How to Find and Apply for Canada Farm Jobs: A Step-by-Step Guide

canada farm jobs

When Mike made the decision to apply for Canada farm jobs in a bid to make it to greener pastures, little did he know that he was signing up for a rollercoaster of an adventure. And it’s proven to be just that for him, the realization of big dreams.

He was skeptical at the time, worried even because he did not know how things would pan out. He had applied at the insistence of his best friend, David, and wasn’t really sure if that was what he wanted to do. That’s because he has never been outside the Philippines, and he wondered what it would be like to find himself in another country, away from the people that he loved and cherished.

But, such was the draw of The Great White North, that he got on a flight out of Manila one windy morning, and looking back in hindsight, leaving has proved to be the best decision he ever made.

Why you should put in for Canada farm jobs in 2023

Like Mike, you can immigrate to Canada this year and you would be glad you did. But why should you even go to Canada? Well, the answer is simple. Canada is a great destination for Foreigners who are looking for farm jobs!

Even if, according to information from The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada, the first priority of Canadian farmers when it comes to hiring farm workers, is to hire fellow Canadians.

However, when Canadians are not available or not willing to work on farms, Canadian farmers must work with international farm workers like you, to help them get food out of the fields, and unto the plates of millions of Canadians.

So, how can you get Canada farm jobs? This article look to focus on that question, while also dealing with every other facet of what it will take to help you realize your dream of immigrating to Canada this year.

Is there even a demand for farm workers in Canada?

Clearly, there is a demand for farm workers in Canada. This is because Canadian farmers rely on foreign workers like you, to help them grow and harvest food every year. In fact, it is believed that 53% of Canada’s agricultural workers are Seasonal workers, which means that they come from their countries of residence to work in Canada once a year, and then return to after their work visa expires.

In the same vein, data from the The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada suggest that at 5.4 percent, the vacancy rate of on-farm agriculture in Canada is the highest in any of country’s various industries.

This explains why foreign farm workers are important to Canada farm jobs. That is why the government of Canada created the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The program is divided into two distinct sub-programs through which foreign agricultural workers like you can come to work in Canada. The two programs are:

  1. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP)
  2. The Agricultural Stream

These two programs provide a clear pathway for foreigners like you to immigrate to Canada for farm jobs, as long as you get an employer (sponsor) to submit the application for you.

So, what is the difference between the two programs, and how can you take advantage of these programs for Canada farm jobs 2023?

The difference between both programs is the allowed length of time on the visas, as well as the countries that are eligible for each program.

In view of this, we need to take an in-depth look into each of the programs so that you can determine which one works best for you.

canada farm jobs
canada farm jobs

1. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP)

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is a pathway for Mexicans and residents of the Caribbeans to do Canada farm jobs. This pathway becomes available to employers when Canadian residents and permanent residents are unavailable or unwilling to do the work.

In such a situation, foreign farm workers, designated as Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs), can come into Canada to work on Canadian farms for a period of 8 to 9 months.

However, these TFWs must be specific countries (known as participating countries). Also, the TFWs can only be employed in certain commodity sectors.

To be eligible, Temporary Foreign Workers must be from one of the following countries:

  • Mexico
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Jamaica
  • Montserrat
  • St. Kitts-Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago

If you are from any of these countries, then you are eligible to participate in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

Additional Eligibility criteria

In addition to your nationality, there are other criteria that must be fulfilled before you can be employed through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. You must:

  • Have experience in farming
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a citizen of one of the participating countries
  • Satisfy Canadian immigration laws, as well as the laws of your home country

TFWs that want to come in under this program can only work in the following commodity sectors:

  • Apiary products
  • Fruits, vegetables (including canning/processing of these products if grown on the farm)
  • Mushrooms
  • Flowers
  • Nursery-grown trees including Christmas trees, greenhouses/nurseries
  • Pedigreed canola seed
  • Seed corn
  • Grains
  • Oil seeds
  • Maple syrup
  • Sod
  • Tobacco
  • Bovine
  • Dairy
  • Duck
  • Horse
  • Mink
  • Poultry
  • Sheep
  • Swine

Note: The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program operates within the confines of bilateral agreements between Canada and these participating countries.

2. The Agricultural Stream

The Agricultural Stream is very similar to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, in that it also creates a pathway for employers to bring Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) into Canada when Canadians and Canadian permanent residents are unavailable or unwilling to do the work.

The difference between both programs, though, is that the Agricultural Stream is open to citizens of any country. Also, Agricultural Stream visas are for a period of 2 to 3 years, a significant difference from the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program which is for 8 to 9 months.

In addition to all this, the Agricultural Stream also covers specific commodity sectors, including:

  • Apiary products
  • Fruits, vegetables (including canning/processing of these products if grown on the farm)
  • Mushrooms
  • Flowers
  • Nursery-grown trees including ● Christmas trees, greenhouses/nurseries
  • Pedigreed canola seed
  • Seed corn
  • Grains
  • Oil seeds
  • Maple syrup
  • Sod
  • Tobacco
  • Bovine
  • Dairy
  • Duck
  • Horse
  • Mink
  • Poultry
  • Sheep
  • Swine

Getting an employee to sponsor you for Canada farm jobs 

You must have realized by now, that whether you intend to immigrate to Canada through the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program or the Agricultural Stream, there is an element that has to be in place. That is, you must already have Canadian farm employment in place.

