Teagasc Launches New Work Organisation Training Module for Farmers
Teagasc launches new "Work Organisation Training Module for Farmers" on the farm of the Twomey's, Renny, Ballyhooley, Co Cork. Pictured here are Michael Dowling (Head of Agri Strategy AIB), JohnMcNamara (Health & Safety Officer, Teagasc), Kevin Twomey, Margaret Twomey and Philip Maher (Agricultural Advisor AIB). The Twomey's 3 yr old son Eoin is sitting in the grass.
Farmers, like many other occupational groups, don’t give managing work time sufficient attention, according to a health and safety survey conducted by the NUI Galway department of health promotion. Pressure of work is one of the most frequent causes of stress among farmers. The NUI study also found that farmers do not pay sufficient attention to their health and safety, resulting in the farming sector having one of the highest levels of disability due to injury and ill-health.
A number of Teagasc studies show that many farmers work excessively long hours, doing mainly laborious tasks. Teagasc studies also indicate that profitability in farming is not linked to long hours doing mainly physical work. Instead, profitability is linked to achieving cost-effective livestock management or crop performance, while keeping work time to a minimum.
To assist farmers improve labour efficiency, Teagasc has developed a Work Organisation Training Module for Farmers that can help both full-time and part-time farmers, across a range of farm enterprises, maximise their potential. The module is available on all Teagasc training courses and is also available for use by Teagasc Discussion Groups.
John McNamara, Teagasc Health and Safety Officer, who developed the new Work Organisation Training Module said at the launch of the new module in County Cork that: ‘Work time should be spent at activities that deliver profits, rather than manual activity.’
He continued saying: ‘Our labour studies indicate that farm buildings and facilities need to be designed or adapted to allow the efficient use of labour, while increased scale can also lead to more efficient labour use. Other studies conducted by Teagasc show that where one spouse works off the farm, the other spouse must devote time for family-related purposes.
‘Teagasc studies also show there is scope to improve the effectiveness of labour use on the majority of farms. Most people try to solve a time management problem by working longer or faster. This approach is not sustainable in the long term. It can lead to burnout and poor health,’ according to John McNamara.
The real solution is to evaluate where time is spent and to plan the future use of time. But it requires conscious effort to make the appropriate changes to practices and facilities.
Work/life balance and planned organisation are at the heart of the message the module proposes.
The training module is divided into chapters on Work Organisation on the Farm, Work Organisation Planning and Time Management, and also contains a weekly time sheet, a labour use plan, weekly “to do” lists, module specifications and an assignment template.
A training DVD, sponsored by AIB Bank plc, accompanies the booklet. The DVD shows how farmers, in a range of enterprises and rural businesses, achieved high labour efficiency and lifestyle benefits by adopting labour efficiency measures. To complement this, the DVD also contains expert advice from Teagasc advisers and AIB Agricultural Advisers. This provides insights into ways to improve time management and the benefits of doing so from both a financial and non-financial perspective.
Mr. Michael Dowling, AIB Head of Agri Strategy said: ‘Efficient use of work time impacts hugely on the profitability of farm business and is a vital factor for future success in farming. AIB Bank is delighted to be associated with this training initiative which we believe can have a major influence on how farmers effectively manage their time. We would urge all those engaged in farming and other rural businesses to make maximum use of the program’.
The Teagasc Health and Safety Officer stated that the training module applies a practical approach, giving best-practice guideline times for specific tasks, advice on streamlining animal housing and facilities, feeding, grassland management and case studies for dairying, drystock, sheep, horticulture and rural tourism. And the module is studied and implemented in consultation with a tutor at Teagasc centres and colleges.
For further information on the New Work Organisation Training Module please contact Eric Donald at 086 8381112.
