Page 14 - The Cut_Turf Catalogue_Dec 2020

CASE STUDY

LABOR & DELIVERY

UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS TO BEAT

LABOR SHORTAGES

In the months since the initial shutdowns of 2020, many of those
affected have charged themselves with adjusting their farm’s workforce to better
handle similar situations in the future. Of course, no one can predict events like those
that have occurred throughout this year, but with a bit of good ol’ American ingenuity, grit,
and determination, many farms are overcoming their labor challenges while continuing to grow.

WHEN BOOM MEETS BUST found themselves at the epicenter of rising COVID advertising by employees.
numbers in rural communities, many farms found
It's no secret that the labor shortages turf growers  HR TRAINING
themselves completely – and in some cases,
already faced in the first quarter of 2020 was Regardless of the source of labor, human resource
indefinitely – shut down. Some farms were able
compounded with the uncertainty surrounding the (HR) skills are critical for farm employers to
to restart operations within a few weeks, but
COVID-19 outbreak. Indeed, the labor shortages manage their workforce. The adoption of best
many facing these localized surges of the virus
facing the turf industry (and agriculture in general) practices in HR management and manager
never recovered. Uncertainty surrounding the
have become the number one dilemma among training can greatly assist farms by developing
growers. With the recent economic boom in distribution of federal aid left many farmers in the more effective recruitment and retention
neighboring industries, more and more workers dark. strategies. Staying up to date on the latest HR
are shifting to markets with higher wages, better UNCOMMONLY PRACTICAL practices can decrease turnover, helping to reduce
stability, and fewer restrictions. In the past, With dwindling “normal” means of offsetting labor costs associated with hiring new workers. By
automation has been the go-to “fix” for farmers shortfalls, farms are turning to alternate methods arming management staff with the necessary
facing this shrinking pool of workers, and while to find and retain skilled labor close to home. Here tools to acquire and keep qualified, reliable
this continues to be an option for some, most are just a few of the ways today’s modern farms employees, farms reduce overall costs and add to
farms are having to get creative in order to fill are using unconventional methods to bypass the their bottom line.
these gaps while technology catches up with labor shortage crisis.  INVESTING IN EFFICIENCY
market trends.  WORKING ALLOWANCES By updating equipment and implements, farms
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT Providing access to free or reduced-price product can do more work with less labor and compound
By now most farms who can take advantage of for workers is one way to not only encourage savings quickly. Many farms have seen fuel and
government programs such as the H2-A program retention, but also allow workers the ability to labor savings add up to over 20% reduction in
(also known as the Temporary Agriculture generate additional income on days off. Many bottom line costs. While the initial investment
Visa Program) have done so. This method of sod workers take advantage of such programs in quality equipment can seem like a huge
adding workers based on harvest schedules has by starting small sod installation businesses hurdle, purchasing or continuing to use sub-par
been overwhelmingly beneficial to farms that on the side. This benefits the farm by having equipment means higher maintenance, fuel, repair,
could navigate the program’s regulations and more product in local markets, stimulating local and part costs over its lifetime. Taking time to
restrictions. However, as these working groups economies, and increasing word-of-mouth research which mowers will save the most money
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