Saskatchewan has more young farmers than any other province in Canada, according to an Agriculture Canada profile of the role of farmers between the ages of 18 and 39.
The profile says that Saskatchewan leads in the number of farms operated by young farmers, 3,255, and ties with Quebec for the percentage of farms operated by young producers – 10 percent.
British Columbia, with just four percent of farms operated by young producers, has the worst record.
The number of young farmers is an important issue in Canada as governments and farm sector leaders struggle with the dilemma of how to attract the next generation of farmers into the industry.
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“Given the importance of Canada’s future capacity to produce agricultural products in a manner that ensures the future prosperity and competitiveness of the sector, it is important to understand the extent to which young farmer enterprises are flourishing,” the report concludes.
“There is concern over whether there is a sufficient number of young farmers with the skills and knowledge required (to succeed.)”
That concern is slightly lower in Saskatchewan than it is in other provinces.
Saskatchewan agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said March 4 that while the government is trying to build more young farmer-friendly policies, that would not explain the number.
“I can’t put my finger on it but I can tell you it is a good thing to see,” he said.
“It conforms to what I’ve been seeing, more young faces when I travel. We are seeing a generational change.”
For many years, Saskatchewan young people were not interested in returning to the farm, Bjornerud said.
“I just think there is more optimism now with prices as they are and the future as it is.”
In Quebec, the result could be related to the province’s aggressive program of aid for beginning farmers. It offers a “financial support program” to new farmers younger than 40 who own at least 20 percent of a farm and meet other criteria set out by the province.
To qualify, young farmers must:
• have relevant training
• have at least one year of experience
• consider agriculture their primary occupation
• have a business plan approved by a lender;
• meet provincial environmental standards.
A three-year college or university degree or diploma in agriculture can qualify for a $40,000 grant to invest in the farm. A two-year diploma can qualify for $30,000 and high school graduates can apply for $20,000.
The Agriculture Canada profile offers some surprising findings.
The 12,725 young farmers reported in 2008 represent just eight percent of Canadian farms.
Another 12 percent report an operating structure that includes a young farmer working with an older operator.
Young farmers tend to operate larger farms that are generally more profitable than the farm average.
They also receive a higher proportion of their income from the farm rather than from off-farm sources.
They report higher debt and debt servicing charges than average and own proportionately less of the land they farm than average.
The report says that is not unexpected.
“They did have strikingly higher debt than other farms and this is not really surprising given that they are at an earlier stage in their life and are clearly paying for assets that they have more recently acquired such as new machinery and equipment, land, buildings, livestock and possibly quotas.”
One surprise was that the hog sector has attracted the most new producers despite its years of financial struggles.
In 2008, producers younger than 40 operated 16 percent of hog farms although it was a higher percentage of a shrinking base.
Poultry, eggs and dairy farms were proportionately the next most attractive sectors for young operators to enter.
Cameron Short, executive director of policy analysis for Agriculture Canada, said the fact that all farm sectors are attracting new entrants is positive.
“They are well distributed across farm types with slightly more operating hog, poultry and egg and dairy farms, partly dispensing the myth that barriers to entry in poultry and egg and dairy industries prevent young farmers from entering,” he said.
