Human Resources

Aligning your business for success requires a strong and effective human resources plan, whether you’re running a small farm or a large operation. Penn State Extension has all the resources the small Ag business owner needs. Find information on handling labor relations and workforce development, as well as resources on leadership and professional development.

How to Hire and Keep Employees for Small Ag Businesses

One of the biggest concerns for the small Ag business owner is recruiting and retaining key personnel. They are, after all, the face of your business. The risk of hiring a bad employee may be a concern, but you can minimize the risk with a sound recruitment and selection process.

Once you’ve found a good employee, they’ll be able to help grow your business if you can keep them on board. Here are a few tips to help you build your dream team:

• Keep it small
• Ask or demand self-sufficiency
• Remain flexible
• Depend on your network
• Interview for trust

Personnel Management for Hispanic Employees

Hispanic labor has become the primary labor source in many agricultural sectors, including dairy farms. A friendly, trusted work environment could make a big difference if you want to attract and retain Hispanic employees.

Communicating with your workforce is key to building effective relationships, increasing employee performance, and retention. There is a significant demand for dairy educators and managers that are capable of effectively communicating in Spanish.