‘Mobile skills lab’ to promote careers in ag

‘Mobile skills lab’ to promote careers in ag

Saskatchewan equipment manufacturers receive government funding aimed at finding more workers

A new high-tech “Careers in Ag Mobile Skills Lab” will begin a summer tour of Saskatchewan at Ag in Motion July 16 to 18 to help develop a “talent pipeline” for ag and ag equipment manufacturing.

The money will be aimed at improving living quarters for temporary foreign workers, the federal government said.  Photo: Getty Images

Agriculture workers not mentioned in TFW rule changes

Food processing sees foreign worker limit reduced by ten per cent; construction, healthcare exempted

The federal government announced Thursday that, effective May 1, some sectors would be allowed no more than 20 per cent of their workforces to be made up of temporary foreign workers (TWFs) brought in via the low wage stream—down from 30 per cent since 2022. 

Ontario dairy farmers continue to reduce the minutes spent managing each cow per day as they adopt more technology.

Dairy wages lag other farms

Survey shows that average labour time per cow continues to drop

Dairy farmers continue to increase wages paid to employees, but the rate isn’t keeping up with other agriculture sectors. A survey is conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Progressive Dairy Operators (PDO) every three years on labour trends in the dairy sector. Why it matters: Labour costs have […] Read more



(JJ Gouin/iStock/Getty Images)

Protein sector faces labour crunch: report

Nearly two thirds of agri-food companies can't hire all the workers they need

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.

Signage on Viterra’s office building in Regina. (Dave Bedard photo)

GSU accepts Viterra offer

Wages see a slight improvement but union says they hope to build on it in next contract

Members of the Grain and General Services Union who work for Viterra have voted to accept the company's latest contract offer.

(Dave Bedard photo)

Viterra workers suspend strike to vote on new offer

Workers will be working to rule during the voting period

Today, Grain and General Services Union workers employed by Viterra in Saskatchewan said they will vote on the grain handling company's latest final offer over the next two weeks. Locals 1 and 2, representing country operations and head office staff, respectively, were set to walk out at 2 p.m. today if a deal had not been reached.


Brenna Mahoney, general manager of Keystone Agriculture Producers, speaks during a panel discussion at the Agriculture Enlightened conference in Winnipeg on Oct. 26. (Geralyn Wichers photo)

Think outside the agriculture box for labour, ag and tech leaders say

Agriculture in the Classroom is reaching non-farming students with inspiration for ag jobs, panelists say

Ag and tech leaders encouraged employers to think outside the agricultural box when looking to hire workers in order to expand the labour pool.  “I’m one of the lucky ones,” said Brenna Mahoney, general manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP).  Mahoney entered the industry with no agriculture experience. She had training in human resources and […] Read more

File photo of an Ontario cherry orchard. (UpdogDesigns/iStock/Getty Images)

Pilot plan to cut red tape for reliable TFW employers

Farm employers can apply starting next month

Canada’s temporary foreign worker (TFW) program is set to give farms a head start in an express lane expected to cut the annual paperwork for that program’s most “trusted employers.” Federal Employment and Workforce Development Minister Randy Boissonault last week launched a three-year pilot meant to “help to address labour shortages and reduce the administrative […] Read more