This is because you cannot apply for these programs yourself. Your employer will have to put an application forward for you, thereby identifying itself as your sponsor.

So, how can you get employers to sponsor your Seasonal Agricultural Workers  Agricultural Streams programs?

Mike, who was mentioned at the beginning of this article, had some help in this regard. He got help from a Canadian farm job recruitment site and was able to start his immigration journey from there.

For you, there are also a number of options to find a farm employer in Canada. Some of them include:

  1. Canada Farm Jobs

Canada Farm Jobs is one of Canada’s leading lights when it comes to farm recruitment. They specialize in recruiting foreign employees for Canadian farms, and prides themselves on the ability to find the right fit for the job every time. They also provide farm labour consulting and helps to bridge the gap between Canada farmers and farm workers.

  1. Canada Career Site

Canada Career site has a lot of farm job listings for foreigners who are looking to start farm jobs in Canada. These listings range from skilled farm jobs to unskilled work in every province of Canada.

  1. Farm Jobs Canada

Farm Jobs Canada is another great resource for foreign nationals who may want to come into Canada for farm work. Its website has thousands of listings posted on a daily basis. Also, these postings are for a variety of positions in all parts of Canada.

  1. Linkedin

When it comes to making professional connections on the web, Linkedin takes the crown any day. In fact, as an aspiring Canada farm worker, Linked ticks a lot of boxes for you. You can find jobs, internships, training opportunities and a lot of other positive connections on Linkedin.  You can find skilled and unskilled farm jobs in Canada, as well as lot of other opportunities from Canadian farm owners.

How many hours do farm workers work in Canada?

Ideally, Canadian farm workers work for about 40 to 45 hours weekly (except your employer stated otherwise when discussing the terms of your employment). And while your employer may have good reason for this, they cannot force you if you decide not to work beyond the stipulated time.

How much does farm work pay in Canada?

On the average, Canadian farm workers earn between $12.66 to $16 per hour, which translates to an annual average of between $26,350 to $33,280.

This figure could change from change depending on the province, commodity sector and the level of expertise of the farm worker.

Since Canadians must be considered before foreign workers, do you stand a chance?

If you feel that you don’t stand a chance when applying for Canadian farm jobs, then you are seriously mistaken.

It is true that employers must consider Canadians and residents of Canada when recruiting farm workers for the SAWP and Agricultural Stream program, but the truth is that, most Canadians are not willing to work in Agriculture.

According to research conducted by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), there is a significant gap between shows a critical gap between the demand and supply of Canadian workers.

Also, findings of the research show that disparity in demand-supply may grow to about 114,000 people by 2025. So, you see? The need for farm workers is critical right now and will only continue to grow with time.

And considering that the needs of farmers are time-sensitive, farmers do not have the time to wait for Canadians. In view of that, only foreign farm workers can help Canadian farmers avoid devastating losses.

What qualifications do you need to be a farm worker in Canada?

Ideally, foreign farm workers do not require any formal training or certificates. However, when it comes to specialized work that requires some training and/or certification, the relevant specialized certificate will apply

Do farm workers pay income tax in Canada?

Foreign workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program and the Agricultural Stream may not pay income taxes. This is because Canadian taxes apply mostly to Canadian residents. Your employer will give you further advice on this, so rhat you can know what to do.

canada farm jobs
canada farm jobs

Where is most of Canada’s best farmland located?

Alberta accounts for about 27.6% of field crops in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Which province do farm workers get paid the most?

Many believe that the highest paying provinces are:

  1. British Columbia
  2. Alberta
  3. Columbia
  4. Queen and
  5. Manitoba

 

2. Which type of farm job is most in demand in Canada?

Due to acute labor shortage in every Canadian commodity sector, there is high demand in every type of farm job in Canada.

  1. Can i relocate to Canada without a job as a farmer?

Unless you are going through another pathway (probably as an agricultural investor), you cannot relocate to Canada without a job offer.

  1. Is it easy to land a farm job in Canada?

If you meet eligibility criteria for Canadian farm jobs, it wouldn’t be hard to find a farm job in Canada.

  1. Do farmers make good money in Canada

Farmers in Canada make good money, and you have the chance to earn the same when eventually land your dream farm job in Canada.

  1. Can I extend my Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program work visa?

No. The SAWP conforms to very strict rules and as for that reason farm workers cannot extend their SAWP work visas from within Canada.

When your work visa expires as a farm worker under the SAWP program, you need to knave Canada and reapply during the next round of SAWP employments.

Conclusion

Overall, Canada offers a wide range of farm job opportunities for prospective job seekers. Whether you’re interested in dairy farming, fruit and vegetable farming, or grain farming, there’s a farm job that’s right for you.

So, if you’re passionate about agriculture and want to work on a farm in Canada, start exploring the different farm job options available to you.

READ MORE: Highest-paying jobs in Canada In 2023

 

 

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