Introduction

Rehan Khan, a farmer near Yorkton, Saskatchewan, scans his 160 acres of partially snow-covered, muddy field and sees an opportunity. Having left Pakistan in 2018 so his children could attend school in Canada, Khan left behind his family farm and a 20-year career advising farmers on chemical and fertilizer use. After starting with oats, and then wheat in 2022, this year he planted red lentils. Khan warns other immigrants that success in farming requires local support. Researchers suggest that Canada needs 30,000 new immigrants like Khan to either start their own farms or take over existing ones to avoid a looming labour crisis in the agriculture industry. However, some worry that current programs aren't prepared to attract or support that workforce.

Reports indicate that 40% of farmers will retire by 2033

According to a recent report from RBC, approximately 40% of Canadian farmers are expected to retire within the next 10 years, while 66% of farmers do not have a succession plan. Meanwhile, researchers expect the agriculture industry to be down by 24,000 farm, nursery, and greenhouse workers. To fill this gap, the report suggests that Canada update its immigration programs to specifically bring in 30,000 farm-focused newcomers. One solution is creating a federal process for experienced temporary foreign workers (TFW) to obtain permanent resident status. Evan Fraser, co-author of the report and director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, believes that the TFW program alone "scratches the surface of the labour shortage." The report suggests that Canada seek out farmers in countries such as the Netherlands and New Zealand who may be forced to downsize or close if they do not meet strict climate change rules regulating emissions.

The special immigration program for farmers will end in May

The report also suggests that existing farmers do their part to avoid the labour crisis by automating operations to decrease the number of people required to work a farm. However, there are still hurdles for experienced farmers who want to get started in Canada, such as the price of farmland, which has increased by over 20% over the past five years. Rajin Gill, who specializes in farm reality in Abbotsford, B.C., believes that there is a significant discrepancy between pricing and what newcomers can afford. Khan's operation is relatively small compared to many operations in Saskatchewan, which made it tough to find a company willing to rent out machinery. However, a neighboring family offered to rent out their machines and even showed him how to use it. Khan wants to see government employees support newcomers with information upfront on everything from renting machines to tips on selling products.

Without labor, the cost of food will rise

If a labour crisis were to occur, it could force Canadians to spend more at the grocery store. Heather Bruce, chair of the department of Agriculture Food Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta, believes that COVID-19 was a taste of the possible future. Our immigration policies support our food security and allow our companies to be competitive not just in terms of their ability to supply food but also to supply food at a reasonable price. conclusion In conclusion, Canada needs to update its immigration programs to specifically bring in 30,000 farm-focused newcomers, as suggested by a recent report from RBC. The report also suggests that Canada seek out farmers in countries such as the Netherlands and New Zealand who may be forced to downsize or close if they do not meet strict climate change rules regulating emissions. Existing farmers can do their part to avoid the labour crisis by automating operations. However, there are still hurdles for experienced farmers who want to get started in Canada, such as the price of farmland. The support from the government is also lacking, and Khan believes that government employees should support newcomers with information upfront on everything from renting machines to tips on selling products.

See our Blog