Nearly 45 percent of all agricultural workers in the United States — 950,000 of an estimated 2.2 million farm workers — are “unauthorized” migrants working illegally on American farms and ranches. All would be deported under the plan former President Donald Trump has been trumpeting since before securing the Republican nomination for president last month. […] Read more
Tag Archives ag labour
Ag labour challenges continue
The latest agricultural labour market information shows shortages cost the sector billions and the problem is likely to grow. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council’s most recent survey, conducted by the Conference Board of Canada between March and September, found 28,200 jobs were unfilled during peak season in 2022. That resulted in a 3.7 percent […] Read more
Farm labour shortage becomes key issue
Manitoba’s political parties target immigration to alleviate labour shortages that affect every sector in the province
Farmers need more and better workers. That’s something Manitoba’s main political parties appeared to agree upon during an election forum held by the Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association Sept. 12. However, none offered to quickly solve the problem or provide simple solutions if they win the Oct. 3 election in Manitoba. “The labour shortage […] Read more
Labour shortage looms
According to an RBC report, 600 fewer young people are entering the ag sector each year, despite a 29 percent jump in students enrolling in post-secondary agricultural programs. As well, as the rural population dwindles, cities grow and that means more people become more removed from the farm and are less aware of how their food is produced.
Who wants to work in ag?
Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council research has found that Canadian farmers lost $2.9 billion in potential earnings in 2020, due to lack of labour.
Frustration evident in labour report
After hearing from hundreds of farmers, agricultural and food employers and farm workers, the federal government sees widespread challenges in the labour market and few easy solutions. “The sector requires a reliable and sustainable agricultural workforce and innovative technological solutions for the labour challenges of today and the future,” said federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau […] Read more
Why not Weyburn?
Time to alter negative perceptions of rural Canada
It's time to alter the negative perceptions of rural Canada.
Frustration evident in labour report
Farmers and other employers reported problems with understanding the labour market and being able to see where potential workers might be. Widespread misperceptions about agriculture hurt the industry, respondents said. People don't consider agriculture at all, or consider it a primitive industry.
Immigration ag program extended
The federal government has extended the Agri-Food Immigration pilot program until May 2025. The program provides a pathway for temporary foreign workers employed at greenhouses, mushroom farms, livestock farms, meat-packing plants or retail butcher shops to become permanent residents of Canada. The three-year program started in 2020, but Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser said May […] Read more
Federal ag immigration program will continue to 2025
For years, meat packers, hog farmers, greenhouses and many other segments of Canada's agri-food sector have struggled to attract domestic workers. They have relied on temporary foreign workers (TFW) to fill the void. The Agri-Food pilot program was designed to help more TFW become permanent residents of Canada, so farmers and meat processors have a stable workforce.
