A new EMILI report examines how digital tools are changing farm work—and why skills, training, and support will determine who benefits.
Technology is changing how farm work is planned, performed, and managed across Manitoba.
GPS-guided equipment, sensors, variable-rate technology, and farm data platforms are helping producers make more precise decisions. They are helping to manage inputs and operate increasingly complex farms too. As this unfolds, the skills required of producers and their employees must evolve at an equal pace. The same holds true for students, advisors, and technical support providers.
EMILI’s new report, The Future of Farm Work: How Precision Agriculture is Changing Labour and Skills in Manitoba Agriculture, examines what these changes mean for provincial workforce development, technology adoption, and rural communities.
Its central finding is clear: precision agriculture should be treated as part of Manitoba’s broader workforce challenge. Technology can help farms manage labour pressures, but its benefits depend on whether people have the skills, confidence, and support required to use it effectively.
Manitoba farms are under growing workforce pressure
Manitoba farms are becoming larger and more complex. Between 2001 and 2021, the province’s average farm size increased by 32.1 percent—from 891 acres to 1,177 acres.
Click here to see more...