Attracting suitable staff members – and keeping them – can be a difficult problem for many farm businesses.

Over three free workshops in the latest Business of Farming series, the tables are turned slightly and it's the employers who are invited to take an inward look at their operation, to work towards becoming a valued employer that can attract the right people.
Presenter, Sally Murfet, a human resources consultant with InspireAg, said the market for ag appointments was extraordinarily tight.
"I find it ironic that we talk so much about farming production while people aren't spoken about, yet it's the people who drive that production," Ms Murfet said.
"The 2024 data indicates a decline in the number of jobs available and an increase in candidate availability – in 2013, when Agricultural Appointments began collecting the data, supply and demand were much closer together."
She said 2024 data showed a decline from 2023, dropping to 425 to 430 roles advertised each month, equating to a 14 to 15 per cent decrease.
"Candidate availability has typically been low but has surged to 220 in 2024, marking its highest level since 2013," she said.
"The labour market remains tight, even though the numbers have narrowed employers must continue to work hard to attract, retain, and develop talent.
"In the workshops we will look at how employers can stand out in a competitive marketplace."
Ms Murfet said her focus was working with farmers and agribusinesses to grow teams that performed together.
Each workshop will include case studies and strategies to help find the right people and to keep them engaged.
"It's looking at the business aspect and the people aspect to figure out how to connect them rather than separate them," she said.
One case study Ms Murfet will quote is from Virginia Tech University that found family farming businesses that communicated well, had regular business meetings where each party had a seat at the table were 21 per cent more profitable.
She said employers needed self-awareness and an understanding of themselves as a leader.
"You also need awareness of the environment you're in, the internal things like communication with others, the culture, how you connect and how you manage conflict, which are things you can control.
"Then there are things we don't have control over, the political environment, the economy, interest rates, and it's learning to manage and mitigate all those factors."
The Business of Farming series is a collaboration by Gippsland Food and Fibre with Gippsland Agricultural Group and Southern Farming Systems, with funds from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.
The series will run across shires from Wellington, South Gippsland and Baw Baw to the Bass Coast, Latrobe and East Gippsland, following on from the successful run of Business of Farming series in East Gippsland.
Organiser Chris Jehu, of Countryside Business Partners, said there were eight Business of Farming events in total, three presented by Ms Murfet starting in Bairnsdale on March 24, travelling through to Flynn and Leongatha the following day.
"We constantly hear the phrase 'It's really hard to get good staff' but is it? Or is it hard to be a good employer?," Mr Jehu asks.
"Especially in the ag sector you'll see people tend to stay a lifetime if they find the right employer."
The workshops will be held at Bairnsdale on Monday, March 24 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, at the Gippsland Ag Centre, then the following day from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the Flynn Community Hall, and then in Leongatha from 5.30pm.
There is no cost and a meal will be provided.
To register, phone Chris Jehu, 0487 291 197 or the link is: https://bit.ly/4hPNTkM