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Farmer, Grower
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
| Starting | $25.98 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $31.36 |
| Top | $34.45 |
Interest in supervising and hiring farm workers; and in determining amounts and kinds of crops to be grown and livestock to be raised, and in purchasing farm machinery, livestock, seed, feed and other supplies
Interest in co-ordinating information to plant, cultivate and harvest crops; and in raising and breeding livestock and poultry
Interest in driving - operating and maintaining farm machinery, equipment and buildings
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Grain and forage crop producers may specialize in different types of operations. Their duties vary depending on the types of crops produced, the size and purpose of the operation, and the production system they follow. In general, they:
Traditional crop producers grow crops such as wheat and canola. Other options include pedigreed seed production and specialty crops.
Pedigreed seed producers increase the amount of seed for new crop varieties, to be sold to other producers, or wholesaled to agricultural businesses. They also need to:
Specialty crop producers grow small acreage crops such as spices, specialty oats, and barley, hemp, seeds, and medicinal crops, or processing crops such as corn, peas, and Saskatoon berries. In addition to the duties listed above, they may need to:
Commercial forage crop producers plant cereals, legumes, or grasses to sell as feed for livestock. Some producers diversify into animal production and grow their own forage. Others sell their forage as a cash crop.
Forage crop producers harvest annual cereal and pulse crops using specialized equipment to uniformly chop the whole plant. This can then be used to produce silage (fermented forage) for cattle feed. Annual crops can also be cut and left in the field for grazing during the winter months. Perennial forage crops are generally cut and baled to be used as feed, although they can also be used for silage.
Some commercial forage producers specialize in one type of forage, such as alfalfa. They may sell this to processing plants to be dehydrated and compressed into pellets or cubes.
Grain farming is a highly mechanized operation. It involves large equipment that is often monitored by computers and GPS systems. Grain farmers must be willing to spend long and sometimes tedious days operating machinery during seeding and harvesting seasons. They must be prepared to work in changing and sometimes adverse weather including hot, dusty conditions. Some operations such as spraying mean flexible work hours, depending on the weather.
Air-conditioned machine cabs have improved conditions for many farm operations that involve equipment. However, there is still a lot of manual labour involved with crop production. Cleaning, maintenance, loading, and operating equipment requires manual labour. Manual labour is also required for storage facilities, buildings, and land-site upkeep.
Work takes place mostly during the growing season from April to November. This leaves more time in winter to prepare for the next year and to transport harvested crops for sale. Many grain farmers supplement their operation with livestock production. This keeps them busy throughout the year. Pedigreed seed growers spend the winter season cleaning grain and marketing their products. This also means year-round operations. The winter months also allow for producer meetings, conferences, and other events to promote changes in agriculture and provide learning opportunities.
Grain and forage crop producers do a large amount of physical labour, routinely lift heavy loads, and are outside in all kinds of weather.
Grain and forage crop producers need:
They should enjoy taking responsibility for their operations. They should like taking a methodical approach to their work. They should be comfortable working outdoors, and driving and operating machinery and equipment.
Grain and forage crop production is a specialized, high-investment business. Producers need a good working knowledge of:
Individuals may gain knowledge and experience by working on farms or taking related education programs. Project management as well as organizational and negotiation skills are a definite asset.
The Government of Alberta offers the Green Certificate Program. The program provides apprenticeship-style training. It combines hands-on farm mentorship with formal education.
The program is free and available to students at all Alberta high schools. Various specializations, such as field crop production and irrigated field crop production, are offered at each level. Graduates of the Level I Green Certificate Program are certified as farm production technicians. They may earn credits toward their high school diploma for each specialization they complete. Level II (farm production supervisor) and III (agribusiness manager) Green Certificates are also available. They are meant for people interested in a career in agriculture.
To participate in the Green Certificate Program, trainees must be at least 15 years of age and in grade 10, 11, or 12. The training takes about a year. That allows trainees to experience all 4 seasons on a farm.
For more information on registration requirements and other details, students may visit the Green Certificate Program website or ask their guidance counsellor.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Alberta regulates some specialized crops, such as sugar beets, under supply management systems. Specialized crop producers may need to register with an industry organization. For example, seed growers must be registered with the Canadian Seed Growers Association.
Some grain and forage crop producers own their own operation with purchased or rented land; others work as farm managers. The high cost of land and equipment make it difficult to start a grain operation. Many young farmers take over family farms or are part of a family co-operative operation or corporation.
To protect their income, most grain and forage crop producers diversify their operations. They grow different crops during the same season. This helps minimize the risks by allowing different marketing options. It also lowers the chance of a complete crop failure. For example, forage crops may be rotated with grain production, or hay and grain may be produced for livestock consumption.
Due to the risk level of this business, crop insurance is usually recommended.
For those seeking work on large farms as labourers, technicians, supervisors, or managers, local Employment and Social Development Canada offices are helpful. These offices bring together farmer-employers and potential employees. Some of these positions are seasonal.
Grain and forage crop producers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 0821: Managers in agriculture. In Alberta, 97% of people employed in this classification work in the Agricultural [pdf] industry.
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 0821: Managers in agriculture occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of -0.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, -219 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Annual incomes for grain and forage crop producers vary greatly. They depend on the type of operation, current market prices, weather conditions, and operating expenses. The timing of seeding and harvesting can mean the difference between profit and loss.
Managers’ salaries often vary according to business size.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $50.00 | $25.98 | $23.00 |
| Overall | $19.04 | $57.69 | $31.36 | $28.85 |
| Top | $20.81 | $61.20 | $34.45 | $31.67 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Public Administration | $83,777 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $70,992 |
| Agriculture | $69,863 |
Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) website: albertacanola.com
Canadian Seed Growers’ Association website: seedgrowers.ca
Alberta Barley website: www.albertabarley.com
Alberta Wheat Commission website: www.albertawheat.com
Alberta Pulse Growers website: albertapulse.com
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.