2017 Fall Farm Outlook

Page 30 Oct. 25, 2017 2017 Logan County Fall Farm Outlook Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS There is a shortage of agricultural workers here in Logan County also. Agee Farms has had a sign out in front of their elevator operation out at Bell Station since early spring. The sign advertises for CDL (commercial drivers licensed) drivers and equipment operators. Justin Agee and his family farm an increasing amount of acreage, operate many machines and trucks, and usually have openings for numerous workers. Without enough workers, the extra-long days and the stress of harvest grows during the time of year when the hours of daylight grow short. Illiopolis farmer John Bruntjen advertised in more than 15 different places for farm employees this year. “The turnout was terrible,” Bruntjen said. He put ads in three different papers, put fliers with tabs in numerous high traffic areas across the county, and did everything he could think of to attract the labor he needed to bring in the harvest. Bruntjen, like Agee, continues to add acreage to his operation each year and needs to bring in CDL drivers to bring the crop to the elevator. Bruntjen remarked that this year very few applicants came, and those who did come presented themselves very poorly. He hired two men, and one of them didn’t show up for work on the very first day. The second man dropped out before the week was over. Bruntjen resorted to hiring some unqualified applicants and he paid for their training and their CDL testing. It turned out mediocre, Bruntjen said, because there were accidents in the first week. Steinberg from Topflight said that the local ag labor shortage has to do with the fact that it is temporary, short-term work being offered in a day and age when people are looking for long-term, upscale jobs. The labor market right now is pretty well filled with people who are looking to move up in position and pay, but are not looking for part-time jobs. “So,” Steinberg said, “the people we tend to get are the people who are between jobs and looking for something, anything. But they usually don’t stay.” The agriculture job marketplace is predicted to become worse in coming years both on a national and on a local level, according to an article in USA Today. Most agricultural Continued ►►