CALGARY – For Bernie and Leslee Austie, farm expansion is the wave of the future.
“It’s the only way to stay economically viable,” said Bernie from his Picture Butte farm in southern Alberta.
A second generation farmer on a mixed irrigation farm, Bernie says his dreams are simple.
“I hope to make a living at this and pay off the debts and hopefully have some (money) to retire,” he said.
The family raises cattle, cereal, pulse and oilseed crops. Planting intentions are part of an overall program of planned crop rotations where they produce what they grow best rather than being swayed by market predictions and variable commodity prices.
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Communities affected
In their area, bigger farms are becoming the norm. But as the farms grow, community services shrink.
Picture Butte has lost its elevator, health-care services are shrinking and there are fewer young people in the community.
He sees the future as a place where farmers are expected to do more with less. While Bernie would like to be consulted about such things as local rail line or elevator abandonment, he doesn’t believe the average farmer’s opinion carries much weight.
