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: 212

▶ 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

Hursh: Court documents reveal scope of Monette Farms' financial challenges

As reported on Wednesday, Monette Farms and its many affiliated companies have filed for creditor protection. The court document filed at Court of King's Bench in Calgary provides insight into the size and scope of Monette's operations and the extent of their financial difficulties. According to the court document, the Monette Group forms one of the largest private farming businesses in North America with operations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, B.C., and the states of Montana, Colorado and Arizona. The group owns approximately 274,000 acres of land and leases approximately 218,000 acres. It also has seed processing and produce storage facilities. The restructuring plan is debtor-in-possession financing, because the applicants are insolvent and don’t otherwise have the finances to seed a crop this spring. Monette did recently sell some farmland, most notably about 13,000 acres near Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan for $54 million. Subsequent activity resulted in two more sales t

Removal of non-tariff trade barrier for flaxseed to the EU reflects confidence in Canada’s agricultural exports

Canada is one of the world's largest producers and global exporters of flaxseed. Our high-quality products are enjoyed by millions of people around the world on a daily basis. May 1, 2026, will mark the official termination of the longstanding Sampling and testing protocol for Canadian flaxseed exported to the European Union (the Protocol). Removal of this non-tariff barrier, that has been in place since 2009, is a recognition of the safety, reliability and quality of Canadian agricultural and agri-food exports. This demonstrates the strength of the Canada-EU Strategic Partnership and a shared commitment to resolving long-standing trade irritants through cooperation and dialogue. In July 2009, trace amounts of an unauthorized genetically modified flaxseed called CDC Triffid was detected in a Europe-bound shipment, leading to the immediate and temporary cessation of flaxseed exports. Following the detection, AAFC worked diligently with the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), industry par

Cereals Canada Releases "Securing Global Markets for Canadian Wheat" Report

Cereals Canada today released its new report, Securing Global Markets for Canadian Wheat, during a webinar that brought together farmers, researchers, plant breeders, and value chain partners from across the sector. The report outlines how targeted market development, technical engagement, and science-based policy advocacy are helping to protect, maintain, and grow global demand for Canadian wheat in an increasingly complex trade environment. Canadian wheat is exported to more than eighty international markets each year, with over twenty-eight million tonnes expected to ship globally in 2025–2026. Canada is the world's number one exporter of durum wheat and oats and is on track to be the third-largest wheat exporter overall, reinforcing the importance of diversified and stable international demand. The Securing Global Markets for Canadian Wheat report provides a snapshot of six international markets that were part of Cereals Canada's 2025 market development activities. These activiti

Monette Farms Seeks Court Protection as Mega-Farm Restructures Amid Financial Pressures

Monette Farms has entered court-supervised restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act while continuing operations across Canada and the United States.

Removal of non-tariff trade barrier for flaxseed to the EU reflects confidence in Canada's agricultural exports

Canada is one of the world's largest producers and global exporters of flaxseed. Our high-quality products are enjoyed by millions of people around the world on a daily basis.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service