Delta-innovation is developing the processes and procedures to make on-farm monitoring and analysis of labour productivity a simple task that any farmer can do.

• Over half of UK livestock farms report difficulties in recruiting appropriately trained staff.
• The weaker pound is likely to reduce our ability to source good foreign labour.
• Labour in the UK pig industry represents around 12.5% of the costs of production.
• Larger pig farms have seen labour costs rise by 19% over the years 2006 to 2008.

Monitoring and analysing labour productivity allows farmers to take action to drive up labour efficiency, lessening their reliance on difficult-to-source labour and providing major benefits;

• Reduced labour costs
• Labour focused on the most productive tasks

The more efficient use of labour should free up staff from redundant tasks and if managed correctly should increase staff morale and staff retention - through focusing on those tasks which genuinely contribute to a business's success. Labour productivity monitoring also allows for technical investment decisions to be made with labour cost implications fully taken into account.

If you'd like to know more, contact Steve Webster or Adam Harper at Delta-innovation.