b"The Changing Faceof Ag LabourGrowing farm sizes, increasing mechanization and modern employment standards are causing shifts in the world of agricultural workers.BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONMICHEL CAMPS GREW UP working on a potato farmnot in Canada but in his home country of Holland. That farm was smaller than the one he owns now in Barnwell, Alta. and didnt require extra staff to keep it running. Before we bought our own farm in 2002, I actually worked for another potato farmer in the area. And I learned a lot about employee management from him, Camps says in a phone interview.Camps originally came to Canada through a Dutch exchange student program. He spent two years working on a farm in Alberta where he learned the dynamics of Canadian potato farming and how to manage a staff. He now runs CP Farms Ltd., a 4,000-acre irrigated processing potato farm with a staff that ranges from five to 20. His wife Hanneke handles most of the human resources work, including the hiring of seasonal employees.In Alberta, CP Farms Ltd. finds themselves battling against the oil industry for skilled workers. In the past, Camps has invested time into training employees only to have them leave a few years later for jobs in the oilfield.We're putting a lot of energy and a lot of effort into training skilled labourer onto some specific potato farm related tasks such as running self-propelled potato harvesters, potato planters, or pivots, Camps says.Across Canadian agriculture, all segments are facing struggles when it comes to finding employees. Jennifer Wright, executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, pointed out in an email that the Canadian labour force overall, and in particular in rural Canada, is shrinking as the baby boomer generation exits the workforce. Challenges include rural location of work, not enough awareness of the amazing opportunities to work in agriculture and a misperception of what the industry has to offer by those not in the industry. There is increasing competition for workers from all industries as well and many other industries can provide options to work nine to five, work from home, work in an office environments, for example, she stated.The labour shortages in ag ranges and depends on the commodity. Wright said theres some degree of labour shortages across allMichel and Hanneke Camps, owners of CP Farms Ltd. in Barnwell, Alta. commodities in Canada, including potato farms.PHOTO: CP FARMS LTD.6SPUDSMART.COMFall 2023"