Cultivating Best Human Resource Practices on Small and Mid-Scale Farms

National Farmers Union – Ontario Newsletter
The Rural Voice | January 2025

The NFU-O’s free on-line Human Resources training for farm operators is back by popular demand! Are you looking for advice and support on how to train and
manage your staff next growing season? Maybe you have management tricks and tips for a healthy, fair, and energized work environment that you wish you knew before you hired your first employee? By sharing our on-farm management insights we can improve our operations and help small and mid-sized farms across the province becom more resilient and more attractive to job seekers.

“I didn’t know the first thing about hiring” said one anonymous participant of the NFU-O’s 2024 HR offerings.

“These sessions gave me all the resources and tips I needed to ensure my first successful hire!”

“I’m often shy and tend to avoid conflict. These sessions gave tips on how to address conflicts constructively and collaboratively. I’m excited to apply these tools this
growing season,” said a seasoned farm manager.

Join us for the 3rd year in our series of five 2-hour free on-line HR training modules, where our team of agricultural HR experts will provide a crash course on best management practices. Join us for one session, or for all.

In addition to hearing from our expert panelists, participants will receive a variety of HR materials, including: job advertising and recruitment method tips; how-to-write job descriptions, employee handbooks and orientation templates, payroll and wage templates, scheduling and time-tracking templates, grants and cost-sharing tips, and more! These sessions will help your farm become more resilient and more attractive to job seekers.

If you have any questions and/or would like to participate in our HR programming, please contact David Thompson (david@nfuontario.ca) or call 705-738-3993 ext.102.

2025 Sessions

Hiring and Incentives – Wed, January 29, 2024, 7-9pm
Find out how to hire effectively! This session will include a discussion on deciding what type of employees will work best for you, how to develop a job description and interview questions, job advertising options, and building an incentives package.

HR Fundamentals – Wed, February 5, 2024, 7-9pm
Scared of the paperwork? Not anymore! Learn about employment standards and legislation, health and safety and WSIB requirements; payroll and wages, grants and cost-share programs, and other general logistics.

Interpersonal Dynamics, Training, and Retention – Wednesday, February 12, 2024, 7-9pm
Want to create a friendly and co-operative work environment? You’ve come to the right place! Experts will share employee handbook and orientation designs, training and development tips, equity and discrimination policies, stress and wellbeing measures, staff retention strategies, and more.

Planning, Task Management, and Delegation – Wednesday, February 19, 2024, 7-9pm
Being a good manager means staying organized! Learn successful time-tracking, strategic management and planning tips. Explore a variety of staff management approaches and how to motivate and evaluate staff. Learn how you can you support employee routes to equity, co-ops, and/or other partnership.

*Bonus * NEW! Farm Grants, Loans, and Financial Tools – Wednesday, March 5, 2024, 7-9pm

Is there a government or non-profit grant, loan, or financial tool to help support your farm business, protect your property’s natural heritage, or help you meet your HR needs? Learn about a variety of financial supports and receive grant writing tips from our experts!

This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

A subscription to The Rural Voice is one of the benefits of being an NFU-O member