The solution to the migrant labour shortage is not more people

The limit to seasonal migrant labour explained 

Since 30 January 2020, the UK was no longer part of the EU, and freedom of movement ended. The number was increased to 30,000 available visas. The reason there is even a limit on the number of migrant workers who can work seasonally is to further reduce the UK’s reliance on migrant labour as a whole. 

British citizens aren’t interested in working in these jobs

These jobs have not been filled by local workers, and British citizens aren’t interested in working in these jobs. Of the 30,000 UK applicants to work on farms across the country, only 4% took a job as a farm labourer, and only 1% remained after the initial 6 weeks. The main reason seems to be that they had a romanticised view of what “working on the land” would be like. Weeding and picking are demanding physical jobs, that require a certain type of person.   

A software framework built for automated machinery 

The last decade has seen some of the largest advancements in machine learning and AI technology. With these advancements, has come a real push for automation and robotics. Up until recently, many jobs on a farm could only be done by a person, by hand. Weeding, for example, would require several growers to walk the fields and remove the weeds. Using a driverless machine, that uses sensors to decipher what is a crop and a weed, can be left in the field to work. 

Autonomous machines are the future

The methodical approach may take longer than manual labour, but it could save you paying 5 or more workers’ worth of wages. Even with the cost-saving aside, it may become a necessity to invest in these machines. Due to the Migrant labour market drying up and no one entering to replace others. The technology is still in its early stages, but companies such as John Deere are investing heavily in creating driverless tractors. The farm management software you use will need to be ready for future robotics. 

There are schemes to help with the cost of automation machinery 

As discussed in more detail in the article about R&D tax credits changes, the government allows a business that invests in their company, tax relief based on certain criteria. Investing in software that improves your business is eligible for R&D tax credits. The theory is, the government will help your business find more efficient ways to operate, increasing your earning potential, which means more taxable profits.   

Labour time allocation for data analysis 

Agricultural record-keeping is needed to fulfil contracts with clients, and compare yields from previous years. Many growers try new techniques each year, to reduce costs and maximise yields. Data analysis allows farm management to see which techniques are increasing profitability. This data can also be used to track Migrant labour hours, to see where there are inefficiencies. 

Immediate job updates

As every job is updated immediately upon completion, the time spent is calculated to the minute. Are jobs taking longer than you expected? You can find which stages are costing you the most in lost hours. Has the weather delayed parts of your Migrant labourers‘ daily tasks? You can assign them other jobs immediately to lessen the impact of lost productivity. 

Real time compliance 

One of the biggest uses of time, compliance is a non-negotiable part of every business. Agriculture is one of the strictest for compliance, not just because you are dealing with food, but you also deal with heavy machinery and harsh chemicals. Compliance is usually filled out on a separate form and stored away, creating more processes you need to follow. With each job in LiveFarmer, you set checks that need to be done before starting the task. Such as, checking machinery to make sure it is safe, or the correct safety equipment is being used. 

Easier Health and Safety Compliance

In the packhouse, your labourers will need to comply with food safety standards, such as hygiene and appropriate clothing. Instead of making them sign a form, they can log into the job assigned to them, mark the compliance, and then start working. Creating a compliance document for you. By combining compliance tasks into the jobs, your labourers spend less time on unnecessary paperwork. 

Traceability, without requiring extra people 

You won’t need to dedicate one person to ensuring you meet the traceability standards of your clients. Supermarkets are especially strict on knowing where the product has come from, where it has been, what chemicals were used, and if all safety standards were adhered to. As every step of the crop harvest is documented as jobs are complete, the traceability document is created for you. You can get more information in the traceability and compliance article.