Management of farm staff is a skilful job. Employers must ensure that employees are working in a safe environment as well as allowing them to contributing to the growing farming business.
Their physical safety is vital, but to ensure morale stays high and staff turnover remains low, it’s important to demonstrate that their efforts are appreciated by seeking their opinions and developing their skills and knowledge.
Level The Field
Level the Field is a campaign from The Farmers Weekly to make agriculture fairer, more equitable and more inviting for everyone.
The campaign began in 2024, and focused on women in farming, and in 2025 the focus is on neurodiversity.
An estimated 15-20% of the general population have neurodivergent conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia – and Farmers Weekly research suggests that figure could be as high as 36% in the farming community.
Throughout 2025, they will be publishing a series of digital guides, offering practical support to farm businesses that want to attract, retain, develop and champion neurodivergent staff.
The guides will look at the commercial benefits of having diverse teams, and cover the following topics:
- Educating your team about neurodiversity
- Neurodiversity friendly recruitment
- Neurodiversity friendly training
- Neurodiversity friendly communication
- Neurodiversity friendly working environments
- Mental health and neurodiversity
Leadership and Mentoring
Mentorship is a proven way in which to develop and support employees and contacts.
It enables both mentees and mentors to grow personally and professionally, learning new skills and expanding their networks.
If you’re interested in finding a mentor, or becoming a mentor, Cultivate Success can help.
Sheena Horner from FCN explains more about her role as a Mentor at Cultivate Success
Do you have an induction process for new employees? Click here to see what Safe Ag Systems recommends when bringing on new farm workers.
Yellow Wellies health and safety guide for temporary workers
- The Farm Safety Foundation has created a third in their new series of Staying Safe on the Farm – A Guide for Temporary Workers.
- This simple guide highlights the key risks and dangers on farms today and outlines sensible ways to stay safe and farm safe.
- Download below:
Worker Records
Keeping worker and employment records up to date is so important. Safe Ag systems have listed some important records that should be kept for employees, click here. Health records should also be kept up to date, click here.
Taking care of health and safety and mental health:
Training your team for business success – AHDB
Some skills that a farm manager should possess:
- Teamwork skills
- Communication skills
- Organisational skills
- Ability to lead a group
- Ability to understand and implement employment standards of working conditions, costs etc.
- Understand the hiring process of employees
- Knowledge of production standards
- Further responsibilities and qualities of a farm manager can be found here.
Citizen’s information provides information on employment, click here.
It is important to ensure you and your employees are aware of their rights, click here to find out more.
Joint farming ventures
- Collaborative farming is where farmers join together to share their economic values, share skills and create a more social environment to work in. The video to the right explains collaborative business structures in farming.
- Information can be found on the Teagasc website: click here.