AGRI Talent

Q: How much funding can be received?

AGRI Talent Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $7000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline for this grant program is August 31, 2025. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.

Q: Is the AGRI Talent a grant, loan, or tax credit?

AGRI Talent is a Wage Subsidies And Interns

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the AGRI Talent?

AGRI Talent is funded by Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC)

Q: Who is eligible for the AGRI Talent program?

To be eligible for the AGRI Talent program, you must: • Registered Canadian business in the agriculture industry • Willing to hire post-secondary students, including from under-represented groups • Committed and financially able to pay student wages for the placement duration

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the AGRI Talent?

You can contact Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) by email at mlockhart@cahrc-ccrha.ca.

Q: Where is the AGRI Talent available?

The AGRI Talent program is available across Canada.

Q: Are women eligible for the AGRI Talent program?

Yes, women are eligible to apply for the AGRI Talent program.

Q: Are youth (under 40) eligible for the AGRI Talent program?

Yes, youth under 40 are eligible to apply for the AGRI Talent program.

Last Update: August 26, 2025

Canada

Supports student employment in Canada's agriculture sector through wage subsidies

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $7,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : May 1, 2025
Closing date : August 31, 2025

Financing Type

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

The AGRI Talent program offers wage subsidies of up to 70% (maximum $7,000) to support employers in the Canadian agriculture sector hiring post-secondary students for Work Integrated Learning placements. The initiative aims to prepare a job-ready workforce by funding co-op placements, internships, and applied projects, with a focus on increasing participation from under-represented groups.

Financing terms and conditions

Subsidy covers 50% of student wages, up to a maximum of $5,000 per net new placement.
For under-represented groups (including women in STEM, Indigenous students, newcomers, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and first-year students), the subsidy covers 70% of wages, up to a maximum of $7,000 per net new placement.
Subsidy is calculated only on wages actually paid by the employer and cannot be combined with other federal funding for the same position.

Activities funded

Hiring post-secondary students for paid work-integrated learning opportunities in the agriculture sector, including co-op placements, internships, field placements, and applied projects.
Participating in business case competitions designed to connect students, post-secondary institutions, and employers within the agriculture industry.
Engaging students from under-represented and equity-seeking groups in agriculture-related work experiences.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 7,000

Hiring first-year student to help coordinate digital farm mapping

$ 7,000

Hiring horticulture co-op students to support greenhouse operations

$ 7,000

Engaging women in STEM for greenhouse automation project internship

$ 7,000

Field crop input dealer supports paid student marketing internship

$ 7,000

Bringing indigenous students to support aquaculture research projects

$ 7,000

Supporting livestock veterinary clinics with student animal technicians

Eligibility

The applicant must be a registered Canadian business or not-for-profit organization operating within the agriculture industry, including sectors such as field crops, primary producers, greenhouse, horticulture, aquaculture, veterinary clinics for farm animals/livestock, farm equipment dealerships, input dealers, and agriculture-focused media agencies.
The applicant must be willing to hire post-secondary students from both agriculture and non-agriculture backgrounds for a quality work-integrated learning experience.
The applicant must be open to hiring post-secondary students from under-represented groups (e.g., women in STEM, Indigenous students, first-year students, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, newcomers).
The company must have the financial capacity to pay students for the full duration of the placement (subsidy is provided after completion).
The applicant must comply with all federal and provincial human rights and labour legislation, including occupational health and safety standards, and provide workplace insurance where legally required.

Who is eligible?

Registered Canadian businesses in the agriculture industry
Not-for-profit organizations in the agriculture industry
Field crop producers
Primary producers
Greenhouse, horticulture, and aquaculture businesses
Veterinary clinics servicing farm animals/livestock
Farm equipment dealerships
Input dealers
Agriculture-focused media agencies

Who is not eligible

Federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal government organizations.
Federal and provincial Crown corporations.
Non-agricultural employers.
Post-secondary institutions (PSIs).
Financial institutions.
Non-secular institutions (some exceptions may apply).

Eligible expenses

Wages paid to post-secondary students for eligible work-integrated learning placements.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies operating across Canada

How to apply

Submit application via Outcome Campus Connect

Sign up as an employer on Outcome Campus Connect
Submit a funding application and/or post a job via Outcome Campus Connect platform

Employer eligibility confirmation

CAHRC reviews employer's application
Confirmation of employer eligibility or ineligibility is provided within 14 days
Eligible employers receive Terms and Conditions and are asked to provide student information

Student eligibility confirmation

CAHRC sends Student Agreement and Online Information Form to the student
Student returns Agreement, Proof of Enrolment, and completed Online Information Form
CAHRC reviews student eligibility and confirms to employer

Submit payroll and documentation

CAHRC sends gross salary template at the end of the term
Employer submits completed gross salary sheet with supporting documents
CAHRC calculates the wage subsidy and requests invoice

Receive wage subsidy payment

CAHRC processes the wage subsidy payment to the employer within 45 days

Additional information

Stacking with provincial tax credits is permitted, but only actual paid wages—not wage subsidy funds—can be used for tax credits.
Placements must be net new, as defined by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Positions can include co-op placements, internships, field placements, or applied projects.
Placements funded by other federal programs, such as Canada Summer Jobs or the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, are not eligible.

Contacts

mlockhart@cahrc-ccrha.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the AGRI Talent Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the AGRI Talent. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.