Farm Tender

At some point we have to act

Get all the Farm news. Six days a week. Join "The Farmers Club" here.

To receive this newsletter in your inbox each day, just register with Farm Tender here.

By Dwain Duxson

At some point we have to act - I was in an email conversation with a Farmer from the Darling Downs in Queensland, and he was talking to his local Machinery Dealer who said he was having trouble getting people. Now, this is not new in Ag, and we have spoken about it in this publication before on a few occasions. See one of the articles here

 

But what is worrying the Dealer more is that school leavers aren't taking up positions anymore. There was always a steady flow of kids coming into his business. He said that the Mineral/Mining Industry has started a big campaign into the high schools in Queensland, and they are offering these kids great starter packages, and they are taking them up. Which means the Ag industry misses out again.

 

Remember back about 20 or so years ago when the so-called Mining boom started and Farmers started losing their workers to the Mines? It's happening again. But who is on the front foot here?

 

I know it's an age-old question that we have been tossing around for years, but how do we get more young people into Ag. How do we compete with the Mining, Mineral and Gas Industries, which seem to offer a pretty good package even though most of the work is remote? They have deep pockets, too. It's a question we need to keep asking ourselves, but at some point, we have to act. Because there comes a point in time when the lack of people in our Farm businesses starts to affect productivity, turnover and profitability, we'll write more about this tomorrow. Do you agree that Farming is losing out to Mining? Reply to dwaind@farmtender.com.au 

 

End of message