Labour

Although many feel that for a small farm, labour is generally available and steady; a number of farmers identified it as an area of potential risk. In certain areas, there is a shortage of available and productive labour. Labour costs can also be highly variable and depend greatly on the level of hand weeding required–a piece of land or specific crop susceptible to infestation can drive up the cost of labour.

Some farms use volunteer workers from the WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) and apprenticeship programs to attract enthusiastic people to farms to work while learning more about organic farming. Others look for summer students and even apply for funding assistance through government programs. However all of these sources of labour may not provide the reliability and security required.

Scale can impact labour requirements and management issues. One farmer stated that they managed their risks by staying small. The larger the operation, the greater the risk exposure if labour is not available and the management time and skills required. At the same time, the absence of outside labour can literally place 100% of the risk, physical workload and stress on the back of the farmer.

Farmers need to carefully evaluate different tasks. As farms scale up, there is often a shift to using more mechanized systems and reducing reliance on hired help.

The following strategies and tactics can be employed to manage the risks associated with Labour:

• Assess Impacts of Transition
• Components of a Business Plan
• Make Smart Equipment Choices
• Start Off Small
• Value Your Time
• Back up Plans