FARM Program Launches Fourth Program Silo: FARM Workforce Development
October 11, 2018
On Oct. 2, the National Dairy FARM Program announced the launch of its fourth program area, FARM Workforce Development. The initiative provides U.S. dairy farm owners and managers with educational tools that offer best management practices around human resources – including hiring, training, and supervision – and worker health and safety.
The program’s newest silo was created by stakeholders from the entire dairy value chain to provide educational materials on one of the most pressing concerns for the dairy sector. The human resources part of the program focuses on how to best attract, invest in, and retain a professional, high-quality, engaged workforce.
The safety portion outlines how farms can further cultivate and demonstrate continuous commitment to on-farm safety. For the safety portion of the initiative, FARM is collaborating with the Idaho Dairymen’s Association (IDA) to develop a best-in-class safety resource for dairy farm owners and managers.
These new educational resources will help farmers who want to broaden their understanding and implementation of human resources tools and safety practices for their employees.
Over the last year, the FARM Program gathered expert and stakeholder input through its Workforce Development Task Force of farmers, cooperative staff, academics, and other subject matter experts. This reliance on stakeholder input ensures the Workforce Development materials are technically robust and relevant to today’s dairy industry.
The educational resources will provide farm owners with resources that can assist in increasing worker engagement, reducing employee turnover and enhancing the safety of dairy farming. Some of those resources will include: state-by-state and federal legal fact sheets. the FARM Human Resources Reference Manual and the FARM Safety Reference Manual.
Download PDF
