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Tag Archives labour shortages

The CVMA says that Canadian veterinary colleges’ annual graduation rates for veterinarians barely meet the rate of attrition from the profession.
News

Opinion: Veterinary shortage more than a northern Ontario problem

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A news release came across my desk last month that raised some good questions regarding veterinary care for livestock in Ontario. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) announced in October a Veterinary Incentive Program (VIP) offering grants up to $50,000 to recent veterinary school graduates wanting to work with livestock in […] Read more
Case IH’s Top Tech program looks to working with technical schools across North America to help develop agricultural mechanics with an excellent knowledge of Case IH systems.
Machinery, News

Taking the long-term approach to recruitment

Case IH’s partners with technical schools in Canada and the U.S. to identify and train future employees

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Glacier FarmMedia – Nobody needs to tell farmers that today’s agriculture equipment has gone high tech, making modern equipment capable of remarkable efficiencies that improve a farm’s bottom line. However, it also means that the days of expecting to fix a breakdown with a small toolbox full of wrenches and a tube of grease have […] Read more
Lack of labour and processing capacity is a long-term sustainability issue for the food and agriculture sectors.
News

Opinion: Meat processors key link in local food value chain

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Labour shortages have long been a challenge for the meat processing sector. Not only does this create problems for meat processing businesses themselves, but it also makes it harder for farmers to access much-needed processing capacity for their livestock when animals are ready for market. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the skilled worker shortage, while driving […] Read more
peggy brekveld
News

Peggy Brekveld named CAHRC chair

Ontario dairy farmer looks forward to addressing labour shortages

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The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) acclaimed Peggy Brekveld for a two-year term as chair on June 20. The northern Ontario dairy farmer and Ontario Federation of Agriculture president will join vice-chair Stefan Larrass representing Flowers Canada Growers; Canadian Aquaculture Industry Association’s Cyr Couturier as treasurer; Brenna Mahoney of Manitoba’s Keystone Agricultural Producers; and […] Read more
Seasonal Agriculture Workers from Jamaica at Suncrest Orchards near Simcoe, Ont.
News

Canada cleared of seasonal agriculture worker slavery allegations

Migrant worker groups say the report lacks balance

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The Jamaican government has cleared Canada’s Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program of allegations that it has systematic slave-like conditions, following receipt of an independent investigation. In August 2022, two Jamaicans employed under the program drew international attention after they emailed Karl Samuda, Jamaican minister of labour and social security, described the program as “systematic slavery” and […] Read more
Keynote speaker Alicia Rainwater, Center for Generational Kinetics, explains to beef producers how millennials and Gen Z are non-linear thinkers and provided tools for improved communication between generational demographics at the 25th annual Beef Industry Convention.
News

Bridge generation gaps to attract, retain labour: researcher

Understanding how younger generations learn can lead to more successful hiring

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Understanding how and what shapes generations is vital to successful communication, job attraction, retention and skill utilization in the workplace.  That was the message to attendees of the Beef Industry Conference from Alicia Rainwater of the Center for Generational Kinetics. “Understanding generations gives us three things,” she said. “It helps us build trust, connection and […] Read more
Cookie line workers box finger-style biscuits at Vidhya Food Inc.'s manufacturing facility in Mississauga on Oct. 21, 2021.
News

Chronic labour shortages increase national food security risk: study

Labour shortages trigger lost sales, lost contracts and decreased services

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Labour shortages are a global issue across every sector, including Ontario’s agri-business, according to a recent survey from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.  “We found that almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of agri-business owners turned to their existing employees to work more hours due to lack of staff,” said Jasmin Guenette, the federation’s vice-president […] Read more
News

Amendments made to regulations affecting temporary foreign workers

Goal of changes is to strengthen protections, but industry given little notice

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Amendments to regulations that protect temporary foreign workers came into force Sept. 26, but farmers and industry associations were given little information about them.  Only a high level question and answer document was provided for the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).  Why it matters: Producers who employ foreign workers must comply with the […] Read more
One industry group says that primary agriculture has long been dealing with a labour shortage that consistently hovers at around nine per cent.
News

Industry maps out agriculture labour strategy

Steering group proposes five-pillar plan to attract and retain workers with the right skills

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Glacier FarmMedia – An industry steering group has released an agricultural labour strategy it hopes will lead to a comprehensive plan for a stable workforce. The critical shortage of workers in both primary agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing was well known before the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated over the last two years. The Canadian […] Read more
Pork producers aren’t looking for temporary foreign workers as much as for people who want to be Canadian citizens, and they want government to make that option readily available to workers.
Markets, News

North American pork producers face tight labour market

U.S. packers struggling to staff up, sending hams to Mexico for processing, producers heard

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Glacier FarmMedia – Labour issues for pork producers and processors in Iowa and Minnesota are just as dire as in Canada, pork producers heard during Manitoba Pork Council’s annual meeting April 6.  “Currently labour is our No. 1 issue on the farm as well as in the plants,” said Kevin Rasmussen, president of the Iowa […] Read more

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