Our son decided to make a huge life change this week. He had some friends working in Alberta making close to double what most people here are making. Our farm is too small to afford another full time salary besides myself right now. He's been working full time on another dairy for $12.50/hr and working part time for us as well. One of his friends out west now is working on a dairy farm and now making $20/hr. He hooked our son up with a dairy that's expanding to 1000 cows soon and he's starting off at $18/hr. The 2 farms out there are close by so his buddy's renting him space in the house he rents and helping him along. He's only 18 but if he has to work on another farm he might as well work on one that pays a lot more than he can make here. I'm not looking forward to him moving so far but I can't provide near the opportunities that he has available to him there. He's pretty excited and even though it's hard we have to be happy for him at the same time. His grandfather on his mothers side is driving out with him so his cars there and flying back. Leaves on the 27th not sure how long it will be till we see him next but that's life sometimes and he has the right to live it how he chooses. He's planning on staying out a year maybe 2 but we'll see how it plays out. He may do that or he may love it out there and only come home to visit?
- Thread starter Philip d
- Start date
coonie minnie
Well-known Member
If he doesn't like it there, he can come here. Not sure on getting someone from across the border, but I'd give it a try!
I think most farmers could pay there staff more if they made that a priority but they don't and that is why they complain about getting help all the time. I have a small farm in Alberta and I work for a larger farmer helping out with his harvest and he comes and combines my crop in return. It is beneficial to both so we try to make it work. I also help another in spring down in Southeast AB before spring work starts here in North Central AB. Get paid around $25 per hour for that along with board and some fuel for the trip of 300 miles. Would not work for $12.50.
It sounds like a great adventure, the best of luck to him!!!
A weekly letter or email will shorten the distance and will always be welcomed. My Dad would start the weekly letters and pass them on to Mom and anyone else with something to add before mailing.
Encourage him to continue his education as much as possible in any area that strikes his interest: welding, hydraulics, mechanics, electrical, robotic programming, mechanical drafting and print reading, introduction to machine shop, accounting, finance, computers, carpentry, woodworking, flight school, etc. Night classes at a local Community College, adult education classes and online classes are geared to be pretty easy for anyone who is willing to try. They can be a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and they may give him a leg up in his future.
A weekly letter or email will shorten the distance and will always be welcomed. My Dad would start the weekly letters and pass them on to Mom and anyone else with something to add before mailing.
Encourage him to continue his education as much as possible in any area that strikes his interest: welding, hydraulics, mechanics, electrical, robotic programming, mechanical drafting and print reading, introduction to machine shop, accounting, finance, computers, carpentry, woodworking, flight school, etc. Night classes at a local Community College, adult education classes and online classes are geared to be pretty easy for anyone who is willing to try. They can be a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and they may give him a leg up in his future.
ajl: I paid the help $25 an hour they would end up making more most years than I do. LOL
It sounds like you working for mainly grain farmers. So your operating equipment. So your a skilled operator. Most working at dairies are just labors. In most of the Mid-west they are competing against Mexican labor so the wage scale is not high.
It sounds like you working for mainly grain farmers. So your operating equipment. So your a skilled operator. Most working at dairies are just labors. In most of the Mid-west they are competing against Mexican labor so the wage scale is not high.
I think if truth be told in many cases the farmers take home household pay is already less per hour than their employees pay. There's been times during busy seasons that after the bills are paid and the seasonal help gets paid we don't have enough left over at the end of the week to pay ourselves. I grew up working for my parents and usually got the task of handing the help their paycheque and it was common I worked quite a few more hours that week than they did and they made $100-$200 more that week than I did. People that don't know farming finances see land values and equipment costs and are quick to assume farmers are rich. Yes there are some that are doing quite well but there are many others that are just making a meagre living working 7 days a week year round. We pay $14 for anyone part time that we have during silage time and they are usually pretty happy.
Bruce from Can.
