Farmer Focus: Capable staff allows me guilt-free time off
Jack Bosworth © MAG/Colin Miller I’ve been looking forward to May for a while now. The beginning of this month saw Amy, Freddie and me going away on our holidays for a week near Carcassonne in southern France.
Unfortunately we have had a few days of rain here which I will try and bring back to Essex with me.
But it is lovely to get away and have a change of scenery, enabling me to reset partway through the year while also getting some valuable time with the family.
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I have found it very easy to get away on this occasion – not something I have managed so well in the past. My workload is as heavy as it has ever been, so I’ve surprised myself.
On the other hand, I feel I’ve been less effective in recent weeks. That could be the mind’s way of convincing me that it is time to get away.
I’ve usually struggled with going off farm mainly due to concern that I’m not on, or near, the farm to help if there is a problem.
I even feel a sense of guilt that I am not about. I have no doubt many in the farming community can relate to these feelings.
There will even be some people sat at the farmhouse table muttering “chance would be a fine thing” when reading this.
The way the business and the team have developed are the main contributors behind my change in mindset.
It means that being one person down for a short period has less impact than it used to, because we have more people and more versatility within the team.
We are still somewhat light in terms of team numbers on the farm, so it isn’t just a case of being more than adequately staffed.
I think the reason I’m OK with being off farm is more about who is in the team.
There is no doubt that the ability, experience and morale we have gives me the highest of confidence that I won’t be missed for a week.
For those not on the same page as I am, I would challenge you to see how that could be changed.