Approaches to reduce farm labour demand
Conor Hogan and Marion Beecher outline how improved time use can reduce labour demand and improve work-life balance, resulting in more attractive workplaces. There are three main approaches: work organisation; facilities; and work practices and technologies.
Work organisation
Characteristics of farms with effective work organisation include later start and earlier finish times (than the average farm), completing fewer different tasks during the day and longer non-farm activity time during the working day. To achieve this, planning and structure is necessary such as having set start and finish times. Equally, relatively straightforward organisational techniques (e.g. where possible having one person in the milking pit for mid-lactation) could be considered.
Facilities
Milking and calf care are the two most time-consuming tasks in spring. A recent study has shown the positive impact that upgrading these facilities can have on reducing labour demand. For milking, parlour capacity is a key influencing factor and a cow to milking unit ratio of 6:7 is best.
Work practices and technologies
A recent study found 59 labour efficient work practices and technologies associated with labour efficiency (the average farm implemented just 31 out of 59). Many of the work practices require minimal capital expenditure and should be relatively easy for farms to implement. Teagasc studies have shown an array of work practices, technologies, facilities and organisational techniques that can reduce farm labour demand and make work less physically demanding.
Teagasc Moorepark Open Day
More details on the above will be presented at the Moorepark Open Day 2023, which takes place on Tuesday, July 4th. This year’s open day will host a number of villages, including the Working Effectively Village, which will provide information on time management and labour efficient practices, creating attractive dairy farm workplaces, and skills and training.
Another highlight will be The People Challenge forum. Taking place at the end of the open day route, this will focus on the key industry challenge of people in the dairy industry. It will begin at 3:00pm and will discuss the wide range of opportunities, as well as various career pathways, in the dairy industry. A number of students, farm managers, young farmers and established farmers will discuss their journey within the dairy industry. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, will address the forum.
For more information on the Moorepark Open Day 2023, click here.
Also read: Moorepark '23: Meeting challenges to secure a sustainable future
Also read: Laurence Shalloo on the challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry
Also read: Higher milk solids yields from grass-white clover swards at Moorepark
Also read: Multispecies swards and methane emissions on Curtin's Farm
This article was adapted from the May/June issue of Today's Farm.
Photo caption: Pat Hoskins and Conor Hogan of Teagasc Moorepark discuss work organisation.