Agricultural Labour Force Study 2010 - Farmers: Brant, Elgin, Middlesex, Norfolk and Oxford

1. Farm Labor Force Survey: Norfolk, Brant, Elgin, Middlesex & Oxford Counties

This questionnaire is for farmers and companies or co-operatives that operate farms. It should be completed by a farmer, farm operator/manager who is directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the farm and/or company. The information provided is strictly confidential. We thank you very much for completing the survey.

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* 1. If you want your name to be entered into a draw for an I-Pod please provide your mailing address below:

Name:

Address:

City/Town:

Postal Code:

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* 2. Please indicate where your Farm/Business is located

Brant

Elgin

Middlesex

Norfolk

Oxford

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* 3. How would you categorize your farming occupation?

	Primary Occupation	Secondary Occupation	Other
Farm Operator1	Farm Operator1 Primary Occupation	Farm Operator1 Secondary Occupation	Farm Operator1 Other
Farm Operator2	Farm Operator2 Primary Occupation	Farm Operator2 Secondary Occupation	Farm Operator2 Other
Spouse/Farm Operator	Spouse/Farm Operator Primary Occupation	Spouse/Farm Operator Secondary Occupation	Spouse/Farm Operator Other
Spouse	Spouse Primary Occupation	Spouse Secondary Occupation	Spouse Other

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* 4. Please indicate Gender and Age Group of family members directly involved in the operation

	Male	Female	15-19	20-24	25-34	34-44	45-54	55-64	65-74	75-85
Farmer/Operator	Farmer/Operator Male	Farmer/Operator Female	Farmer/Operator 15-19	Farmer/Operator 20-24	Farmer/Operator 25-34	Farmer/Operator 34-44	Farmer/Operator 45-54	Farmer/Operator 55-64	Farmer/Operator 65-74	Farmer/Operator 75-85
Spouse/Farmer/Operator	Spouse/Farmer/Operator Male	Spouse/Farmer/Operator Female	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 15-19	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 20-24	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 25-34	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 34-44	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 45-54	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 55-64	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 65-74	Spouse/Farmer/Operator 75-85
Children (over 15 yrs)	Children (over 15 yrs) Male	Children (over 15 yrs) Female	Children (over 15 yrs) 15-19	Children (over 15 yrs) 20-24	Children (over 15 yrs) 25-34	Children (over 15 yrs) 34-44	Children (over 15 yrs) 45-54	Children (over 15 yrs) 55-64	Children (over 15 yrs) 65-74	Children (over 15 yrs) 75-85
Children (over 15 yrs)	Children (over 15 yrs) Male	Children (over 15 yrs) Female	Children (over 15 yrs) 15-19	Children (over 15 yrs) 20-24	Children (over 15 yrs) 25-34	Children (over 15 yrs) 34-44	Children (over 15 yrs) 45-54	Children (over 15 yrs) 55-64	Children (over 15 yrs) 65-74	Children (over 15 yrs) 75-85

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* 5. Please indicate education level of family members directly involved in the operation

	No High School	High School	Trade/College (2yrs or less)	College/University (4yrs or more)
Farmer	Farmer No High School	Farmer High School	Farmer Trade/College (2yrs or less)	Farmer College/University (4yrs or more)
Farm Operator	Farm Operator No High School	Farm Operator High School	Farm Operator Trade/College (2yrs or less)	Farm Operator College/University (4yrs or more)
Spouse/farmer	Spouse/farmer No High School	Spouse/farmer High School	Spouse/farmer Trade/College (2yrs or less)	Spouse/farmer College/University (4yrs or more)
Children (over 15 yrs)	Children (over 15 yrs) No High School	Children (over 15 yrs) High School	Children (over 15 yrs) Trade/College (2yrs or less)	Children (over 15 yrs) College/University (4yrs or more)
Children (over 15 yrs)	Children (over 15 yrs) No High School	Children (over 15 yrs) High School	Children (over 15 yrs) Trade/College (2yrs or less)	Children (over 15 yrs) College/University (4yrs or more)

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* 6. Please indicate your major field of training/study:

Farmer/Farm Operator1

Farmer/Farm Operator2

Spouse/Farm Operator

Spouse

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* 7. What type of commodities/products do you produce (please indicate type of crops, vegetables, flowers, livestock, poultry, honey and maple, fruit and nut trees)

Non-organic Commodities

Organic Commodities

Organic & Non-Organic Combination

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* 8. Do you have any value added products?

YES

If yes please specify the type of products you produce

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* 9. Do you have any plans for expansion in the near future (1-2 years from now)?

YES

Please explain why your answer is yes or no

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* 10. Which commodities/products (crops, livestock, vegetables, fruit trees and nut trees) do you believe have great potential for growth in your area/county and why?

Commodity/Product 1

Commodity/Product 2

Commodity/Product 3

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* 11. What are the main marketing channels for your commodities/products?

