Where to get a Farm Worker for 100 cow dairy herd?

ballynag

Hey folks,

A neighbour of mine is in his 60's and is thinking of getting some help with his dairy farm, he milks 100 cows, breeds his own replacements and fattens some of the beef calves, it's a good set up overall.
Anyway he's thinking of scaling back a bit with his own work and to this end he's thinking of employing a farm worker to do some of the milking and to lend a hand at major parts of the dairy year- calving, silage making, slurry spreading etc.
He would like someone to work approx. 4 days per week with the flexibility to do the odd weekend, overnights for calving etc.
To this end i said i'd check it out for him so I've a few questions:

1. Where is the best place to recruit someone like this?
2. What sort of money could he expect to pay?
3. Any major pitfalls to look out for?

All help greatly appreciated;)

20silkcut

ballynag wrote: »

Hey folks,

A neighbour of mine is in his 60's and is thinking of getting some help with his dairy farm, he milks 100 cows, breeds his own replacements and fattens some of the beef calves, it's a good set up overall.
Anyway he's thinking of scaling back a bit with his own work and to this end he's thinking of employing a farm worker to do some of the milking and to lend a hand at major parts of the dairy year- calving, silage making, slurry spreading etc.
He would like someone to work approx. 4 days per week with the flexibility to do the odd weekend, overnights for calving etc.
To this end i said i'd check it out for him so I've a few questions:

1. Where is the best place to recruit someone like this?
2. What sort of money could he expect to pay?
3. Any major pitfalls to look out for?

All help greatly appreciated;)

I have a polish guy who helps me out occasionally and he milks a 120 head herd morning and evening for another farmer. Charges 20 quid a milking. Will do a good days work for 60 quid. Can do everything on a farm. I know there are some dodgy polish guys around but when you get a good one they are damn good and handy at everything.

bob charles

20silkcut wrote: »

I have a polish guy who helps me out occasionally and he milks a 120 head herd morning and evening for another farmer. Charges 20 quid a milking. Will do a good days work for 60 quid. Can do everything on a farm. I know there are some dodgy polish guys around but when you get a good one they are damn good and handy at everything.

you can get a man to do a good days work for 60 quid??:eek::eek: Maybe my idea of a good days work is longer than yours

20silkcut

bob charles wrote: »

20silkcut wrote: »

I have a polish guy who helps me out occasionally and he milks a 120 head herd morning and evening for another farmer. Charges 20 quid a milking. Will do a good days work for 60 quid. Can do everything on a farm. I know there are some dodgy polish guys around but when you get a good one they are damn good and handy at everything.

you can get a man to do a good days work for 60 quid??:eek::eek: Maybe my idea of a good days work is longer than yours

He charges 8 euros an hour. Starts at ten ,goes home for his lunch for an hour at one. Leaves at 5 to go milking for the other guy.
We fenced nearly 40 acres of land on Monday in that time.
He changed the seals in a hydraulic ram in a tipper trailer last week. Man handled 11 4 month old calves into a de horning crate on Saturday .
Welded a cover for the calf feeder and put tiles on the floor for the mother as well.He put a new fan belt into a Hyundai jeep for us as well last week.
One thing about the polish guys they will shy back from nothing and try their hand at anything.
they are not afraid of hard work.

bob charles

20silkcut wrote: »

He charges 8 euros an hour. Starts at ten ,goes home for his lunch for an hour at one. Leaves at 5 to go milking for the other guy.
We fenced nearly 40 acres of land on Monday in that time.
He changed the seals in a hydraulic ram in a tipper trailer last week. Man handled 11 4 month old calves into a de horning crate on Saturday .
Welded a cover for the calf feeder and put tiles on the floor for the mother as well.He put a new fan belt into a Hyundai jeep for us as well last week.
One thing about the polish guys they will shy back from nothing and try their hand at anything.
they are not afraid of hard work.

seems like he charges 10e an hour going by what you say above. my day is a wee bit longer for my worker

whelan1

ballynag wrote: »

Hey folks,

A neighbour of mine is in his 60's and is thinking of getting some help with his dairy farm, he milks 100 cows, breeds his own replacements and fattens some of the beef calves, it's a good set up overall.
Anyway he's thinking of scaling back a bit with his own work and to this end he's thinking of employing a farm worker to do some of the milking and to lend a hand at major parts of the dairy year- calving, silage making, slurry spreading etc.
He would like someone to work approx. 4 days per week with the flexibility to do the odd weekend, overnights for calving etc.
To this end i said i'd check it out for him so I've a few questions:

1. Where is the best place to recruit someone like this?
2. What sort of money could he expect to pay?
3. Any major pitfalls to look out for?

All help greatly appreciated;)

this has been discussed a few times here before, i have some one 3 days a week starts at 7am finishes at 6 , has 30mins for breakfast and an hour for lunch... he is not qualified and is far from ideal :cool:(forgot to feed cows again the other evening so is on last warning:mad:) gets €290 a week home after tax, gets dole the other days.... farm relief could be an option but the last time i priced they where quite expensive.... you really need some onethats just out of a farm job. If he does get someone take them on on a trial basis, there is also the option of a farm partnership with someone.

whelan1

just wondering with the extra places for training farmers when will the qualified new farmers come on stream, iykwim

irish_bhoy09

id be in interested in a job like that,give me a shout if tou like,cheers