Federal government invests in ag jobs

Aug 01, 2018

The investment will help young people gain industry experience

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The federal government is helping the next generation of ag industry employees receive valuable workplace experience.

Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas visited Greenbelt Microgreens in Lynden, Ont. today to announce youth job funding.

The greenhouse operation, which produces various herbs including basil and cilantro, will receive $117,500 under the Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative to hire interns between the ages of 15 and 30.

The Agriculture Youth Green Jobs Initiative provides $7.1 million of annual funding to help farmers attract and train young workers for a career in the ag industry.

The new hires at Greenbelt Microgreens will learn how to grow fresh produce from seed to harvest and learn about the retail side of the ag industry.

"Young farmers are our future and the Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative is a great example of how our government is committed to youth, the environment and the growth of the agriculture and agri-food sector,” Tassi said in a statement today on behalf of federal ag minister Lawrence MacAulay.

“We're investing in young Canadians, creating priceless learning opportunities for them to gain hands-on experience working alongside knowledgeable farmers and processors."

Ian Adamson

Greenbelt Microgreens also received $640,000 in federal funding last year to expand a 3.5-acre greenhouse.

These investments have helped the farm prosper and prepare potential employees for a career in ag.

"The Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative has been an excellent tool in the introduction and recruitment of qualified personnel to our operation,” Ian Adamson, president and founder of Greenbelt Microgreens, said in a statement today.

“Through this initiative, we were able to accelerate a number of projects pertaining to plant health, food safety, and the incorporation of new greenhouse infrastructure and technology”

More ag employment opportunities can be found at AgCareers.com.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.