	Marketing Board	Farm-Gate	Farmers Market	Retail Outlet	Export Market	Auction	Other
Crops	Crops Marketing Board	Crops Farm-Gate	Crops Farmers Market	Crops Retail Outlet	Crops Export Market	Crops Auction	Crops Other
Vegetables	Vegetables Marketing Board	Vegetables Farm-Gate	Vegetables Farmers Market	Vegetables Retail Outlet	Vegetables Export Market	Vegetables Auction	Vegetables Other
Fruits	Fruits Marketing Board	Fruits Farm-Gate	Fruits Farmers Market	Fruits Retail Outlet	Fruits Export Market	Fruits Auction	Fruits Other
Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb)	Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb) Marketing Board	Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb) Farm-Gate	Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb) Farmers Market	Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb) Retail Outlet	Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb) Export Market	Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb) Auction	Livestock (cattle, sheep, lamb) Other
Dairy	Dairy Marketing Board	Dairy Farm-Gate	Dairy Farmers Market	Dairy Retail Outlet	Dairy Export Market	Dairy Auction	Dairy Other
Poultry	Poultry Marketing Board	Poultry Farm-Gate	Poultry Farmers Market	Poultry Retail Outlet	Poultry Export Market	Poultry Auction	Poultry Other

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Total number of employees (please write the number of workers in each category):

Male

Female

Canadian Citizens

Landed Immigrants (Foreign Permanent Residents)

Off-shore (seasonal & temporary)

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* 13. Please indicate the number of employees for each category and their corresponding age group:-(Under 24), (25-34), (35-44), (45-54), (55-64), (65-74) & (over 75)) of Full- & Part-time employee occupations for your farm operations: Example, Farmers/Farm Managers 1 (34-44)

Agricultural Engineers

Agronomists

Animal Husbandry Specialists

Poultry Specialists

Plant and Crop Breeders

Horticulturists

Floriculturists

Landscape architect/designers

Irrigation Specialists

Feed Analysts

Biologists

Soil Scientists

Animal Care Attendants

Farm Equipment Mechanics

Farm Management Specialists

Farmers & Farm Managers

Apiarists (beekeepers)

Maple syrup producers

Nursery & Greenhouse Managers/Operators

Farm Supervisors and Specialized Livestock Workers

Animal Herdsperson (cattle, dairy, sheep…)

Farm Foreman/Woman

General Farm Workers (machinery operators)

General Farm Workers (grains, animals, vegs. & fruit)

Nursery and Greenhouse Workers

Greenhouse Assistants

Harvesting Labourers

Produce Packers

Other (Please specify)

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* 14. Please indicate the entry level hourly wage for occupations that apply to your farm operations, if you outsource any of the services please indicate the rate of pay per hour: (e.g. Farm Manager-($25/hr)

Agricultural Engineers

Agronomists

Animal Husbandry Specialists

Poultry Specialists

Plant and Crop Breeders

Horticulturists

Floriculturists

Landscape architect/designer

Irrigation Specialists

Feed Analysts

Biologists

Soil Scientists

Animal Care Attendants

Farm Equipment Mechanics

Farm Management Specialist

Farmers & Farm Managers

Apiarists (beekeepers)

Maple syrup producers

Nursery & Greenhouse Managers/Operators

Farm Supervisors and Specialized Livestock Workers

Animal Herdsperson (cattle, dairy, sheep…)

Farm Foreman/Woman

General Farm Workers (machinery operators)

General Farm Workers (grains, animals, vegs. & fruit)

Nursery and Greenhouse Workers

Greenhouse Assistants

Harvesting Labourers

Produce Packers

Other (Please specify)

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* 15. Do you have any current training needs (for you & your employees) and in what area(s)?

YES

If yes please specify which area(s) you need training most

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* 16. What are your major sources of training?

	Owner of business/Farm Operator	Skilled Workers	Unskilled Workers
On-the-job	On-the-job Owner of business/Farm Operator	On-the-job Skilled Workers	On-the-job Unskilled Workers
Out-sourced	Out-sourced Owner of business/Farm Operator	Out-sourced Skilled Workers	Out-sourced Unskilled Workers
Trade schools	Trade schools Owner of business/Farm Operator	Trade schools Skilled Workers	Trade schools Unskilled Workers
College/University	College/University Owner of business/Farm Operator	College/University Skilled Workers	College/University Unskilled Workers
Company HR/training staff	Company HR/training staff Owner of business/Farm Operator	Company HR/training staff Skilled Workers	Company HR/training staff Unskilled Workers
Apprenticeship	Apprenticeship Owner of business/Farm Operator	Apprenticeship Skilled Workers	Apprenticeship Unskilled Workers
Workshops	Workshops Owner of business/Farm Operator	Workshops Skilled Workers	Workshops Unskilled Workers
Use of experienced company/farm employees	Use of experienced company/farm employees Owner of business/Farm Operator	Use of experienced company/farm employees Skilled Workers	Use of experienced company/farm employees Unskilled Workers

Other (please specify)

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* 17. What are some of the barriers and problems you and your employees face in accessing training?

