Farms.com Home   News

Canada’s ag sector looking at potential massive labour shortage

The country could be in desperate need of more farmers in around ten years time.

That’s according to a new report by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) which claims by 2033 there will be a shortage of around 24,000 workers. This is because the average age of a Canadian farmer is around 56 years old.

Bob Reid, who farms in the Smeaton area, told paNOW finding younger people who want to be farmers becomes harder each and every year.

As to why, he believes many of today’s youth don’t have the work ethic.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

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.