Alberta farmers looking for workers this summer will get some help from the Summer Farm Employment Program.
Julie Splawinski administers the provincial program, which provides up to $375, or half the monthly salary, for youth workers aged 15 to 24 during July and August.
Workers must be residents of Alberta and not relatives of the farm employer. Employers must own or rent a farm, produce at least $25,000 worth of farm commodities and supervise the worker in farm-related work.
Splawinski said the program placed 243 workers last year, mainly farm youth working in their home communities and many at their first job.
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Many youths have only ever worked for their parents, she said. “With Dad, you can slough off, but if working for a neighbour, you have to do what they tell you,” Splawinski said.
She said the program offers a mentoring experience for the youth while providing labour for the farmer.
“The goals are for unskilled labourers to get training on a farm and help the farmer out a little bit,” she said.
Applications have been arriving slowly, which might reflect the poor farm economy or workers chasing jobs in the oil patch.
The program, which began in 1972, has helped employ 40,000 youth. This year’s application deadline is May 31.
For more information, visit www.agric.gov.ab.ca.
