Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Careers in Agriculture Are NOT Attractive to most consumers. Will this hurt our ability to hire non farm employees?

Careers In Agriculture Are Rewarding, Says FCC

Recent FCC survey results about potential careers in agriculture paint a challenging picture of the industry.

Canadian consumers who took the survey chose “weather-dependent,” “struggling,” “under-recognized,” “underpaid” and “essential” when asked to choose the top five words from a list associated with the agriculture industry. Producers surveyed chose nearly identical words.

“It’s obvious that both farmers and consumers recognize that there are challenges associated with agriculture,” says FCC President and CEO Greg Stewart. “It’s surprising that the words chosen did not focus on opportunities. There are so many success stories in agriculture and related industries that counter this perception.”

At the same time, a national FCC Vision Panel survey showed that optimism among producers remains high. Results show that 80% of producers would recommend a career in agriculture to a family member or friend. On the other hand, only 21% of consumers would consider a career in agriculture, and 27% would encourage someone else to pursue it. Although farmers recognize the challenges inherent in the industry, they still would encourage others to get involved in it.

From growing crops to processing and exporting, agriculture includes areas such as food, technology, health, energy and the environment, and employs one in eight Canadians.

“Agriculture matters. It’s a major Canadian industry and a noble career option,” says Stewart. “It’s amazing to know you’re part of something big. Right here in Canada, producers positively affect people on the other side of the world. We hear that from customers every day. We need to share this information with consumers and young people who are making important career choices.”

FCC is deeply committed to the success of Canadian agriculture and is working to educate the public about its potential and possibilities.

Source: Farm Credit Canada

Click Here to Review the Project Research Data

Views: 194

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on September 22, 2011 at 9:41am

Check out the data slides on the link.

I am very concerned about Agriculture's ability to attract smart employees in the future when there are so few farm kids left.

Does anyone else have an opinion.

Joe Dales

Permalink Reply by Carolyn Lee on September 23, 2011 at 3:20am

I agree, I think it is very interesting how there is a high unemployment rate, especially in the US, and yet some companies/farms are having a hard time finding employees. It just means that there are not enough people taking agriculture programs in college and university. We need to find a way to encourage young people to consider all of these diverse opportunities!

Carolyn Lee

Permalink Reply by Kevin Stewart on September 24, 2011 at 5:38am

Here is video on this topic we covered a few years ago.

 

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

OFA responds to time-of-use electricity pricing proposal

The provincial government is proposing a new electricity pricing plan

Wheat Market Outlook - January 26, 2026

Market Outlook - Wheat Western Canadian export wheat bids picked up $2 per tonne week-over-week at the port and seeing some similar strength at inland locations. Bids have been relatively flat with basis improvements being thrown at producer bids to entice product into the system when needed. The markets are watching if cold weather in the United States and Black Sea wheat production regions will threaten any crop conditions in these areas. The market sits comfortably for the time being but will keep its focus onto winter wheat conditions in the Black Sea, European Union and United States. Aside from this, demand drive is what the market will need to see to chew away at some of the increased stocks that have ended up on the global balance sheet. As for Western Canadian wheat values, we are anticipating a neutral outlook for the coming weeks ahead as we currently sit in a demand driven market and global supplies have grown as Australia and Argentina wrapped up their harvest. Producers w

*Webinar* Practical Approaches to Managing Stock Water

Even water that looks clean and clear can be poor quality — and insufficient access to good-quality water can reduce beef cattle performance faster and more dramatically than any other nutrient deficiency. This February 18 webinar will explore the hidden risks of poor-quality water, discuss its implications for herd health and productivity and provide practical tools and strategies to ensure your cattle have clean, safe and adequate water supplies. Register for the live webinar to hear from our panelists: Dr. Cheryl Waldner with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Saskatchewan beef producer Karla Hicks. This webinar will be available for?one continuing education (CE) credit for veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists and technicians across Canada. WHEN IS THE WEBINAR? Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 7:00 PM MT   6:00 PM in BC? 7:00 PM in AB 8:00 PM in SK and MB 9:00 PM in ON and QC 10:00 PM in NS, NB and PEI 10:30 PM in NFLD   Duration  Approximately 1 hour.

IAFP 2026 Registration Now Open

The International Association for Food Protection will hold IAFP 2026, the Association’s Annual Meeting, July 26–29, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Registration and housing are now open via the Association website at: foodprotection.org. IAFP 2026 will feature hundreds of technical papers, posters, and symposia, detailing current information on a variety of topics relating to food safety. The quantity and quality of contributed presentations provide information on the latest methods and technologies available. In addition to the science-based presentations, the four-day meeting will include committee and Professional Development Group (PDG) meetings and an awards banquet. In addition, more than 140 companies will exhibit their products and services throughout most of the conference. The IAFP Annual Meeting has earned recognition as the leading food safety conference worldwide and is attended by top industry, academic, and governmental food safety professionals. This broad mix of attendee

AAFC staffing cuts threaten agricultural research capacity and ROI for farmers

The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) is deeply concerned by the news that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is eliminating 665 staff positions across the country as part of plans to slash the department’s budget by 15 per cent over the next three years. “These staffing cuts, and related impacts at AAFC research stations, represent a tremendous loss for Canadian agriculture,” said CWRC chair Jocelyn Velestuk. “It is a loss of not only expertise and people who have contributed to farmers’ success, but also of agricultural research capacity that is crucial to fuelling innovation and maintaining progress throughout the industry.” AAFC has long been a key research partner that western Canadian farmers have trusted with significant investment on their behalf, including $19.9 million over three years as part of the CWRC’s current core breeding agreement (CBA) with AAFC. Canadian agriculture’s global reputation for quality and its competitiveness in international markets depen

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service