Farm/Ranch Human Resources

SDSU Extension Seeks Participants for Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Focus Groups

January 28, 2022

SDSU Extension invites individuals involved in farming, ranching and agriculture to participate in a statewide comprehensive needs assessment on farm/ranch stress and mental health.

SowBridge Educational Series Kicks off February 2

January 26, 2022

SowBridge, an online educational series created to provide the latest production-based information to swine producers, begins on Feb. 2, 2022.

Minimizing Hay Storage Loss From Heating or Fires

Successful hay storage is essential to preserving high quality forage, while ensuring desired performance from livestock and deterring economic losses from unwanted hay storage fires.

Employee Turnover: It Is Important in Agriculture Also

Lots of conversations in agriculture lately focuses around labor or the lack of a labor pool of employees. This is the case not only for dairy farms, but also within the entire agriculture industry.

Putting Manure Handling Safety Into Practice

As livestock producers, we should know the dangers of manure pit gases. As safety equipment improves with advancements in technology, we must provide training on proper manure handling safety protocols and the use of equipment.

High-Quality Silage Making & Safe Practices: Both are necessities

Throughout the forage growing season many producers are putting up silage piles. To this point they have been predominately forages such as haylage or small grain silage; however, we will soon be moving into corn silage cutting season.

Farm Safety: Making it a daily habit

We know that agriculture ranks as one of the most dangerous occupations causing an estimated 167 lost-work-time injuries on a daily basis, of which 5% result in permanent impairment, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In addition, approximately 20 farm workers per 100,000 die annually, with the leading cause of these deaths being tractor overturns.

Dressing for the Job on Dairies Year-Round

We often check the weather before heading out the door and decide if we need a coat or not. But is the clothing we are wearing protecting us or could it add increased risk as we perform our job? A good share of producers on dairy farms, are now providing their employees with some type of uniform or clothing stipend.

Providing Feedback to Employees

Positive feedback can be motivating. It gives the employee a sense of accomplishment, achievement, recognition, and a sense of importance to the business.

Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke: Protecting Your Operation

During periods of extreme heat, operations must take additional steps to protect their employees from heat exhaustion and heat stroke.