Newsletter #2

Good Evening and welcome to newsletter number 2! I sit here on a rainy Friday evening reflecting back on the past week and how much I have enjoyed being back at the heart of the things at harvest time. I am helping a friend out this season, driving his combine and everything else that is required at this super busy time of year. I will continue to work hard on getting my business up and running, with driving the combine being a welcome break from the laptop!

So, this newsletter…

I was honestly staggered earlier this week when I worked out this is my 25th harvest! I could literally write a book on what I have learnt and experiences gained from that period of time. So, I am going to attempt to condense my key harvest thoughts down to 25 action points. I expect a fair bit of the content will be second nature to a lot of seasoned farmers and managers, which is great as we share the same thoughts and values, but hopefully there is some info that gets you thinking and can make a difference.

Health and Safety

A HUGE topic that should be at the top EVERYONE’S priorities at harvest time.

1. Do the basics well - Has everyone seen the businesses Health and Safety policy? Risk Assessments? Safe Working Practices? Are daily machinery checks being recorded (apps available for this)?

2. First aid - Does the business have a trained and nominated first aider? Are they present most of the time at harvest? Everyone (inc contractors) needs to know who this is and have contact details for them to hand.

3. Have an emergency action plan for various situations (fire, chemical spill, electric) share it and make it highly visible.

4. Maps Maps Maps! Has everyone got copies of,

   • field maps,

   • risk assessment maps,

   • yard layouts,

   • locations of fire extinguishers and first aid kits,

   • toilets and rest rooms.

   • What3Words is a very useful app for precise locations - use it!

5. Have various spare phone chargers available - its a small expense to keep everyone connected.

The NFU offer some excellent H&S advice, I would always suggest getting specialist advice on this vitally important subject.

People

Harvest doesn’t get done without good people on board!

1. Have you got enough people to get the harvest completed? A labour and machinery profile document would help confirm this. If you are a tad short, or even a bit over staffed, share this with neighbours - they might be in the opposite position to you and if you are both aware you are more likely to be able to help etc if things get tight for one party.

2. Having a visible skills matrix document allows everyone to see what each person is trained and skilled in operating.

3. Social events - believe it or not, the majority of the population have nothing to do with harvest and some even like to get married / have anniversaries / have birthday parties during this period….if you have staff that are invited to these super social events, encourage this at all costs - it will be a big morale boost for them, and their families, to get off farm and let their hair down!

4. Make sure each key player has all the info they need to get the job done, and how you would like it done. Has the corn cart got clear instructions where to tip and store various different crops? Does the combine driver know what’s being baled and what’s being chopped? What grain moisture is too high or too low?

5. A simple thank you and well done have always gone along way with me, acknowledge good work when you see it - it doesn’t matter if its a seasoned pro ticking another list off the combined fields, or a student backing a trailer in the shed for the first time, a well done will mean a lot!

Machinery

Not much crop will be harvested if machinery lets you down at key moments.

1. Is everything ready to go? Safe and legal? Sounds obvious, but a 30 min team discussion, around the (kitchen?!) table going through each piece of kit and if its ready to go may well save a lot of time, and heart ache, at a later date when the pressure is really on.

2. Does everyone have all the spare parts they need? And do they know where these spare parts are kept? An up to date inventory here would help keep track of things and stock levels.

3. Are key machines due a big service during a potential busy time? If so, if it’s the dealer who does this make them aware, say 100hrs pre service, and try and plan with them to fit in if it rains / when the operator is off for the day etc to help lower down time. If its completed on farm, get all oils, filters etc on farm with loads of time spare, then if you do get rained off for a couple of days for example, it is all there ready to go.

4. Get spare fuel filters for EVERYTHING!!! And make sure operators know where they are and how to fit them.

5. Create a list of backup people that you would need out on farm to help repair machines. i.e dealer technicians, tyre fitters, local agricultural engineer, the GPS rep etc etc. Give them a ring pre harvest if you haven’t spoken to them for a while, to make sure they still provide the service they always have. Make sure the list is shared with everyone.

Well being

During the busiest times, lets not lose sight of what’s most important…

1. Time off. Yes, long hours and working days and days on end at harvest time is accepted by most within farming, but time off HAS to be factored in still. Make the most of wet days, even if it is mid week - give people the day off (and yourself).

2. Encourage and support people to look after themselves, give them time to have breaks, have good facilities that are ones you would be happy to use yourself! Finish early enough so students can get their washing done and go food shopping. Don’t lose sight of the fact some people will go home at the end of a long day, to an empty house and have to cook, clean and do other chores. Do what you can to support them.

3. There is a team of people behind the scenes, a team that is much bigger than just the farm staff…husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, children etc etc that all provide so much support to their loved ones so the harvest can be gathered in safely. Keep these people in the loop of whats going on, invite them out to have harvest tea with the farm team and plan a thank you evening for everyone once harvest is done.

4. Have fresh drink and food on site, ready to hand out if you notice anyone is struggle to keep on top of their diet. Despite what a lot of young guns think, a diet of energy drinks and processed food is no good to anyone!

5. Talk talk and talk some more. As exciting and fast paced harvest is most of the time, long harvest hours can feel extremely isolating. Talk to neighbours, keep in the loop with contractors and chat to others outside of the farming world.

Best of the Rest

1. Keep the fuel bowser full, if you need to get it in a hurry and its empty, that could be the difference between a tractor sat up for 30 mins waiting for fuel.

2. Record everything. Fuel use per operation, different crops into store, how much has a field produced, hours worked, wearing metal in stock etc etc.

3. Peoples hobbies should not have to be put on hold for 4 months every year, encourage everyone to still make time to do what they love.

4. Always have spare loo roll in the cab.

5. Keep farm staff updated with how the harvest is going. Tell them how different crops have performed, good or bad. Everyone involved in growing the crop will benefit from sharing this information.

My last thought and probably the most important….

Harvest tea delivered to the field and shared with the team will be the best investment any business does all season. A moment to stop, take stock, have a chat and refuel. The very first farm I worked on did the best harvest teas ever - that feeling of all the team coming together for a cup of tea and a piece of cake at 5pm has stuck with me to this day!!

Thank you if you have got to this point, I appreciate there is a lot of reading but it was so hard to condense things down any further!! Hopefully there is some value in my thoughts, this isn’t written as direct advice…more just to get people thinking about things. Drop me a line if you wish to discuss any of my thoughts in more detail.

Harvest is a special time, the reward for a long years work. Embrace it, enjoy it and most of all, be safe.

Ben