flyboytoo - 11/8/2018 07:19

I would just say this to you after reading your add! Would you yourself go apply for this job????????? Would you work those hours? those days? for just a wage? My opinion only, but after reading about some of these large farmers and custom outfits, what is the point in taking on more than you can do yourself? Greedy S.O.B.'s. There are struggling younger farmers trying to make a living also, and you guys just have to take it all away, even to the point of having to hire slaves to do your dirty work! You should be ashamed! You think being a bigshot farmer, outbidding all your neighbors, taking on more than you can handle is the answer to life! How much money is necessary to have a good life? When is enough ever, enough???? Rant over..........This will probably get taken down, but it is the truth!!

minn gopher - 11/8/2018 17:30

I don’t get the reply’s ripping the OP. 20-30 a hr. I think that is great money. I’m a co owner of a dairy/grain farm and don’t make that. Also being the owner isn’t for everybody. Shoot I should apply. These MN winter suck more every year.

Stormwatcher - 11/9/2018 08:23

This place cracks me up...Some say that theres absolutely no money in farming and the next guy says that if you don't pay your number one man 100K per year you won't find anyone.....I know farm workers, factory workers, electricians,carpenters,welders,mechanics,spray operators,truck drivers,and only a very few of them in this area even come close to 100K per year..Jobs paying $30 per hour and over are few and far between....Maybe its just the area that I live in....I've got a family member in a big city thats a union electrician and makes $40 per hour with several lay offs every year..Several friends work in a factory and make $25 per hour..Even with lots of overtime and 7 day weeks they don't reach 70K per year..I do have one friend that drove 50 miles to a big city and was the head machinist in a factory...After working there nearly 40 years he made 100K per year but the hours he put in were unreal..He just retired and doesn't miss it a bit..


The OP said that in the peak season he expected 6-7 days per week with 10-12 work hour days ...He then says that theres flexible hours and time off during the slow season...That doesn't figure out to 3500 hours per year like someone said...Wheat planting, harvesting,and spraying doesn't last 52 weeks per year..I know a man that could do all the jobs the OP wanted and he doesn't make 50K per year..He likes it here and wouldn't move..

sand85 - 11/8/2018 17:50

I think the attitude you are displaying, that you have a known weakness (HR management), are looking to strengthen it, and are open to feedback, is what will make you ultimately successful. You can learn this stuff, google Fred Pryor for some seminars that may provide you yourself some management training. It’s a framework to use, if nothing else.

The key for you, I think, is to continue to embrace that YOU will have to change to make this work. You have to communicate better and more clearly. You have to know exactly what you want your employee to do and communicate that focus continually and consistently. You have to break jobs down into small manageable segments. You have to set aside time to train people to the way you do things. They need a clearly written job description. Bonus compensation needs to be clear, written how it is calculated, and somewhat within the employee’s ability to control.

Despite the naysayers here, there are a lot of (untrained) people out there that would kill for a 60k Job, even if it required some long days and occasional weekends. Maybe not every weekend and not everyday. As mennoboy says, many of the skills for which you are looking can be trained. CDL, welding, pesticide license.


Remember that money is always the third reason people stay with or leave a job. Do they enjoy the work (feel they are making a difference, for millennials) and do they feel appreciated. Bring up some of these things in your ad.

For some people, maybe they can give you 100 hours a week a couple weeks a month in the summer but need to drop their kid off at school in the winter and come to work at 830. Young people crave flexibility. Family people need it.

‘Be a part of a growing, goal-oriented professional company. Family owned working with other family businesses. We work fast, hard, smart and are looking for other motivated professionals. Advanced job training provided.’ Etc etc.

1156versatile - 11/8/2018 20:12

I’m in the same boat! I’ve been through 5x more employees in the last 5-6yrs than I had in the first 10 I was in Buisness. Personally I think the current “crop” of available employees just plain stink! I have expanded my search far and wide. Locally, there are very few qualified candidates due to a very strong local economy and manufacturing sector. What we get for farm help are literally those that can not be employed elsewhere. I’m done dealing with those, period. I hired a younger farm kid out of Pennsylvania. When I ran my add on indeed I asked for 2yrs of Ag experience. I didn’t “require” set skills. I just asked for Ag experience By doing so I narrowed my search to those “interested” in Ag. I didn’t start out as high of wages as you are offering but I will pay above and Beyond that for the right person. I don’t know where some of the responders on here farm, but here, when it’s go time we work our asses off. I put right in the add that may, August, September, October, are our busy time and the other 8 months are very flexible based on employees needs. After having people on salary I will only pay hourly with ot over 48hrs per Mn state law. When the guys work long hours they get really nice checks. When we slow down the checks slow down. I try to run the operation around fairly set start times most of the year. What I have found is if you are too flexible than employees show up 2, 3, or 6 hours late at will. We start at 7:30 during the summer months and 8 during the winter. I put in the add that weekends are sometimes required. I personally don’t like to work sundays at all. occasionally we get backed into a corner and will work Sunday but start time is noon. Help is going to be the biggest drawback in Ag, period. I also have researched the h2a visa program and currently I am highly considering it for next season.
Over the last 10 years I have had a hand full of rockstar help. Every one of them is either currently or pursuing farming on their own. I’ve hand a hand full of decent workers, they show up and do what is asked, nothing more but meet the job duties. 80% have been terrible.... most are deadbeats that are either felons, behind in child support, drug or drinking issues, can’t get to work on time everyday, etc.... just the reality of farm help. Finding the local farm kid to help doesn’t exist anymore. I’m sure their are exceptions but rarely can you make someone into a farmer, they either truely enjoy it or soon learn to hate the work. The good ones are more than worth keeping and are worth giving your right nut for. The bad ones keep wandering through. I also agree that a “bad” one isnt worth having around. When you have had bad help you realize there is nothing worse. I’d rather not have help around than a bad employee. My best guys currently are retired guys. They come to work with their lunch buckets on time every day. They make it clear what they can and want to do and what they are not capable of doing. They work their 8-10hrs and they go home. They don’t expect more than what our agreement is. They are polite and courteous and enjoy having fill in work throughout the year. It’s amazing how a 68 year old guy can make it to work on time every day and not bitch and complain at all through a 6 week planting season and the 20-30 yr old guys can’t show up within the hour they are supposed to be at work and complain about every aspect of the work involved.

Dryfarmer - 11/9/2018 08:38 Yes I have edited it to reflect some of the suggestions posted