September Events Highlight Job Opportunities for Ontario Agriculture

The future of agriculture in Ontario is founded on the next generation of farmers. Many of them will choose to embrace the latest technology as a means of being viable in the long-run. Others will choose a different path, striving to fill a niche and connect directly with consumers. September is the time of year that reminds us of these important trends that are shaping the jobs of the future in agriculture. As the sector strives to grow, these trends need to be at the forefront of agriculture policy discussions.

September is the time that tomorrow’s farmers head off to university or college to learn more about how to run a modern farm business. Some will be family farm operators while other will chose a more specialized path. As many farm operations become larger, the need for key employees with highly specialized skill-sets is a growing opportunity for young people interested in animal care or crop production that do not have the financial means to start their own operation.

The Outdoor Farm Show held last week just north of Woodstock is a show-case of the latest and greatest in commercial agriculture. Farmers focused on commercial production can learn about the most efficient options available to their operations from a wide array of dealers. Test plots demonstrate the latest advances in crop varieties. New technology is pointing towards the simple fact that the jobs of the future in agriculture will continue to allow each farmer to handle more as time marches on. These productivity improvements strengthen the base of production for the entire agri-food sector.

The International Plowing Match is an event that draws in a wide diversity of people from beyond agriculture. This event represents another set of opportunities for tomorrow’s farmers that are interested in connecting more directly with the consumer. With the growth of the Local Food Movement, there will be opportunities for farmers to connect in a high margin but limited volume fashion. These producers need to be focused on the latest social trends over time to thrive.

There are many opportunities that are emerging for tomorrow’s farmers. The jobs of the future in agriculture are being driven by emerging technology, opportunities to be a specialist on a larger farm, or to connect directly with consumers. The Ontario agriculture sector needs to ensure that the policy environment for agriculture maximizes these opportunities.

Source: CFFO