Canadian Farmers Wanted

Apr 21, 2023

Canadian farmers are a declining group, and more will be needed to power the Next Green Revolution according to a release.

By the year 2033, 40 per cent of farmers in Canada will retire, making this one of the biggest labour and leadership transitions in Canadian history. This, along with outside factors, will create a shortage of almost 25,000 farm workers and 66 per cent of farms do not have a plan in place for succession. Like other nations, Canadian farmers are aging, meaning there are fewer working.

There are both short- and long-term goals that are missing pieces, but there is a three-point plan in place. First, is to bring in 30,000 immigrants to work over the next decade, either establishing their own farms or take over current farms that exist. The next part of the plan is to promote agricultural education at a collegiate level with the goal of bringing new students into the programs. Part three of the plan is to continue and accelerate adopting mechanized farming solutions.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.