Fuerth’s farms struggle as village helpers vanish in a decade
Farm support services in the Fuerth district are facing a growing shortage of helpers. Over the past decade, the number of active village assistants has dropped sharply, leaving fewer hands available for essential tasks. Local organisations are now urging experienced workers and career changers to step in and fill the gap.
In 2014, the district of Fuerth had 3 full-time and 30 part-time village helpers. By 2024, those numbers had fallen to just 2 full-time and 11 part-time workers. Nationally, the decline is just as stark, with deployed hours for farm assistance dropping from 42,000 in 2014 to 26,000 this year.
Village helpers play a crucial role when farms are under pressure. Their duties range from animal care—feeding, milking, and tending livestock—to household support and outdoor work. Heike Vogel, a helper with 20 years of experience, has been providing this kind of aid to local farmers for decades.
To address the shortage, the Maschinen- und Betriebshilfsring Fuerth and the Evangelical Village and Farm Support Service Hesselberg are actively recruiting. They are seeking skilled agricultural workers, household managers, or even career changers willing to take on full-time or part-time roles. Recent efforts, including targeted advertising, training programmes, and flexible scheduling, have already helped boost numbers slightly.
District administrator Bernd Obst recently visited Heike Vogel’s farm in Deberndorf to discuss the challenges of farm and village assistance. The meeting highlighted the need for more support as demand continues to outstrip available workers.
Those interested in joining the teams can reach out directly. The Maschinen- und Betriebshilfsring Fuerth is available via their website, phone (09127 / 95 48 660), or email ([email protected]). The Evangelical Village and Farm Helper Service Hesselberg can be contacted through their website, phone (09854 / 100), or email ([email protected]). Both organisations stress the importance of filling these roles to keep local farms running smoothly.
