When a new study recently conducted in partnership with the University of Guelph suggested that 40 per cent of farm operators will retire by 2033 and leave Canada without enough farmers, some farmers on Twitter responded.
The report, put together by the Royal Bank of Canada, Boston Consulting Group Centre for Canada’s Future and the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, said the country would be short 24,000 general farm, nursery and greenhouse operators.
It found these gaps loom at a time when Canada’s agricultural workforce needs to evolve to include skills like data analytics and climate-smart practices that enable us to grow more food with fewer emissions.
Gunter Jochum, who farms west of Winnipeg, MB near Eli said there would be fewer farmers but not a shortage of farmers. Instead, there will be a need for more skilled farm employees and more automation.
But Jochum said there are very few farms in his area and on his farm that don’t have a younger generation waiting in the wings or already involved.
Several farmers from different areas of Canada jumped in quickly to agree with Jochum, also president of the Wheat Growers Association.
“I’d agree with Gunter. In our area, very few farms don’t have a younger generation waiting in the wings or already involved. So just focusing on the number of farmers set to retire is misleading,” said Ron Krahn at Rivers, MB.
John @5151john at Brinston, ON who operates mainly a dairy farm with just enough corn and beans to make that part interesting said it is a good thing they are asking.
“To answer the question IMO, the answer would be yes. Not so many farmers but maybe managers. Even with Robotics, labour is still a concern.”
@o2farms_sk who farms in Southeast Saskatchewan said yeah maybe, but there will be an in-between period where it will still be a nightmare.
@HDelichte of Delichte Farms 126-year-old, 6th-generation Dairy/Grain Farm in South Central, MB near Alphonse said ownership of farm resources such as land, quotas, etc., will continue to become concentrated into fewer hands. In addition, automation will alter the nature of on-farm employment.
“The need for agronomists, technicians, and service providers will increase to keep automation working 24-7-365.”
Colin James Bettles chief executive of Grain Producers Australia said, “While the world needs to eat we’ll always have farmers – the job is essential to human survival and political stability.”
Some governments are more acutely aware of food security and act faster to fill job shortages. However, there are also shortages of doctors, teachers, police etc.
Brian Kennedy of Calgary, AB said stats indicate that there are two kinds of farmers in Canada; old and older.
“But, from what I see in Alberta’s grains sector, there will be another generation to carry on. The National Post story includes all ‘farms;’ small low-profit farms don’t compel people to take them over.”
Tyler Burns @windypopfarm one of many pairs of hands involved in the Windy Poplars Farm operation at Wynyard, SK was understaffed for 2022.
“We needed to get more interest in our job postings. A few opportunities showed to us in late 2022, and now we’re going into the 2023 crop year with many more employees. This will allow for more cross-training in the operation. Famine to feast.”
According to the 2016 Census of Agriculture conducted by Statistics Canada, the average age of farmers in Western Canada was 56.6 years. However, this figure has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, and there is a growing concern about the aging population of farmers and the need to attract younger people to the profession.
Researchers say Canada needs 30,000 new immigrants to either start their farms or take over existing ones to avoid a looming labour crisis in the agriculture industry. Some worry, however, current programs need to be set up to attract or support that workforce.
While the number of farmers may be slipping, the more significant challenge is getting farm employees to the farms, not only those looking for any job but trained and focused on learning and operating the current and expanding technologically sophisticated farm equipment. •
— By Harry Siemens