Grainswest - Fall 2023

Fall 2023 grainswest.com 25 MICHAEL MURPHY Farmmanager and director of U.S. operations at Monette Farms, Swift Current, SK South African Michael Murphy raised his eyebrows at the prospect of work as a Canadian farmhand. In 2015, with no employment lined up, the fresh commerce graduate of Stellenbosch University near Cape Town had a friend who knew a farm manager at Monette Farms near Swift Current, SK. The farm sourced its first international workers more than a decade ago but went heavy into the LMIA world the year of Murphy’s graduation. Despite his initial apprehension, Murphy spoke to the manager, received an offer and was on a plane to Canada the following spring. Not raised on a farm, the Pretoria born Murphy nonetheless loves agriculture and wanted to expand his horizon. “My reason was curiosity,” he said. “The plan was originally just for two seasons.” Working 10 months a year, two years became three. When COVID set in, Monette Farms offered him full-time employment. He accepted, and the adventure became a career path. “You get attached to the people,” he said. “It becomes like a second family and you want to keep helping with what you can and grow at the same time. It just stayed interesting for me. The whole culture we have and the vision, it wakes me up every morning and brings me back to the farm.” Murphy is in year seven of life in Canada. His wife Chanri, also South African, joined him in January 2020. Both have PR status and live in Swift Current where Murphy chips away at his MBA when not busy at the farm. These days, it’s Murphy who works to recruit the right foreign workers for Monette Farms. Any given posting receives dozens of responses, though perhaps one applicant in 25 may be suitably skilled and merit an interview. About 30 to 35 per cent of the farm’s labour is sourced from a dozen or more countries including Colombia, France and Ukraine. While the farm’s managers aren’t afraid to train workers, it’s essentially a season-long sprint. There’s little time for hand holding, especially as the farm always runs brand new equipment, which is very expensive. “We don’t have the resources or time to look over someone’s shoulder for a full season until they have gained experience,” he said. “We need someone who can catch on quickly.” Murphy is grateful to be employed in western Canadian agriculture, which has given him more opportunity than he ever imagined. He knows others feel the same way. “For the majority of foreigners coming over, they are pretty happy doing whatever, whenever, for however long,” he said. “We rely heavily on the work ethic of the foreign labour force.” Though the door is open to all nations, those with the most modern ag sectors tend to field the most qualified candidates. “There’s no bias,” said Murphy. “It’s just whatever we get when we’re looking, and we’re looking pretty much 365 days a year.” Murphy noted Canada’s immigration process and path to gain PR status are straightforward. Workers are keenly aware this benefits them and their families if they are married. “It’s an easier immigration system than many other countries,” he said. The Murphys are happy with life in Canada. South Africans Chanri and Michael Murphy made Canada their permanent home after Michael was hired to work on a Saskatchewan farm. Photo:CourtesyofMichaelMurphy