Dairy Management…A Career Choice?
By Richard Stup
One of the most common complaints from dairy producers today is that it is very difficult to find and keep good employees. This problem has led many people to turn to the Hispanic workforce as an alternative source of employees. While this option has worked for many people, it is an option that carries it’s own set of risks. These risks include: language barriers in the workplace and the likelihood that some of these workers are not legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The dairy industry is not alone in facing this problem. A March 4th article in the Centre Daily Times pointed out that the trucking industry faces similar problems with an annual driver turnover rate of over 100 percent. Their problem is exacerbated by the need for drivers to be away from home for extended periods of time and stagnant pay rates.
The dairy industry is facing a shortage of people to fill middle management jobs such as herdspersons and parlor managers. The public is largely unfamiliar with modern agriculture and unaware that there are job opportunities in the industry. The industry has always relied on recruiting kids who grew up on farms to study agriculture and return to the industry, unfortunately there aren’t enough of those kids anymore. It is time for the dairy industry to start presenting itself as a viable career option for people in the general public who might be interested. Dairy management jobs pay well, involve working with animals, and allow people to be home with their families at night. These are features and benefits of careers in agriculture that people need to learn about. In order to secure a sufficient workforce, the industry must do a better job of recruiting, training, and promoting employees.