Most anyone that's familiar with the modern dairy business is aware of the many opinions concerning cow comfort. Articles, research, and books have been written about how to keep a cow stress-free and happy. Most of which is common sense.
What hasn't been given a lot of attention is worker comfort. With all the tangible figures about stall size, feedbunk space, parlor throughput etc, nobody (to my knowledge) has given much thought to what makes a worker stress-free. Now I'm obviously talking about larger farms who employ non-family workers.
Modern free-stall dairy barns have mostly been constructed with exclusively the cow in mind. When building these mammoth barns, the only concern is construction that will generate a return via the cow. Naturally the owner has control over what the barn will look like.
And this brings me to my real point. The real trap of large scale dairy farming is not cull rate or if you use rbST or not, but it's the presumption of some owner that employees are dispensable at best and on the periphery at worst. Most large farm owners are more concerned with farm (meaning their) goals than they are with employee retention. Duh! The employees are the ones you enable to meet those goals. It's one thing to take advantage of an animal; it's quite another to take advantage of your neighbor.
Many well meaning people fall into traps. If you're a small farm and want to expand, ask yourself first 'how will this impact my neighbor?'.
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4 comments:
Hi Matt,
do you have certain farms in mind that you are agitating against??
Or is it that you are pondering some magical solution to keep all parties involved happy, i.e. farmer, employees and animals?
Els,
I don't really have any specific farm in mind other than farms that employ non-family members.
My main point is that so many people are concerned about animal health on large farms ex, PITA, but there aren't many people who are advocating worker health on large farms. Only farm owners can change their farm. There are some large farms that do a good job with employee relations. Also, what I'm not saying is that we need more programs or regulations.
"Most large farm owners are more concerned with farm (meaning their) goals than they are with employee retention."
I'd change one word, in there. I'd change 'goals' to 'profit.'
I'd say it; "Most large farm owners are more concerned with their farm PROFIT than they are with employee retention."
Mari-Nanci
Matt says; "Who is this and why is she here?" ,-) She's a long time reader of your wife's blog. Who has not read here, previously. But I came over to congratulate you on redoing that apple press.
Fantastic! An antique. But like old tools, an antique which is still able to give good use. Now that you've given it lots of time and TLC.
I know about old tools, because my husband has done woodworking all his life {74 years} and he LOVES old tools. And he uses old tools. :-) And I'm sure he would appreciatively shake your hand, for having refurbished that old apple press.
Mari-Nanci
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