Eoghan Byrne, project manager in FRS farm services, and MTU Agriculture student, Cormac Harnett, who works as an operator with the FRS in Cork joins Stuart Childs to discuss how farmers can help themselves get a bit of a break from the work by making it easier to work on their farm.
Both Eoghan and Cormac say that planning and communication are central by giving operators advance notice and clearly stating what needs to be done, how to do it on your farm and when it needs to be done. Farmers leaving checklists, notes on how to do different tasks where relevant and pre-visits from the operator can help avoid confusion or mistakes being made.
Cormac points out that having the farm equipment and materials ready means operators can get straight to the job, making the arrangement more efficient for both farmer and operator, saving time and money and making life a little easier for everyone as stress can be avoided by being prepared.
Eoghan finishes up the conversation by highlighting that many young operators want to progress in agriculture. Farm-relief work can provide experience and a potential pathway into farm management or collaborative farming, but both Eoghan and Cormac are clear that creating a positive, respectful workplace is important for attracting and retaining the next generation.
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