	Owner of business/Farm Operator	Skilled Workers	Non-Skilled Workers
Lack of funds	Lack of funds Owner of business/Farm Operator	Lack of funds Skilled Workers	Lack of funds Non-Skilled Workers
Cost too high	Cost too high Owner of business/Farm Operator	Cost too high Skilled Workers	Cost too high Non-Skilled Workers
Shortage of training personnel	Shortage of training personnel Owner of business/Farm Operator	Shortage of training personnel Skilled Workers	Shortage of training personnel Non-Skilled Workers
Heavy work load	Heavy work load Owner of business/Farm Operator	Heavy work load Skilled Workers	Heavy work load Non-Skilled Workers
Training time frame too long	Training time frame too long Owner of business/Farm Operator	Training time frame too long Skilled Workers	Training time frame too long Non-Skilled Workers
Training not available locally	Training not available locally Owner of business/Farm Operator	Training not available locally Skilled Workers	Training not available locally Non-Skilled Workers
Training not offered at convenient time	Training not offered at convenient time Owner of business/Farm Operator	Training not offered at convenient time Skilled Workers	Training not offered at convenient time Non-Skilled Workers
Lack of transportation	Lack of transportation Owner of business/Farm Operator	Lack of transportation Skilled Workers	Lack of transportation Non-Skilled Workers

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Do you have difficulties in hiring and/or finding the right skills/workers for your operation(s)?

YES

If you answered yes please explain why you have problems

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* 19. Do you have problems retaining (keeping) workers?

YES

If yes please give reasons why you have problems

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* 20. Do you offer any apprenticeship programs?

YES

If you answered yes please specify what type of program(s) you are offering

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* 21. Do you have somebody to succeed you when you retire?

YES

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* 22. What are the current issues and concerns your farm/business is facing?

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* 23. How satisfied are you with the current marketing arrangements for your commodities/products?

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Unsatisfied

Please explain why

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* 24. Have you been involved in any government programs?

YES

If you answered yes please specify the programs you are or were involved in.

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* 25. If your answer to the question above is yes, how satisfied are you or were you with the services of the program(s)?

Very Satisfied

Satisfied

Somewhat Satisfied

Unsatisfied

Please explain why

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* 26. Are there any government programs or compliance regulations affecting your business?

YES

If you answered yes please specify the regulations/programs and explain why

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* 27. What do you think the government should do with the current farming issues and concerns facing the farming communities/businesses/sector (what are your views & suggestions)?

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* 1. If you want your name to be entered into a draw for an I-Pod please provide your mailing address below:

Question Title

* 2. Please indicate where your Farm/Business is located

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* 3. How would you categorize your farming occupation?

Question Title

* 4. Please indicate Gender and Age Group of family members directly involved in the operation

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* 5. Please indicate education level of family members directly involved in the operation

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* 6. Please indicate your major field of training/study:

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* 7. What type of commodities/products do you produce (please indicate type of crops, vegetables, flowers, livestock, poultry, honey and maple, fruit and nut trees)

Question Title

* 8. Do you have any value added products?

Question Title

* 9. Do you have any plans for expansion in the near future (1-2 years from now)?

Question Title

* 10. Which commodities/products (crops, livestock, vegetables, fruit trees and nut trees) do you believe have great potential for growth in your area/county and why?

Question Title

* 11. What are the main marketing channels for your commodities/products?

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* 12. Total number of employees (please write the number of workers in each category):

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* 13. Please indicate the number of employees for each category and their corresponding age group:-(Under 24), (25-34), (35-44), (45-54), (55-64), (65-74) & (over 75)) of Full- & Part-time employee occupations for your farm operations: Example, Farmers/Farm Managers 1 (34-44)

Question Title

* 14. Please indicate the entry level hourly wage for occupations that apply to your farm operations, if you outsource any of the services please indicate the rate of pay per hour: (e.g. Farm Manager-($25/hr)

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* 15. Do you have any current training needs (for you & your employees) and in what area(s)?

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* 16. What are your major sources of training?

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* 17. What are some of the barriers and problems you and your employees face in accessing training?

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* 18. Do you have difficulties in hiring and/or finding the right skills/workers for your operation(s)?

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* 19. Do you have problems retaining (keeping) workers?

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* 20. Do you offer any apprenticeship programs?

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* 21. Do you have somebody to succeed you when you retire?

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* 22. What are the current issues and concerns your farm/business is facing?

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* 23. How satisfied are you with the current marketing arrangements for your commodities/products?

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* 24. Have you been involved in any government programs?

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* 25. If your answer to the question above is yes, how satisfied are you or were you with the services of the program(s)?

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* 26. Are there any government programs or compliance regulations affecting your business?

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* 27. What do you think the government should do with the current farming issues and concerns facing the farming communities/businesses/sector (what are your views & suggestions)?

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* 28. Any additional comments?