A John Deere Publication

Combine and tractor harvesting in a dark field with headlights and dust in the air.

Recruiting farm workers, especially when your farm is located hours away from the nearest major economic hub, isn't easy.

Agriculture, Farm Operation January 01, 2026

Beyond City Lights

Drawing workers to the hinterland.

Story and Photos by Lorne McClinton

Finding farm workers has never been easy—pinning up a help wanted sign on the village bulletin board just doesn't cut it anymore. Phyllis MacCallum with the Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council (CAHRC) in Ottawa says a 2022 study found two out of five farms struggled to hire the workers they needed. Yet it's not hopeless, many farms are finding ways to make it work.

Jason Matson had been working in the construction industry for years but the 52-year-old from Watrous, Saskatchewan, felt it was time to move on. He'd heard from a friend that a local farm, McArthur Ag Ventures, was looking for workers in 2022, but he didn't take it too seriously. He thought, just another farmhand job—no thanks, he'd worked for farmers before and wasn't impressed by the lack of organization and professionalism he saw. But something clicked when he saw their ad.

"This ad was something different, it looked like a real job ad," Matson says. "They were offering a full-time, year-round position with bonuses, health benefits, annual reviews, a retirement plan, and holidays."

He was so intrigued by what he saw when he went in for the interview that he quickly accepted a job offer. Three years later he's still there and has no regrets.

"Earning a good wage is one thing, but it's more about how you're treated," Matson says. "Around here, there's mutual respect. I'm diabetic, and they're willing to work with me to help me maintain a healthy work schedule and lifestyle."

The McArthurs adopted an aggressive growth strategy for their grains, oilseeds, and pedigreed seed operation in 2018 and quickly concluded they had to take a professional approach to human resources if they wanted to achieve their goals.

They face stiff competition for full-time workers from the potash mines and construction companies in the region. These offer high wages and steady hours. Unless they are offering something similar, they won't be able to compete.

One of their first decisions was to contract Maverick Ag, an agriculture consulting firm in Saskatoon, Sask., to help them create a strong human resource plan. They helped them develop career ladders that show new hires how they can advance in the business. All positions have clear job descriptions and opportunities for promotions. It's a simple thing but it makes a big difference.

"Having a career ladder shows a new hire right from the start that they're not just a hired man, they're an employee with a future," co-owner Brennan McArthur says. "Just because you're hired to be a combine driver doesn't mean you have to remain one forever. You can move into leadership, get promoted, and build a career here."

Above. Many farms are finding that they have far more success finding and retaining help if they adopt a more professional approach with their human resource management practices. Jason Matson wasn't interested in just another farmhand job, he changed his mind when he saw McArthur Ag Ventures' ad. Part of the solution is convincing urbanites that country living has lots to offer.

The job ad. "Our first step [when hiring] is creating a detailed job posting that lists the role, the responsibilities, the wages, and all the benefits we are offering the employee," co-owner Amanda McArthur says. "We place them in the local newspaper and on all our social media pages. They're also on our website, mcarthurag.com. Word of mouth referrals from our industry friends are very important, too."

"Each job posting brings in up to 50 resumes," Brennan adds. "A big majority are Ukrainians, South Africans, people wanting to relocate to Canada. But most of our employees are locals. Two of our three most recent hires have come to us when we weren't advertising. It's a sign we've gained a reputation as a good place to work."

Most farms aren't as fortunate and the ag worker shortfall is continuing to grow. Part of the problem is awareness; few not already connected to farming know there are many job opportunities in agriculture.

The gap is being partially filled by temporary foreign workers (TFWs), MacCallum says. In 2022, Canada employed over 71,000 TFWs in agriculture, a 30% jump in five years."

For farms hours from economic hubs other factors come into play. You're not just hiring a worker. You're often recruiting their spouse and family, too.

"Potential employees and their families need access to daycare, education, health care resources, and social amenities," MacCallum says.

"Many little country towns are thriving, and we must continue to highlight all the community aspects of country living they have to offer the whole family," she adds. ‡