Farmers and ranchers who need an extra hand this summer are in luck, with the government of Alberta rolling out the 2014 Summer Farm Employment Program.
For those considering hiring a student or young adult this summer, the provincial government can help out by pitching in a $400 per month subsidy, as well as workers' compensation coverage and safety training information, according to a recent press release from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD).
This program is twofold, giving youth the opportunity to gain farm work experience, and also helping producers pay them for the extra help.
Employers must own or rent a farming operation in Alberta, with gross production of $25,000 per year, and the hired hands must be working in direct relation to farming operations.
Although the government is providing support, producers are responsible for finding and hiring employees themselves, and must provide daily supervision as well as safe working conditions.
Monthly records of time worked are to be completed by the employer, and based on a calculation, the hired workers will receive a cheque of up to $400.
Mary Ann Nelson, a spokesperson at the AARD Agriculture Information Centre, explained that the subsidy works by letting the producer set the wage, then the government will pitch in either half of the worker's monthly salary or $400, whichever is less.
So if it's a rainy year, and an employee only puts in enough hours to make $600, the government will pay $300, and the producer pays the other $300, she explained.
And if it's a busy season and the worker puts in enough hours to earn $800 or more per month, the government will pitch in the full $400, she said.
Some stipulations are that employees must be residents of Alberta, have a social insurance number, between 15 and 24 years of age, and cannot be a direct relative of the employer.
Employees must not be working full time anywhere else or attending school while participating in the program, and they do not qualify for the subsidy if they start working for the producer before July 1, she added.
Farm safety is an emphasis in this program, and all summer farm employers and employees are required to review a safety DVD together.
Employees must complete and pass a safety quiz based on the DVD information in order to be accepted into the program as well.
Application forms and detailed information are available on Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's website (www.agriculture.alberta.ca).
Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis, and can be printed from the website, or obtained by calling the Agriculture Information Centre at 403-310-3276.
