Summary Four out of ten farmers find it difficult to find replacements, according to a new report from Ruralis. Nina Gjelsvik had to resort to an unconventional move to get replacements when she broke her leg. According to the researchers, there is cause for concern about the situation. Poor access to substitutes can affect farmers’ welfare and health, the researchers fear. In the long term, the situation may make it less attractive to become a farmer. Norges Bondelag believes that the economy of farmers must improve. – At the hospital they said that I risked becoming permanently lame if I didn’t sit down. When Nina Gjelsvik broke her leg last autumn, it became difficult to find a replacement who could take over the farm while the break healed. A new report from the research institute Ruralis shows that over 40 per cent of farmers in the country find it difficult to find replacements when needed. Only 21 percent answer that they think it is easy. – You can’t say “sorry Dagros, I’m sick”. You have to be in the barn anyway, says Nina Gjelsvik. Photo: Henning Levold Called NAV in desperation After almost a week without the replacement office getting hold of a replacement, they finally sent intermediate help. But they could not provide a replacement who could work for a longer period of time. In desperation, Nina contacted NAV. They put her in touch with someone who was looking for work. – It was a grown man who had zero experience of farming. The first day he was here, I thought he wouldn’t dare go into the barn to shovel dung. The man was Polish and did not speak Norwegian, but through Google Translate they communicated. – He did much more than I expected. I was very impressed! Even if they made it work, there wasn’t much time left for Nina’s leg to heal. The inexperienced replacement needed a lot of guidance and help, and Nina constantly had to go out into the barn. – In the end, they said at the hospital that I risked becoming permanently lame if I didn’t sit down and let the leg heal. Gjelsvik has both cows, goats and sheep. Animals need daily care. Photo: Henning Levold – Reason for concern The report from Ruralis shows that the recruitment of replacements will probably decrease in the coming years. This can have consequences both for the individual farmer and for agriculture. – Farmers, like everyone else, want time off from their jobs from time to time. If they do not get it, it will affect the quality of life and health of the farmers. And ultimately the animals too, says senior researcher Egil Petter Stræte. In addition, the report points out that poor access to replacements can weaken recruitment into agriculture. – If the situation becomes more critical, it will eventually become even less attractive for farmers and young people to take over farms and farm. It is a concern for the entire food production. The researchers fear the lack of replacements will make the working conditions of the farmers worse. Photo: Henning Levold – Decision-making with a safety net Bodhild Fjelltveit, second deputy manager of the Norges Bondelaget, points out that access to substitutes is an important part of the farmer’s safety net. – The farmers are responsible for the animals in the barn around the clock, all year round. If you feel that you can never take time off or simply cannot get sick, it is a huge burden, she says. Norges Bondelag fears that fewer young people will become farmers if the replacement situation does not improve. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news Fjelltveit points out that strengthening the farmers’ economy will be one of the most important measures to improve the replacement situation. She receives support from the researchers in Ruralis. – Being a substitute worker is a low-paying profession today. We see that it can become more attractive to work as a replacement if the salary is higher, says Stræte.
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Four out of ten farmers struggle to find replacements – news Vestland
