labour issues

[lesmt]

Have an older labour force which understandable has become more and more unreliable and is really causing me a lot of harvest issue. Thinking with replacing them with migrant Mexican workers.
Anyone doing this? What are the issues?
Running out of options and not ready to retire.

[nicolaas]

I have same issues. but wife says I am a jerk. I find putting 12-13 year old neighbor kids on the combines gets the same amount of work done in a day with a lot less drama. They are highly trainable at that age

[nicolaas]

I might also add that the young ladies are often the most dillegent. leave trucking to adults.

[blackpowder]

My theory is if they dont have a molecule of equipment experience in their life or their culture, it will get expensive. This does not rule out willing to learn girls/ladies. But it does rule out most foreigners i've met.
Another rule i have. No boys, no matter what their age.

[ajl]

The right answer even though you don't want to hear it is to 'rightsize' so that you are not dependent on much outside labor. There are lots of small and medium size operations in your neighborhood that can take over any excess assets. You can even hire a custom operator as another option. The harvest crew that I am part of is only limited by weather conditions.

[hobbyfrmr]

The right answer even though you don't want to hear it is to 'rightsize' so that you are not dependent on much outside labor. There are lots of small and medium size operations in your neighborhood that can take over any excess assets. You can even hire a custom operator as another option. The harvest crew that I am part of is only limited by weather conditions.

I hired a guy in mid 20's. Capable enough but mostly interested about time off and pursuing personal interests. Everybody wants to work for cash, the money is not good enough, the hours are shitty. So far this has been a strong reminder that I might as well stay the same size, think/plan a little more and do it myself. At this time I dont see any great efficencies, mostly just tolerating somebody else's perception of life. Obviously I am not the best human resources manager. Im getting older and more impatient. Its kind of like trying to train a cat.

[the big wheel]

Problem got way worse when oil was so called booming wanted To get paid to take a piss. Have many retired farmers and a few guys mid age with grade 12 great workers and like operating big equipment. Younger ones want to take too many breaks and too much time on the cell phones.

[hobbyfrmr]

I hired a guy in mid 20's. Capable enough but mostly interested about time off and pursuing personal interests. Everybody wants to work for cash, the money is not good enough, the hours are shitty. So far this has been a strong reminder that I might as well stay the same size, think/plan a little more and do it myself. At this time I dont see any great efficencies, mostly just tolerating somebody else's perception of life. Obviously I am not the best human resources manager. Im getting older and more impatient. Its kind of like trying to train a cat.

Everybody wants to be a farmer until its time to do farmer shit.

[sumdumguy]

Its very hard to find an enthusiastic self-starter - a guy who plans what he is going to do while he is waiting, truck is dumping, etc. You gotta tell him to clean the truck windows, the interior. Good Grief, some lazy little buggars. Semis with windows you can't see out of and the tit decides he doesn't want to drive that truck. Gotta be a good manager and make a todo list for him every day, include cleaning, maitenance, yardwork, may as well help him to pull up his pants.

[hobbyfrmr]

Have an older labour force which understandable has become more and more unreliable and is really causing me a lot of harvest issue. Thinking with replacing them with migrant Mexican workers.
Anyone doing this? What are the issues?
Running out of options and not ready to retire.

My best help has been a retired farmer. 55-68 yrs old. They show up on time, they have a basic understanding if the seasonal commitments if seeding and harvesting, they know when stuff is broken and possibly can fix it or at least point it out to you.
There definitely options. Mexican mennonites, Russian workers, German citizens looking for time away from home, Phillipinos, they seem to a be pleasant/happy bunch.
I have to compliment the big farms around here with 6-32 employees working in season. Sometimes I make fun of them but that is a very impressive management skill. Im sure there is some general drama but for the most part I would say its well done.

[SASKFARMER3]

It’s a funny question we transitioned this year from older family members and our sons going to uofs and Kelsey. So I went with retired x farmer 60 my buddy who’s retired same age. Plus a RCMP on his day off and a young guy on his days off from his shift work job.

Working actually great.

[blackpowder]

Yup. The more people in the community you know the better.