farm labour questions

[bucket]

Just curious as to how most of you attract farm labour and what a fair labour rate is.

I need a guy from april 15 to november 1, and he will get a few days off in summer because I drag my lazy ass around then and try to enjoy a few days at the lake.

I am thinking 20 bucks an hour, no deductions (casual). Is that enough?

If I get into doing deductions again that rate goes to almost 35bucks an hour. Its ok if the work gets done and they don't wreck everything but I have seen some terrible wrecks at the neighbors.

Do you provide housing as well?

[TOM4CWB]

Bucket,

Is this to be a long term employment... or a one year
deal? Skills needed e.g.. Class 1 License... previous
knowledge of sprayer application / equip etc.

Do you know the person is reliable and experienced?

Expectations of the person/what they need; are key to
this working out on both sides.

[bucket]

I would say if they perform well, it could grow into a yearly employment.

It would be ideal to get a guy that is younger that could get a start or a leg up. I would invest in someone that had ambition.

For instance if he wanted to rent a quarter, I would spot him the use of my equipment.

[Burbert]

Relatives r the only ones you kin force ta
work on your Comedian fram. $50.00 is
minimum wage fer framing now in Comedia.
Last year I had to hire an arcahitet to
help me do some goon spoonin. Bums in an
around community, don't like the dust, all
have sore backs, or simply r apparently to
stupid ta help with spooning grain.

[crusher]

I would pay above the board: pay the
deductions. Shouldn`t cost you that much
more to match cpp, ei and some holiday
pay. I pay my guys in that range and
then a profit share at the end. They`re
happy. We run a pretty low key
operation, beers at 5:15 and quit when it
gets dark in the fall. Average age of
our crew is 65.

[fjlip]

That sounds like great employment for retired farmers Crusher!
How early do they start, at daylight?

[fjlip]

I am wondering where you get a difference of $20 to $35 if you do it the right way? Unless you are talking $20 straight "cash" and no claim on either side.

Its only CPP and EI that you have to match as crusher states.

Remember, you as the employer are responsible to follow the rules. CRA will charge fairly significant fines for not doing so

[crusher]

Most of the crew gets rolling at 8 am.
The older fellows work a day, golf a day,
except when we`re in the field. And no
their wives don`t subsidize their wage to
get them out of the house.

[wmoebis]

Hey crusher; I like your attitude!

Beers at 5:15 and quit at dark!

Hope that is AM. If your going to drink all day - You have to start in the MORNING! LOL

[JDGreen]

Bucket, 99 is correct. Do it the right way or forget about it. You will more than likely get exactly what you pay for. $20 is minimum and realistically for someone with a decent skill set 25. Do the deductions, you don't want to deal with CRA on this.

[norton17]

Does anyone know of anyone looking for a full
time position? Would gladly pay $25 for an
experienced guy with a 1A

[bucket]

If they have a 1A and some experience that seems fair at $25. Is that clear or less deductions though?

[Burbert]

Ya ain't gonna get anyone ta work fer
$25.00 in Alberta, unless they's returded.
Framing is bottome of the barrel, below
garbage removal in North Central Albertie.
Must be lottsa returds in Saskabush me
thinks, eh !!!!!! Heil Harper

[sumdumguy]

$25 is probably wishful thinking in Sask as well.
Why would they want to take a seaasonal job at
$25 when they can drive hydro vac for many
times that all year? I have heard higher wages
around Regina for 1A.

[freewheat]

Just curious, and do not mean to sound
like a snot here, but in all honesty,
how many acres does it take to pay
someone 25 bucks an hour? 1000? 500?
Could a guy just scale back to the point
where you cut back acreage equivalent to
the amount it takes to pay the dang guy?

I know, I know, dropping acres
voluntarily is a swear phrase in todays
farming world, but if it does take 1000
acres to cover a hired mans wages, why
farm those 1000 acres?

I know there are other factors in play,
like if a guy farms 5000 acres, and
dropped to 4 000 he would still need a
hired man. But 25 an hour or almost 50
000 a year if it is not seasonal, is a
shwack of moolah, right?