NORTH Friday,
December 9, 2016 Vol. 48 • No. 100
NORTH Friday,
December 9, 2016 Vol. 48 • No. 100
NORTH Friday,
December 9, 2016 Vol. 48 • No. 100
Midwest Messenger holiday hours The office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, and
Monday, Jan. 2. Advertising deadlines for the Dec. 30 editions of Midwest Messenger will be 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, and for the Jan. 6 editions will be 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29.
Midwest Messenger holiday hours The office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, and
Monday, Jan. 2. Advertising deadlines for the Dec. 30 editions of Midwest Messenger will be 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, and for the Jan. 6 editions will be 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29.
Midwest feedlots find real shortage in qualified labor
s left rotting in the fields beca se of a shortage of available labor to get outcrops left rotting in the fields because of a shortage of available labor to get out and harvest.
finding help and the problem runs from co st to coast. Reports abound of crofipnding help and the problem runs from coast to coast. Reports abound of and harves .
the country are having a h d time finding pe ple to work with their live- stock. The labor pains have gotten progressively worse in feedlots during the past decade. “It
Midwest feedlots find real shortage in qualified labor
By Chad Smith Midwest Messenger
More and more sectors in production agriculture are having a hard time More and more sectors in production agriculture are having a hard time
By Chad Smith Midwest Messenger
The labor shortages aren’t just limited to crops, either. Feedlots across The labor shortages aren’t just limited to crops, either. Feedlots across
20
AUCTIONS CALENDAR
AUCTIONS CALENDAR
The school that couldn’t stay put 45
The school that couldn’t stay put
20 20
LIVESTOCK SALE CALENDARS
Wyo. – you never knew where your schoolhouse might Wyo. – you never knew where your schoolhouse might
AUCTIONS CALENDAR
LIVESTOCK SALE CALENDARS
There were one certainty of growing up in LaGrange, There were one certainty of growing up in LaGrange,
Midwest Messenger Field Editor Midwest Messenger Field Editor
By Katy Moore By Katy Moore
33, 3433, 34 33, 34
By Katy Moore Midwest Messenger Field Editor
There were one certainty of growing up in LaGrange, Wyo. – you never knew where your schoolhouse might
LIVESTOCK SALE CALENDARS
LIVING RECIPES LIVING RECIPES
COUNTRY COUNTRY
INSIDE
appear next. Bill Miskimins, a native of LaGrange, began his first
year at the Diamond Flats Community School in 1935. At Please turn to SCHOOL on Page 4
LIVING RECIPES
year at the Diamond Flats Community School in 1935. At Please turn to SCHOOL on Page 4
COUNTRY AG IN MOTION The school that couldn’t stay put
appear next. Bill Miskimins, a native of LaGrange, began his first
year at the Diamond Flats Community School in 1935. At Please turn to SCHOOL on Page 4
appear next. Bill Miskimins, a native of LaGrange, began his first
42 42
INSIDE INSIDE
42 45 AG IN 45 MOTION AG IN MOTION
and go after a couple tofdi ydears and then you
hesraid, “but a lot
aid, but a lot of families have kids that don’t stay on the farm. Plus, tThey kind of comef amilies have kids that don’t stay on the farm. Plus, didthere’s less number of kids born on the farm. If you hire someone that n’t gr w up on a farm, you have to train them. They ften don’t have he ability to work with lives ock and the equipment we work with.”
“I finally just got my screw filled in again.
. The labor shortage is real in feedlot country and there are some good the rYjasrodss in Dodge, Neb. r“eIasons behind it.
t find new people. I’ve got all good guys now, but it’s tough.” m“ItRustk find new people. I’ve got all good guys now, but it’s tough.” Bsaid Gary Ruskamplmost none of the applicants are qualified to d jobBut the problem is almost non of the applicants are qualified to d eaobn. The labor shortage is real in feedlot country and there are some good have a son who’s a partner with me in the feed yard,” Ruskamp “I have a son who’s a partner with me in the feed yard,” Ruskamp e’s less number of kids born on the farm. If you hire someone that n’t grow up on a farm, you have to train them. They often don’t have he ability to work with livestock and the equipment we work with.”
heyew filled in again. anThey kind of come of and go after a couple muosf years an
stock. The labor pains have gotten progressively worse in feedlots during the past decade t.hen you
kind of come go after a couple years and then you
he problem i behind it.
iasm a problem,”
ut tRuskamp has a stack of applicants every time he has an open pos tihtieon. of Ruskamp
p has a stack of applicants every time he has an open position. Feed
mtust find new people. I’ve got all good guys now, but it’s tough.” Ruskamp has a stack of applicants every time he has an open position.
But the problem is almost none of the applicants are qualified to do the job. The labor shortage is real in feedlot country and there are some good reasons behind it. “I have a son who’s a partner with me in the feed yard,” Ruskamp
Please turn to LABOR on Page 12 Please turn to LABOR on Page 12
said, “but a lot of families have kids that don’t stay on the farm. Plus, there’s less number of kids born on the farm. If you hire someone that didn’t grow up on a farm, you have to train them. They often don’t have the ability to work with livestock and the equipment we work with.”
Please turn to LABOR on Page 12
T cr The labor shortages aren’t just limited to crops, either. Feedlots across thde country are having a hard time finding people to work with their live-
crops left rotting in the fields because of a shortage of available labor to get cre“I fi fnlalely just
rds in Dodge, Neb. Feed “I Yards in Dodge, N b. d in again.ot my
finally just got my ouwt anidl harvest.
said Gary Ruskamp f a Rid G ry Ruskamp Yaof Ruskamp
o sMore and more sectors in production agriculture are having a hard time finding help and the problem runs from coast to coast. Reports abound of
is a problem,” uskamp
the country are having a hard time finding people to work with their live- stock. The labor pains have gotten progressively worse in feedlots during the past decade. “It is a problem,” Feed
By Chad Smith Midwest Messenger
Midwest feedlots find real shortage in qualified labor
Midwest Messenger holiday hours The office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, and
Monday, Jan. 2. Advertising deadlines for the Dec. 30 editions of Midwest Messenger will be 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, and for the Jan. 6 editions will be 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29.
December 6-8, 2016 LANCASTER EVENT CENTER
LINCOLN, NE
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