Operation Grain Harvest Assist to the rescue

With labour shortages continuing to plague the agricultural industry, a group of former military personnel have teamed up with Case IH and its dealership, O’Connors, to execute a new initiative called Operation Grain Harvest Assist to help provide a solution to the labour crisis.

The initiative, conceived in Western Australia before last year’s harvest, aims to also boost the employment opportunities of returned service people and help them get back into the workforce.

Under the initiative, returned service personnel have the opportunity to learn all about the agricultural industry, thanks to Case IH and O’Connors’ training partner, Longerenong College in Western Victoria, and equip themselves with skills such as farm machinery operation to help out within the ag sector.

Last month, 18 former defence force personnel learned the ins and outs of the grains industry and the operation of farm machinery, including a combine harvester, and are now looking forward to assisting farming businesses during the busy harvest season.

O’Connors’ executive senior sales manager, David Hair, said the initiative was the brainchild of Ouyen farmer and returned service person, Ian Hastings, and Royal Australian Armoured Corps officer Lt-Col Garry Spencer AM, who had been in discussions about getting Operation Grain Harvest Assist running through a leading agriculture training institution.

O’Connors was approached by the pair about the initiative and the company, having coordinated their apprentice training through Longerenong College for many years, was only too happy to assist, Hair said.

“This program helps achieve two big objectives: offering employment opportunities for returned servicepeople and addressing the considerable labour shortfalls we have across the grain-growing industry,” he said.

“Through undergoing this training, the participants could undertake everything from operating harvesters and driving tractors with chaser bins, to unloading grain trucks and even working in grain-handling facilities. This initiative fulfills two critical needs and we’re proud to have been involved in it and to meet this amazing group of individuals who have done so much for their country during their many years of service.”

An intensive week of training at the college last month involved classroom theory on machinery and broad-acre farm production, combine simulator training, walkarounds with the two Case IH Axial-Flow combines that are used at Longerenong, getting behind the controls of the combines with fronts attached, and two local farm visits.

Hair said it had been a pleasure for his team to meet the 18 program participants who had a combined 450 years of service in the Australian defence forces and many of whom had risen to the top of their respective fields.

“They’re now looking for new challenges and it’s been so rewarding for us to introduce them to the many opportunities within the agriculture sector, and hopefully connect them with local farmers who can use all the help they can get, particularly during the looming harvest season,” he said.

Case IH is the program’s major sponsor alongside O’Connors’ dealerships, MacDon Australia, Muddy River Agricultural and Waringa Enterprises, among others.

Hair said the program will continue through Longerenong College for the time being, with hopes of further expansion in years to come.

He also urged those interested to participate in Operation Grain Harvest Assist to visit the website to register, whether they’re an ex-service personnel looking for a new challenge, or farmers looking to employ some help for their farm.

CNH apprenticeship program turns five

Machinery dealerships facing critical labour shortage