The future of farming in Ireland is at a crucial crossroads as the industry grapples with significant challenges, particularly around succession planning. According to the recent 2024 Irish Farm Report by the Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative (IFAC), a staggering 94% of farmers worry about who will take over their farms, with the average age of farmers at 58 and a noticeable decline in those planning to remain in farming over the next five years. As rural dairy farming faces potential calamities, an international recruitment company, Crewit Resourcing, has emerged with a unique solution.
Addressing Succession Planning Concerns
The Current State of Succession Planning
Highlighting the statistics from the IFAC report, it’s evident that the future of dairy farming in Ireland is in peril. The average age of farmers in Ireland is 58, and many are nearing retirement age without a clear plan for who will take over their operations. This looming issue is compounded by the fact that less than half of these farmers have succession plans in place, leading to an uncertain future for Ireland’s rural dairy farms.
Without concerted efforts to address these challenges, the risk of family farms becoming abandoned or absorbed into larger agricultural enterprises increases. This not only threatens the economic viability of these farms but also the social fabric of rural communities that rely heavily on farming. Furthermore, the noticeable decline in those planning to remain in farming over the next five years exacerbates the situation, calling for immediate interventions to sustain the industry.
The Labor Force Dilemma
Gary O’Keeffe, CEO of Crewit Resourcing, identifies several challenges confronting the Irish dairy market’s labor force. Factors such as record low unemployment across the EU and the shift of traditional labor sources exacerbate the issue. For instance, Poland, once a primary source of agricultural labor for Ireland, is now grappling with its own labor shortages, making it less able to supply workers to the Irish dairy industry. This shift puts additional strain on an already overburdened recruitment landscape.
Moreover, high-paying jobs with fixed hours in the Irish labor market often attract potential dairy farm workers, further dwindling the pool of available labor for the demanding and less predictable lifestyle of dairy farming. This situation poses a significant dilemma for Irish farmers, who need a reliable workforce to manage their daily operations and maintain productivity. Consequently, the combination of an aging farmer population, a shrinking labor pool, and less appealing job conditions creates a critical need for innovative solutions to sustain the dairy farming industry.
Crewit’s Comprehensive Recruitment Strategy
Expertise in Grazed Grass-Fed Farming
The specific skill set required for grazed grass-fed farming adds another layer of complexity to recruitment efforts. This farming technique, which is environmentally sustainable and central to Ireland’s dairy farming practices, demands expertise primarily found in a few countries like Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand. The time and effort involved in upskilling new entrants are considerable, and many farmers, already stretched to their limits, find it challenging to provide the necessary training.
Crewit Resourcing acknowledges these challenges and steps in with a solution tailored to the needs of the dairy farming sector. Their international recruitment strategy encompasses the identification of skilled candidates who already possess the necessary expertise in grazed grass-fed farming. This strategic approach minimizes the learning curve and ensures that recruits can quickly adapt to the specific demands of Irish dairy farming. By prioritizing candidates with relevant experience, Crewit ensures that the workforce entering the industry is well-equipped to handle its unique challenges.
Global Talent Acquisition and Management
Crewit Resourcing addresses these recruitment challenges through a robust international recruitment process. This process is designed to be comprehensive, covering every aspect from selection and skills testing to work permit and visa processing, relocation, and essential aftercare. With over 60 experienced recruiters spread across 14 countries, Crewit brings a wealth of knowledge and resources to the table, ensuring a seamless transition for recruits into the Irish dairy farming industry.
One of the standout features of Crewit’s approach is their remarkable 90% long-term retention rate for placements. This impressive statistic underscores the effectiveness of their recruitment and management processes, which have been honed over the past five years. Crewit’s commitment to agri-recruitment goes beyond just filling positions; they focus on building lasting relationships and ensuring the sustained success of both the recruits and the farms they join. This dedication to long-term retention benefits the dairy industry by providing stable, reliable labor that helps maintain farm productivity and continuity.
Innovative Recruitment Model
Long-Term Engagement on Farms
Crewit’s innovative approach emphasizes recruiting individuals to work “in” farms rather than just “on” them. This nuanced mindset shift focuses on securing long-term contributors who view the farm as their own and are invested in its success. Rather than bringing in temporary labor, Crewit aims to match qualified candidates with farmers who can engage with the farm’s long-term operations, considering profit sharing and long-term leasing as part of the recruitment process. This not only benefits the farm but also aligns with the recruits’ aspirations for stable, long-term employment.
This strategy is particularly crucial given the aging demographic of Irish dairy farmers and the dwindling number of new entrants into the field. By creating pathways for long-term engagement, Crewit helps ensure that farms continue to operate smoothly even as current owners transition out. This holistic approach to recruitment and farm management addresses the core issue of sustainability, providing a viable solution to the ongoing succession planning crisis in the dairy sector. It fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among recruits, ultimately contributing to the farm’s resilience and growth.
Targeting South African Talent
South Africa stands out as a key source for talent due to its strong dairy farming skills and English proficiency. Candidates from South Africa often share a rural and community ethos that aligns well with the values of Irish farms, facilitating their integration into local communities. This cultural compatibility is critical for successful long-term placements, as it eases the transition and helps recruits build meaningful connections with their new surroundings. Crewit’s efforts to source candidates from regions with a robust talent pool ensure that the recruits they bring in are not only skilled but also culturally attuned to the nuances of Irish dairy farming.
Moreover, the pursuit of a lifestyle dream centered around dairy farming is a significant motivator for many South African recruits. This shared vision between recruits and Irish farmers fosters a strong working relationship built on mutual goals and respect. Crewit’s focused recruitment in South Africa and other similar regions is a testament to their strategic approach in finding the right fit for both the farms and the recruits. By prioritizing cultural compatibility and shared values, Crewit ensures that the transition for recruits is as smooth as possible, ultimately benefiting the sustainability of the dairy farming industry.
Ensuring Farm Viability
Strategic Planning for Farmers
“For dairy farmers, understanding their long-term goals is vital. Those with succession plans involving their children may not require Crewit’s assistance, but those without obvious successors can benefit significantly from Crewit’s model, which includes profit sharing and long-term leasing options. This model provides an alternative pathway for retiring farmers to ensure their farms remain viable and continue to operate as valuable assets. By facilitating a structured transition plan, Crewit helps farmers secure the future of their farms, allowing them to retire with peace of mind knowing their life’s work will be carried on responsibly.
For farms lacking clear successors, Crewit’s approach offers a pragmatic solution by placing committed, skilled recruits who are invested in the farm’s long-term success. This strategy is especially critical in maintaining the viability of rural dairy farms, which are integral to the local economy and community. Crewit’s model helps bridge the gap between retiring farmers and the next generation of dairy farmers, ensuring that the farms continue to operate and contribute to the agricultural industry’s overall stability.
Commitment Beyond Recruitment
The future of farming in Ireland stands at a pivotal point as the industry contends with major challenges, especially concerning succession planning. The 2024 Irish Farm Report by the Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative (IFAC) reveals a startling 94% of farmers are anxious about who will take over their farms. With the average age of farmers being 58, there is a significant decline in the number of those intending to continue farming in the next five years. Rural dairy farming is particularly vulnerable to potential crises. In response, Crewit Resourcing, an international recruitment firm, has presented a novel solution to address this issue. Their approach aims to mitigate the looming succession crisis by connecting farms with the necessary workforce to ensure future operations. This innovative strategy could prove essential in maintaining the vitality of farming communities and securing the agricultural heritage of Ireland for generations to come, offering hope to an industry at a critical juncture.