employees.

Tom Rawson (Evolution Farming Ltd) co-founder summarised the growth of Evolution Farming from a 50-cow tenancy in West Yorkshire to managing 3800 cows over 9 different units around England. Tom explained how at busy times the business could be employing upwards on 80 full and part-time staff and he was able to demonstrate to attendees how some of the ideas that Nollaig had previously touched on can be put into practice.

Motivation for work is high and Evolution Farming Ltd. offers employees a clear line of progression, from herdsperson up to 2IC (2nd in command), unit manager and eventually director.
The firm even offers bonuses to employees who ‘invite a friend’, provided they stay in the business for a minimum of 6 months.

Dr Rebecca Orr closed with a passionate delivery on the impacts of sleep, stress, and sustenance on a dairy farmer’s body. Dr Orr pointed to a recent study which found that male farmers are 74% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke and how, throughout the UK and Ireland, farmers featured highly when ranking socio-economic groups in terms of mortality.

Dr Orr finished by reminding farmers that, just like checking the pressure on their tractor tyres, they need to check their blood pressure regularly and make changes as necessary. She reminded them to set long-term goals with their health, just like in their businesses, and take active steps to reach those goals.

Ian Stevenson, DCNI, summed up the key messages from the conference and thanked the speakers for their presentations.