Indigenous group has an important historical connection to Prairie farming, but opportunities remain elusive today
This is the last story in a series looking into the pools of human talent within Canada’s population that could help fill the growing labour shortage that is crippling many farms. David Beaudin has a joke that combines his two responsibilities in the Manitoba Metis Federation: “Our kids can be involved in any work they […] Read moreTag Archives labour shortage
Injuries, health problems worsen labour shortage
I texted a neighbour at the farm asking if he could help me out. We work back and forth a bit on various projects. “I have a buyer that wants two loads of maple peas next Tuesday, but I’m away next week,” I texted. “If I get the conveyor all set up, could you load […] Read more
War exacerbates Ukraine’s farm worker shortage
More and more Ukrainians find themselves in uniform as the war drags on, making it difficult for the country’s farmers
Glacier FarmMedia – Most of Ukraine’s tractor drivers and combine operators are now soldiers, and it is difficult to replace them, even though agriculture work pays very well. When I was in my senior year of school and got bad grades, my parents would scare me by saying I wouldn’t go to university and would […] Read more
Flexible hiring and collaboration key to solving ag labour shortage
Glacier FarmMedia – A flexible and open-minded approach is necessary to address the labour shortage in the agricultural industry, say stakeholders. The sector needs employees in areas of digital agriculture, mechatronics and clean energy technologies, as well as veterinary professionals. To address this, Manitoba Agriculture is taking a four-pronged approach by investing in people, creating […] Read more
Study into ag research hurdles identifies labour, funding
Man. Crop Alliance asked consulting company to evaluate research capacity in the province and the challenges it faces
WINNIPEG — Crop research in Manitoba can be a challenge. The province has some crops, such as sunflowers, which aren’t grown in other parts of Canada. Plus, Manitoba has unique growing regions such as the Red River Valley, which is hotter and wetter than the rest of the Prairies. Finding researchers to study sunflowers, corn […] Read more
Packers slam changes to foreign worker program
Sector demands Ottawa stop restricting temporary foreign workers to only 20 per cent of a meat processor’s workforce
WINNIPEG — Meat packing plants in Canada have struggled for decades to recruit and retain workers. Until recently, 30 per cent of their workforce could be temporary foreign workers, which helped alleviate the shortage of labour. Related stories: However, the federal government changed the rules of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program this spring, capping the […] Read more
TFW changes frustrate red meat sector
WINNIPEG — Livestock groups and meat processors say the federal government and its response to the housing shortage is harming Canada’s red meat industry. In a joint statement released May 29, the Canadian Meat Council, the Canadian Cattle Association, the National Cattle Feeders’ Association and the Canadian Pork Council asked the feds to restore the […] Read more
VIDEO: Railways struggle to find enough workers
WINNIPEG — Trains move grain, but it takes people to move trains. As railroad companies struggle to fill vacancies in their sprawling workforces, Canadian National Railway vice-president Janet Drysdale encourages people to consider careers in railroading. “If there’s one single thing we can do to ensure the collective growth of the industry, and of the […] Read more
Ag jobs — what ag jobs?
WINNIPEG — There are plenty of job titles in agriculture, including agronomist, soil scientist, livestock truck driver, veterinarian, lab technician, swine technician, grain merchant, seed sales rep and of course, agricultural journalist. There are dozens more job titles, probably hundreds. However, a survey last year of more than 2,000 Canadians who are not connected to […] Read more
Protein sector faces labour crunch: report
SASKATOON — Government, industry and educational institutes must act now to address the labour challenges confronting the emerging plant-based protein industry in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to a new report. “The danger here might be that the sector might not live up to its potential,” said Nicholas Renzetti, research associate with Smart Property Institute, the […] Read more
