Employee Training Practices on Large New York Dairy Farms.

Fifty percent of 60 farm managers responded to a survey regarding training practices and their attitudes toward training on the farm. The 30 respondents were primarily managers of larger farms with freestall barns and milking parlors, managers of dairies with above average production and profitability, and dairy farm owner-operators. Participants managed farms with 49 to 1,200 cows and hired both full- and part-time employees. Survey results suggested many dairy farm employees lacked basic work skills; the higher the skill level required for a job, the more difficult it was to find skilled employees to do the job; and hiring laborers was much easier than hiring independent employees or working managers. The majority of employers indicated they would prefer to hire untrained individuals and train them themselves. The majority of managers indicated that the person most responsible for training on the farm felt very confident about his/her ability as a trainer but that the training function on the farm would be improved if the manager or key employee became a better trainer. Managers responded positively about five alternative training techniques. Most managers indicated they would be willing to pay a modest amount for training services. Management time was the greatest barrier to effective on-the-job training. The two most important barriers to off-site training were lack of available courses in the community and concern that workers would leave. (YLB)