Onboarding Dairy Employees 2020: Safe, Productive and Engaged from Day One
Onboarding Dairy Employees 2020: Safe, Productive and Engaged from Day One
The first days and weeks on the job set the course for a new farm employee. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development is seeking dairy farmers to participate in the second year of an onboarding project funded by the New York Farm Viability Institute.
Farms in the Onboarding Project work closely with an adviser to customize a professional and legally-compliant new employee onboarding process, and to improve farm human resource management practices. Well planned onboarding leads to a successful long-term manager-employee relationship with higher employee retention, safety, productivity, and job satisfaction.
Use Employee Onboarding to achieve:
- COMPLIANCE. Basic compliance with regulations and policies.
- CLARITY. Training on safety, work procedures, and expectations.
- CULTURE. Communicate your farm's procedures, values, traditions and norms.
- CONNECTION. Help employees forge relationships at work and find their place to engage and thrive.
Over the next year, the Ag Workforce Development Team will partner with 25 farms in a three-session Zoom series to develop onboarding materials, trainings and methods.
- Onboarding Program Flyer
- Onboarding Program News Release
- Guide for Conducting Employee Onboarding. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development. Make a good impression and connect employees with the team to retain valued employees.
If your farm is looking for a way to improve employee retention and increase overall productivity of employees, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator or Richard Stup, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development, at res396@cornell.edu.
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Upcoming Events
MILKING IT: Moving Milk Quality Forward
April 14, 2026
Springville, NY
April 14th from 11am-1pm
Education sessions by:
- CCE SWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops
- Springville Veterinary Services, P.C.
- Quality Milk Production Services
New York Application for Dairy of Distinction
April 15, 2026
Purpose of Program
Attractive dairy farms give the consumer greater confidence in the wholesomeness of milk and stimulate milk sales which encourages public support of the dairy industry. The award gives recognition to the dairy farmer for maintaining a well-kept farmstead.
Virtual Egg Count Training for Sheep and Goats
April 23, 2026 : Virtual Fecal Egg Count Training for Sheep and Goats
Amy Barkley and Rachel Moody, Livestock Specialists with Cornell Cooperative Extension, will take attendees through the why, how, and interpretation of fecal egg count testing for sheep and goats using the McMaster method.
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