As competition for available skilled farmworkers intensifies and wages for those workers increase, finding and retaining farm labor remains one of the greatest challenges for Ohio agriculture.

That’s why Ohio Farm Bureau, in a partnership with Nationwide, has released a first-of-its-kind Labor Intelligence Report and Guide to Finding, Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees through its new Ag Intelligence Service.

The report, titled “Farm Employees. Where are they? Strategies and Solutions for Your Farm,” outlines farm labor challenges and explores how farmers are considering alternative staffing solutions and strategies to find, recruit and retain farm employees. The report is being offered as a free download.

“A Guide to Finding, Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees,” available exclusively for OFB members, helps position farm businesses as an employer of choice in a tough labor market. It is designed to help farmers attract and retain quality labor and reduce the chance of a key employee leaving, causing a business disruption.

“While a career in agriculture has many selling points, it’s not the easiest profession, and fewer people are returning to the farm or even considering the field,” says Adam Sharp, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau. “Finding good, reliable employees has been challenging, to say the least. These advanced resources from OFB and Nationwide will be a major asset for our members when it comes to recruitment, retention and culture development, all vital to ensure a farm’s success and growth.”

The guide is packed with information to help farm employers attract and retain farmworkers, including:

“We hope this guide will help Ohio Farm Bureau members position their farm for employment success and enhance their recruiting, hiring and retention strategies,” Sharp said. “Finding good employees is not easy, but adapting to the new norm can give you a leg up on the competition.”

Download the report or the guide here.

Labor webinar series

In addition, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is hosting a series of 30-minute, lunch-and-learn webinars that will provide farmers with tips and tools on employee retention, recruitment, the H2A system, organizational culture, and labor-saving technology ideas. Farmers can learn more and register for the webinars at ofb.ag/laborwebinars.

Source: OFB