Producers needed to examine NOSs for six commodities

Ottawa, ON ‚Äì The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council‚Äôs (CAHRC) needs producer volunteers to participate in focus groups that examine the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the commodities of apples, crops, honey, mushrooms, potatoes and turf.  

These NOSs will then be further developed into Best Practices and training programs based on what producers indicate are the best ways of doing business. To date, 20 National Occupational Standards have been developed with input from 270 industry stakeholders for the pork, sheep, aquaculture, beef and poultry commodities.  

Producers can find dates, times and places for focus groups across Canada -> here.  Participant expenses will be reimbursed. 

The research is in support of two projects being conducted by CAHRC: the National Agricultural Occupational Framework and Labour Market Support (NAOF) and the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Workforce Action Plan (WAP).  

“This research is not for prescriptive purposes,” explains Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, Executive Director of CAHRC.

‚ÄúThe NAOF and WAP projects are going to benefit the agricultural industry by increasing the availability of workers to meet the growing demand, and by improving the skills and knowledge of the ag workforce, to address current and future requirements.‚Äù 

NAOF is an in-depth study of the jobs and skills involved in today‚Äôs agricultural workforce with specific focus on 11 commodities. This information will be used to develop training and support tools for producers and workers, as well as a curriculum mapping tool that will assist educators to enhance and develop new curriculum that reflects the modern work done on farms today. In addition, this research will help to develop a job matching tool that links employers with qualified job seekers and student interns.  

The WAP examines issues of industry labour management and shortages. It is led by the Council‚Äôs Labour Task Force and functions as a solution-oriented forum made up of industry representatives from across Canada‚Äôs agriculture and agri-food sectors. The consultative process has identified two recommendations: one is to increase the supply of agricultural labour and the other to improve the knowledge and skills of workers already in the industry. To date, 65 organizations are confirmed as Implementation Partners, lending support, credibility and a sense of urgency to addressing labour issues for the industry. 

Industry participation is the cornerstone of the Canadian Ag HR Council‚Äôs research with input, direction and guidance for all activities sought from agriculture and agri-food employers, employees, youth, associations, education, and government at regional, provincial and national levels. Likewise, product development is done with similar consultations to ensure quality, accuracy and relevance of prepared solutions. This requires grass root participation in consultations at all stages. 

‚ÄúThis is a critical stage for all producers to give their input as it will shape the future development of their industry, explains MacDonald-Dewhirst. ‚ÄúSo it is really important to have as much participation as possible.‚Äù  

The Council strives to act as a clearinghouse for best-practices and tools related to workforce availability, skills and knowledge. This is achieved by developing industry-specific ag HR solutions that are designed to be customizable to commodity and regional needs.  Developed with Canadian producers in mind ‚Äì all CAHRC products and services are practical, relevant and easy to use.  

‚ÄúCAHRC is in the business of building agricultural expertise, rallying stakeholders and delivering solutions,‚Äù says MacDonald-Dewhirst. ‚ÄúThe Council works with industry, governments and educational stakeholders to research, develop and implement solutions to challenges in employment and skills development in agriculture.‚Äù 

CROPS

• Nov. 9, 2015 - Winnipeg, MB (Keystone Agriculture Producers Office)
• Nov. 12, 2015 - Red Deer, AB (Sheraton)             
• Dec. 9, 2015 -  Guelph, ON (Holiday Inn Guelph Hotel & Conference Center)

HONEY

• Nov. 18, 2015 - Edmonton, AB (Delta Edmonton South Hotel and Conference Centre)   
• Dec. 1, 2015 - Saskatoon, SK (Radisson Hotel)
• Jan. 12, 2015, Winnipeg, MB (Delta) 
•  

TURF

• Nov. 26, 2015 - Moncton, NB (Chateau Moncton Hotel & Suites)             
• Dec. 2, 2015 - Red Deer, AB (Sheraton) 
• Dec. 7, 2015 - Milton, ON (Landscape Ontario office, 7856 Fifth Line South)

MUSHROOMS

• Jan. 17 & 19 - Quebec City, QC (Fairmont Le Ch√¢teau Frontenac)          

APPLES

Upcoming

POTATOES

Upcoming