Input is needed for new the Labour Market Information survey on agricultue

Apr 25, 2023

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is looking for input from the Ag sector for its new Labour Market Information survey.

The survey provides key information on the labour market that will help identify labour shortage issues by better understanding how workforce needs have change.

The new data will help policymakers guide future action on the growing workforce crisis in the ag industry.

Each year a number of temporary foreign workers are brought in to help meet the shortage of agricultural workers.

According to Statistics Canada data in 2021 the ag sector employed 61,735 temporary foreign workers up 11.9 per cent from 2020.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.