Will you have enough help this spring?

Spring can be the most stressful period on beef, sheep and dairy farms. A fundamental step all farmers should take is to ensure that they have enough help over the next few months.

Cutting costs on labour will likely be counterproductive in the long run. Labour requirements will of course depend on the size of your operation, but no matter what the scale, every farmer should be able to take a break and get enough sleep.

Help can come from a variety of sources including family members, neighbours and friends, agricultural students, part-time labourers, relief milkers and full-time labour units.

Think carefully now – before the calving/lambing season kicks off – and evaluate what help is available to you this spring. Remember, working day and night with no relief multiplies your chances of having an accident.

Have you all supplies bought in?

It’s good practice to buy in supplies that will be needed, such as feeding utensils, milk replacer, iodine, electrolytes, bedding material etc. now.

Try and set up a storage space in close proximity to the busiest areas of the farm so that supplies are to hand when needed. Where animals are kept in multiple sheds, setting up extra supply stations could be of use. This will cut out wasting time and energy looking for frequently used calving and lambing implements.

Are your facilities safe?

Take some time to double-check that your handling and general facilities are up to scratch.

Are gates in sheds hanging correctly and are all the lights working? Are there enough individual calving and lambing pens to cope during the peak of the season?

Many farmers use lofts to store meal and hay, however, these lofts can be very dangerous. The picture (right) shows how a simple loft in a hayshed can be made much safer by adding safety rails to prevent falls.

Where is the daily dinner coming from?

Plan how meals will be provided during the busy period. With so much attention focused on freshly born calves and lambs, some farmers forget to eat.

Regular meals will help maintain energy levels and keep concentration levels up during this hectic period. This is essential for everyone working on the farm.

If there is no time available to cook a dinner at home, maybe take a trip into the closest town for lunch as getting away from the farm can also help to reduce stress.

Communicate

Prepare to enter this busy period with the correct attitude.

Communication is very important both on and off the farm. Everyone helping should know what is happening on the farm and what is expected of them.

Take time to give easy to follow instructions to students or helpers regarding the daily tasks that are required of them.

Talking out issues helps to alleviate stress and makes solutions easier to come by.

If things are not going well and there are problems mounting, call a friend, a neighbour or a vet to talk it out, don’t bottle things up.

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