Well-known Member
- Location
- Woodville, Ontario, Canada
Strikes me odd travel past around 9000 dairy farms in Ontario and Quebec , to take a job on a Dairy farm in Alberta, another 2000 miles farther west. I know it isn't just the job , it's the "experience". I bet he will be back home in PEI quicker than a year or two. And home will have never looked so good ! You and your wife are the ones that will feel this learning experience the most. Best of luck to your boy, tell him to dress warm , gets a lot colder out west than he has ever seen on PEI.
There's something to be said about making a living and not just a survival. I moved west almost 10 years ago, and haven't looked back. Started at $13.50 plus a house for a farmer. Now working for an equipment manufacturer for darn decent money. Never would have come across an opportunity like this back east.
It's tough when they leave. Kinda takes the wind out of your sails. If he decides not to come back,over time you'll be asking yourself why you're still knocking yourself out milking cows. I was doing it for them,but when they both decided they didn't want to do it anymore,that was the end for me. I had no desire to kill myself for those miserable animals if nobody was gonna do it after they succeeded.
coonie minnie
Well-known Member
He needs the adventure. I spent 4 years 1000 miles away from home, went to school, worked on another farm and at a slaughterhouse, met great friends and found my wife. And now I'm back home. Glad I had that chance. And glad to be here.
Support him as best you can, and he will do the same.
Support him as best you can, and he will do the same.
Yup we had that talk too. I'm 43 and in great health far as I know and were pretty well set up at the farm labour efficiency wise. I told him if quota starts going for $24000 again in a couple of years he needs to make a decision. If we could get 24 for all our quota than sell the cows and equipment we no longer needed we'd be debt free with considerable savings to boot and have 300 acres of land to rent out for decent money. I'd still work but only 40-50 hours per week instead of 60+. That's what my Dad wanted me to consider 10 years ago but I wasn't ready. If he's happier out there and not interested in coming back I'll be slowing down to a normal pace and trying to relax and possibly travel with my wife before I don't get that luxury.
cumminspuller
Member
Good luck to him Philip D. It will be an experience for sure. Might not come back home. Then again he might come back and love home more than ever. Never can tell.
Determined
Well-known Member
Over the years I hired quite a few workers that came from the east coast, the majority were not scared of work and fit in well.
There is a saying about them that is all too true;
How do you tell the Maritimer's in heaven.
They be the ones yearning to go home.
I wish your son all the best, but from experience I am guessing he will be back home before long.
There is a saying about them that is all too true;
How do you tell the Maritimer's in heaven.
They be the ones yearning to go home.
I wish your son all the best, but from experience I am guessing he will be back home before long.
Yep,a neighbor told me two things after he quit milking. There's life after cattle and that nobody over 50 has any business milking cows. I laughed at that second one,figured I'd die of old age out there with them,but then I realized that you can die of old age at 50 if you aren't careful. I made it to 48 before I decided that was enough and I had to get in to something else while I was still young enough to get established in it.
The wife and I could have handled it for a lot more years,but like I said,with nobody wanting it when we were done,there just wasn't any incentive. This whole beef thing,with cow/calf to finish is working so much better than I ever dreamed it would. A lot of sceptics told me I couldn't do it,but my attitude was,I can if I want to.
The wife and I could have handled it for a lot more years,but like I said,with nobody wanting it when we were done,there just wasn't any incentive. This whole beef thing,with cow/calf to finish is working so much better than I ever dreamed it would. A lot of sceptics told me I couldn't do it,but my attitude was,I can if I want to.
Good on the OP's son, not being afraid of hard work. Too many "kids" these days are missing that.
I get wanting to go "home" but both have lots to offer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juRsAsK1zfU. (Tim Hus, on a rigger heading back to the Maritimes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1rtBnCeiw. (Gordan Lightfoot, Alberta Bound)
Figures I'm stuck in the middle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkhcjI5Pwi0. (SD == Sask South)
Tim Hus, on a rigger heading back to the Maritimes
I get wanting to go "home" but both have lots to offer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juRsAsK1zfU. (Tim Hus, on a rigger heading back to the Maritimes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1rtBnCeiw. (Gordan Lightfoot, Alberta Bound)
Figures I'm stuck in the middle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkhcjI5Pwi0. (SD == Sask South)
Tim Hus, on a rigger heading back to the Maritimes
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