New figures from the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council indicate a growing farm labour gap in BC. By 2030, the province’s farm sector will face a shortfall of 17,716 domestic workers, up from 16,075 this year. Of 12,655 farms surveyed by CAHRC, 42% indicate challenges finding needed workers and 29% report zero domestic workers applying …
farm labour
BCAC meetings bear fruit
Representatives of agriculture organizations from across BC met with provincial cabinet ministers and staff today as part of a virtual BC Agriculture Day. With meetings continuing past 5 pm yesterday, the event organized by the BC Agriculture Council was set to include 35 meetings over two days with more than 50 farmers, ranchers and agricultural …
Province defrays COVID-19 costs
The province is offsetting the cost of special measures farmers took this summer to keep domestic workers safe from the risk of COVID-19. Between 1,500 and 2,000 domestic seasonal workers help with fruit harvest throughout the Okanagan and Creston areas each year. Without domestic workers, BC Fruit Growers Association labour manager Ron Forrest says “there …
SAWP requirements waived
With the scramble for harvest labour continuing across BC, many growers are looking ahead to what the next season holds. To address the issues associated with labour, Ottawa is now accepting applications from employers for seasonal workers required in 2021. The minimum recruitment requirements for several occupations have been waived to improve employers’ access to …