By Scout Nelson
Hiring and managing employees remains one of the most challenging aspects of running a farm or ranch. To help, Nebraska Extension has released the Nebraska Agricultural Labor Guide, designed to assist employers at every stage of the employee relationship.
The guide, developed by a team of extension educators and specialists, offers practical advice to help agricultural employers make informed decisions before challenges arise. It emphasizes clear communication, strong systems, and thoughtful planning to improve workplace efficiency and satisfaction for both managers and employees.
The Nebraska Ag Labor Guide covers key employment areas:
- Recruitment and Hiring: Defines roles and help find the right candidates.
- Onboarding: Ensures new employees start effectively and understand expectations.
- Development and Operations: Guides for day-to-day management, training, and safety practices.
- Retention: Provides strategies to keep top workers engaged.
- Termination: Helps navigate the difficult process of ending employment professionally.
"In agriculture, your people are often the biggest factor in long-term success," said Shannon Sand, an extension agricultural economist and one of the guide’s authors. "But managing well takes intentional planning, and this guide is meant to help ag employers think through those decisions in a structured, practical way."
The guide is available online at the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website. It is a valuable tool for Nebraska farm and ranch operators seeking practical, research-backed advice to manage employees successfully.
This publication is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2021-38640-34714 through the North Central Region SARE program. Opinions and recommendations are those of the authors and do not reflect official USDA policy.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-livingimages
Categories: Nebraska, Business, General