Project Overview
This project provided farmers in western Massachusetts with tools and approaches to address human risk and legal risk. By creating a positive workplace environment and improving compliance with labor laws, family and small-scale farms can build resiliency and mitigate the effects of family emergencies and workforce changes to improve their long-term economic viability. Eighty-three small specialty-crop or value-added producers participated in the program, which included 5 workshops, 1 farmer-to-farmer video-conference, 49 one-on-one meetings, and resource materials, to learn strategies for on-farm leadership development and best practices in labor management. Topics included cultural humility and dexterity, conflict resolution, performance management, employee policies, building a positive workplace culture, and employee management challenges unique to the pandemic. As a result of participation, farmers and farm managers increased understanding of employee management and communication strategies, on-farm leadership development options, legal requirements, and best practices in staff training. Farmers and farm managers gained skills to evaluate their own labor management and to begin to implement improvements in their labor management and training efforts. Farm labor management information and tools were adapted and made available online. By the end of the project, 26 farmers had implemented at least one improvement in their farm labor management.
Number of Participants: 83
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
There are no promotional materials available for this project.
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
There are no educational materials available for this project.
REPORTS & EVALUATIONS
There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.