It can be a challenge to find farm workers to hire.
Let’s get into the best way to find employees as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.
Online job boards
It kind of goes without saying since FarmingWork is a job board itself that this would be one of the best ways to reach job seekers.
Sites like Indeed and Monster can be worth a look, but also come at a higher price and less specific audience.
Newspaper ads
It’s not dead! You may be able to get a good deal on a newspaper ad since it’s not quite as popular as it used to be.
I would recommend this option if the price is right and you’re trying to cast a wide net locally, but use other methods too.
Social media
If you aren’t using Twitter or Facebook, it’s time to start! Those two platforms are fantastic for reaching the online ag community.
You can share general news about your farm as well as job opportunities when they come up. The returns can be absolutely incredible.
If you’re trying to reach a younger crowd or have someone already using Instagram, I would recommend it too after the others I mentioned.
I even recommend folks who list jobs on here to share the listing on their socials.
Word of mouth
This one probably goes without saying, but deserves a mention here as well. Most farmers are better socially connected than folks give them credit for.
Sometimes you can fill a position just by talking to your current employees, neighbors, or friends.
This strategy is usually the best for entry level positions, but can work for all of them with a little bit of luck. Best part of this one is it’s free!
Employment agencies
The right employment agency can find great workers to fill your farm positions. Keyword being the right one.
I’ve gotten a job through an agency before and it was a great process, but I’ve seen the horror stories online.
Definitely do your due diligence before jumping in head first with this option. They can save you trouble and the time of vetting employees yourself.
Advertise at a farmer’s market
While I’d never say this should be your primary method of finding employees, what better way to get eyes on your farm and job opportunities?
Lots of folks within the ag industry and potentially interested will be there. If you’re already selling product there, it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of.
Conclusion
There’s a lot of ways to reach farming job seekers if you’re willing to get a little creative.
Focus on one or two methods and if you’re not seeing the response you want, expand to others. As much as I lean towards online as the way to go, offline can work wonders too!
There’s really no right or wrong way to do it as long as it works for your schedule and budget. You can get a lot of mileage out of some tried and true tactics.