FRS - Helping Farmers To Make More Effective Use Of Their Time

Following on from Jim Dockerys’ ‘Time Management for Farmers’ article last week and his tips on managing time more effectively, this week I wanted to talk to you about how farm relief services can help you make more effective use of the time you have, especially during the busy spring time and provide the people you need when you need them.

Despite all the advances in agriculture the job of farming is still a difficult one. It demands long hours and hard work. The level of skill required is also very high. Margins are falling at farm level; meanwhile the cost of employing a skilled person has risen over the years. There are now very few farms where the cost of full time employment can be justified.

Every day I talk to farmers who tell me that they work 13 to 14 hour days in the spring and they cannot afford help on the farm - I ask ‘can you afford not to’?

The peak of your work is just around the corner - Are you ready?

• Are your calving boxes power washed and disinfected?

• Can you get your fertilizer out on time?

• Will you be ready to spread slurry when the weather is suitable?

• Have you your calf feeding facilities in order?

• Are your calving facilities in good working order?

• What help have you organised?

What solutions can FRS OFFER?

• Part-time operators charged on an hourly rate

• Full time operators charged on a weekly rate

• Relief Milkers

• Specialised and General farm workers

• Tractor drivers

• Calf feeding

• Hoofcare

• Scanning

• Freeze branding

Why use the farm relief?

• Operators are fully insured

• Short or long term bookings possible

• FRS operators are trained, experienced, flexible and locally based

• Possible to book the same operator (when available), who is familiar with your farm and routine

• Average cost per day approximately €90- €100

• Milkings from one milking to a one year contract

• Labour from one day to full time

• Farmer does not have to worry about PAYE, PRSI, Employer’s PRSI, Holiday pay, contracts or other aspects of employment legislation - this is all handled by FRS

• Farmer receives one monthly invoice

• FRS fees are fully tax deductable – i.e. the cost of using FRS may be offset against your tax bill

Ask yourself what impact can a regular days help make on my farm.

The Shared Operator Scheme (S.0.S) operated by FRS is a method of sharing the benefits as well as the cost of full time help.

The S.O.S offers a farmer the same skilled operator on the same day(s) each week throughout the year. With good planning, up to one third of the weekly farm workload can be handled in a single day by the farmer and operator working well together.

In a one-man unit, many tasks are better left for the day(s) on which the FRS operator is on the farm. For example cattle handling and dosing, routine fencing, building work, covering silage pits etc. are all jobs that can be much more effectively and safely handled by two experienced people.

The main advantages of using the scheme are:

• You get the same operator on the same day (s) of every week

• Teamwork is established

• Work can be delegated

• Two-man jobs are completed more effectively

• Work schedules can be more effectively planned

• Short term or long term arrangements can be put in place and planned out accordingly

In the Tipperary region the S.O.S is co-ordinated by the FRS offices at Parkmore, Roscrea and Carrigeen Ind. Est., Cahir and our job is to link a suitable operator with the farmer so that their labour needs are better met. The operator in turn will find himself in full time work and can earn a good living in agriculture where his skills will be of great benefit to the farmers concerned.

Help at Caving Time

Calving is a critical time - the result of a year’s work and financial investment. Farmers should make every effort to make this time of the year one that will pay the greatest reward. Planning is the first step. A good management plan can be tailored to fit almost any situation. Planning for prevention is always more cost effective than having to treat problems. A good plan does not need to be elaborate or expensive. Sit down with your local FRS Manager and discuss your labour requirements.

God Bless and as Jim said last week “stay safe”.

FRS Network is a co-operative organisation established in 1980. Through growth and diversification FRS has expanded into five distinct divisions intrinsically linked through the supply of expertly skilled people – farm services, fencing, training, recruitment & homecare. With a network of 20 offices nationwide, 2,000 staff, 20,000 customers, €30m turnover, national office in Roscrea, Co. Tipp and expanding.

Contact your local FARM RELIEF SERVICES @

Parkmore, Roscrea, 0505-21166 or Carrigeen Industrial Estate, Cahir, 052-741598 or .www.frsnetwork.com

Please e-mail your comments and feedback to [email protected]