Training, data and simplification for Australian grower’s workforce strategy
Source: HD.com
According to WHS and Labour Manager Nicky Mann, technology delivers value only when supported by well-designed processes and skilled people. New workforce requires new training approach The business recently welcomed its first seasonal workforce from Timor-Leste, adding a new dimension to its existing labour programme.
The next step is translating the company's 12-hour training programme into Tetum. "Sometimes you need to recreate yourself, look at your processes and ask what we've improved in the last six months because we're continuously improving." © Family Fresh Farms The Timor-Leste team doing a tour of Greenhouse 2 Automation still depends on people While Family Fresh Farms continues to introduce automation, Nicky believes many greenhouse operations still rely heavily on skilled employees.
"Our average team achieved 84 kilograms per hour across the whole workforce." She also cautions against excessive automation without considering system resilience. "You're going to need a whole bunch of people with really good electronic skills to keep your automation tip-top." © Family Fresh Farms Simplification drives digital adoption Family Fresh Farms has integrated Priva's labour management platform with custom APIs and cloud-based reporting while encouraging staff to develop their digital skills.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
