Thumbs up for agricultural careers: farmers, consumers Wednesday, September 21, 2011 by SUSAN MANN Farming may be challenging but many producers would still recommend an agricultural career to a family member or friend, according to a recent Farm Credit Canada survey.The FCC vision panel survey released Thursday found that 80 per cent of producers would encourage others to get involved. Moreover, 21 per cent of consumers across Canada who participated in the March survey would consider a career in agriculture and 27 per cent would encourage someone else to pursue it. Both groups used similar words to describe farming when asked to choose five words from a list associated with the agricultural industry. The words were: weather dependent, struggling, under-recognized, underpaid, essential. The online survey had 2,015 respondents and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 per cent. “Although farmers recognize the challenges inherent in the industry they still would encourage others to get involved,” it says in an FCC press release.Bette Jean Crews, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, says she would agree with the words picked by survey respondents. “The biggest challenge is getting our fair share of the dollar in the marketplace.”Crews would also recommend farming as a business. Her father wasn’t farmer but he had his own barbershop business. One thing farmers like about the business is being able to make their own decisions and seeing the results of that, she explains.“I do think society’s mind is coming around to the fact that they need to pay what agriculture is worth,” she says. “I think it’s going to take a few more years but I see us on an upswing.” Agriculture employs one in eight Canadians, the press release says. BF Pie hit the spot at farm show Better Farming editor wins gold and silver at Farm Writers' convention
Colouring a Safer Future for Farm Kids Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Teaching children about farm safety is an essential part of protecting the future of Canadian agriculture. With that goal in mind, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has launched the Kids FarmSafe Colouring Contest, a creative initiative designed to help young people learn... Read this article online
Spring Economic Update Sets the Stage for a Challenging Year on the Farm Tuesday, April 28, 2026 The Federal Government released its 2026 Spring Economic Update on April 28, outlining the country’s current economic position and federal priorities for the months ahead. While the update does not contain new direct funding announcements for agriculture, it offers important signals for... Read this article online
Bluetooth Meets Bumblebees in Groundbreaking Guelph Study Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Queen bumblebees at the University of Guelph Arboretum will be carrying some of the smallest tracking devices ever used in pollinator research this summer. Fifty queens are being fitted with ultra-lightweight Bluetooth radiotransmitters as part of a study aimed at better understanding... Read this article online
Ontario Plans New Law to Protect Farmland Friday, April 24, 2026 Ontario is taking new steps to protect its farmland and strengthen the agri-food sector. The provincial government plans to introduce legislation that would limit the foreign acquisition of Ontario farmland. The goal is to keep farms in domestic hands and protect local food production for... Read this article online
Fuel Tax Suspension Offers Timely Relief for Canadian Farmers Ahead of Peak Growing Season Friday, April 24, 2026 Canadians are set to see short-term relief at the fuel pump following a major federal policy announcement that directly affects on-farm operating costs. On April 14, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government will temporarily suspend the Fuel Excise Tax on gasoline, diesel,... Read this article online