I was talking to Marion Beecher during the week. Marion co-ordinates the professional diploma dairy farm managers course in Moorepark, so has a good insight into the way students/staff are managed on farms.

Communication is a big issue. Make things as simple as possible. Simple things like writing up a step-by-step guide to turning on and washing up the milking machine should be displayed in the dairy. This cuts out the need for verbal communication which can be misinterpreted. Use pictures and arrows to explain where things are as not everyone can read English. This can be replicated for every job.

People can only concentrate on one thing at a time

ADVERTISEMENT

Other things like not explaining how to do a job when a student or staff member is in the middle of another job is a big one – people can only concentrate on one thing at a time.

It’s frightening how many farmers who employ staff don’t have a roster or a set start and finish time to the day. How can you expect someone to be happy in their job if they don’t know what days off they will have over the next few weeks or what time they will be home at that night? We have a huge amount to learn in this area.

Read more

Managing labour at Shinagh farm

Dairy management: It's lime spreading season

Dairy management: Dealing with spring calving stress starts now

Dairy management: Tackling SCC in late lactation