After translating many “broken gate” meetings on dairy farms across our region, I’m convinced that every dairy farmer struggles with the same problem: motivating employees to drive skid steers safely. If you think about it, it’s not surprising. Over half of employees on dairy farms in NY state are from Mexico or Guatemala, over 70% of the US agricultural workforce does not speak English, and many of our region’s Spanish-speaking employees have never had the opportunity to drive machinery prior to their first dairy farm job. If you combine the lack of experience and barriers to communication with the busy life of dairy farmers, it is not difficult to understand why we fall short when it comes to proper skid steer orientation.
In response to this widespread issue, the NWNY Team has pulled together an event to be held at El Vi Farms in Newark, NY on Wednesday August 16th from 12pm – 4pm. In collaboration with CCE Ontario County, NYCAMH, Cargill, Zoetis and Monroe Tractor, the workshop will involve active demonstrations focusing on maintenance, operation and safety. Although the focus is on skid-steers, since many new employees drive this equipment, the workshop will also address tractor, roadway and PTO safety and maintenance.
For more information, visit the event page: https://nwnyteam.cce.cornell.edu/event.php?id=2162. *Note: pre-registration is required and space is limited!
Is this event too far east for you? We are considering holding the same event this fall in the western part of the region- if you’re interested please let us know to encourage us to move forward with it!
