Ag industry flaunts its many advantages in a bid to secure the next generation of workers
When an entire generation retires over the next decade, agriculture will be one of the sectors hardest hit by its mass exodus. Fewer grads coming out of ag schools and a public that appears to be increasingly misinformed about the industry may make matters even worse.
The sector is coming together in many ways to educate consumers about the importance of agriculture and breed a new generation of professionals to take their place in the new economy.
Agriculture in the Classroom
It’s never been more important to interest youth in the industry at a young age. Agriculture in the Classroom, a national organization with provincially run branches, reaches all grade levels across the country. In Manitoba, the program has been operating since the early 1980s, offering teaching tools for use in classrooms and experiential programs for both teachers and students.
One of their most popular programs is the Made in Manitoba Breakfast, which travels to schools across the province feeding breakfast to students and connecting them to where that food comes from. Students enjoy a breakfast consisting of entirely Manitoba-made ingredients, cooked and served by actual agricultural producers from a variety of sectors.
“It not only connects kids to where food comes from and the local producers who provide it, but then we talk about diversity and dynamic of the industry and all the different jobs kids can get involved in. It increases awareness of the industry and is also a feel good thing for volunteers,” said Executive Director Johanne Ross.
Nutrients for Life
Another program with a mission to educate is Nutrients for Life, a resource centre that provides science-based information on plant and soil science to educators, students, governments, farm groups, agriculture professionals and the public.
According to Executive Director Carla Ventin, it is important that Canadians learn more about where their food comes from and how it is grown. By developing soil science educational material for middle and high schools across the country, the foundation is hoping to educate youth about the importance of plant nutrients in feeding the world.
IgniteAg
For the older set, IgniteAg, a recent initiative of the agriculture project management outsourcing company AgCall, seeks to match recent post-secondary graduates with entry-level jobs in the ag industry.
Through an interactive website, www.igniteag.ca, prospective employees – from all fields of study – will be able to explore career opportunities and map a career in the industry from start to finish. Though still in its infancy, the site will eventually offer an inside look into hundreds of agricultural jobs.
Companies across the country are expected to support the initiative through funding. In turn, when the group hits campuses next year, they will get exposure to potential employees who might not have considered their sector.
A New Education
Ag colleges have been around for decades but have been experiencing declining enrolments.
“Over the last couple of decades the enrolments in agriculture programs across the country has declined. Enrolment at the University of Manitoba bottomed out about four years ago and has increased gradually since then,” said Merv Pritchard, associate dean and director of the School of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba.
Increasing their marketing efforts and offering more versatile and specialized programs are just a few of the ways colleges are evolving. Starting in September, Olds College in Alberta is changing the name of its agriculture program to Agricultural Management to better reflect the new reality of the workforce.
“We’re providing skills to help students start, continue and thrive in the new agricultural economy. We’re cognizant of global trends and have a stronger sense of what consumers want. You just can’t produce anymore – you have to know how to sell it and have a good understanding of your consumers around the world,” said Larry Couture, co-ordinator of the Agricultural Business Program at Olds College.
Perhaps as a result of more attention on the industry, enrolment in agriculture degree and diploma programs is slowly going up. Olds College has seen an upward trend this year and the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources is now experiencing a slight increase after a decline in the early years of this decade.
But, Pritchard said, it will be difficult to attract enough students to meet the demands of the industry over the next several years.
“We have a great challenge in trying to explain that much of agriculture is not related to the farm. Most young people see agriculture as hard work, low paying, farm-related jobs. It is unfortunate that much of the general public does not make the connection between a vibrant agriculture industry and the plentiful supply of safe food.”
Couture agrees
“Students raised in agriculture their whole lives are often not aware of the breadth of the industry.”
However, this thriving, albeit turbulent, industry is actually ripe with jobs. In fact, there will increasingly be more opportunities for work than people to fill them. In Manitoba, Pritchard said many of his students have jobs before they even graduate. And Couture said graduates from Olds College often look at more than one job before deciding where they will begin their careers.
“Many lending institutions try to hire all the grads we produce. Our marketing and sales grads are also in demand in equipment sales, feed and feed suppliers, crop inputs, etc. There is untapped potential in this industry.”
Youthful Voices
University of Manitoba student Pam Delannoy is a testament to this surge in jobs. She already completed an agricultural finance diploma program in 2007, and is now in her final year of an agribusiness degree program. Despite still working toward her degree, she knows where she’ll begin her career when school finishes this spring.
“I have signed a contract with Vanguard Credit Union as a management trainee for my first year of employment. After that, I will be choosing which area of the credit union I would like to focus my career on.”
Fellow University of Manitoba student Andy Melnychenko, a second-year crop management major, said one of the reasons he chose agriculture as a profession is the potential for work and the optimism he feels about its future. His perspective on where the industry is headed is a decidedly modern take.
“Looking at the short term, things aren’t that rosy, but unless people stop eating there will always be a future in agriculture. The big challenge the industry and my generation is going to face is feeding the world’s growing population and doing it in a sustainable way both environmentally and economically. The world will eventually run out of arable land one day; can technology compensate for this?”
Like many of his classmates, he has also secured his first job before he graduated.
“I was approached very early on in the year and took a position working full time as an agronomist for a retail location close to home near Grandview, Man. I like working with producers to make sound agronomic decisions and every day is different, offering different challenges to overcome.”
If these young graduates have any say in the matter, the industry will be infused with new energy.
“I think myself, and others like me, who are graduating soon, will fit in well. We bring with us new ideas, knowledge and fresh eyes to the industry. I think many young people are more open to new opportunities and markets and may be willing to take more chances on them than some of the present professionals in the industry. Fresh, young people are always a good thing for any industry,” said Delannoy.
Article by Heather Hudson
