Vermont program helps fill temp jobs at dairies around state

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont dairy farmers are getting help in finding temporary workers to milk their cows and do other chores.

The Vermont Farm Labor Service Cooperative was started this spring to assess dairy farmers' labor needs and the pool of workers interested in agricultural jobs. So far it has referred temporary workers for 18 jobs around the state.

The program has found that farmers want workers with experience, which many of the temporary workers do not have, and full-time jobs are hard to fill.

"The greatest need is for milkers, for people with experience with milking," said Beverly Bishop, the program's labor service coordinator. "There are more people that are interested than have experience."

Despite a strong interest in farming, many of the workers only want part-time work.

"One of the things we're finding hard to meet is finding full-time employees," said Rick LeVitre, a farm labor specialist with the University of Vermont Extension in Rutland. "We have a bunch of people who want to learn about farming and only want to work a few days a week."

The program eventually may offer training to prospective employees through existing agriculture programs at technical schools or colleges and universities.

The labor service also will expand to farms other than dairy.