There is no magical way to attract new and younger farmers to the industry, but a report prepared for the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan recommends several places to start.
“Saskatchewan is one of the few provinces in Canada that does not currently have a specific program aimed at supporting beginning farmers within the ministry of agriculture,” Saskatoon agrologist Al Scholz wrote in the report.
He presented the document to delegates at the APAS winter mid-term meeting Dec. 4. “There are opportunities for APAS, as the province’s general farm organization, to work with the Saskatchewan ministry of agriculture to develop new entrant programs – the right kind of programs – that are cost-efficient and effective – and that make a positive difference.”
Read Also
Bird repellent gets emergency approval for sunflowers
Bird repellent gets emergency approval for sunflowers
Scholz said American studies have shown that most young people decide to farm between the ages of 13 and 17. The economic situation in agriculture, crop failures and other factors can contribute to a negative discussion within farm families and discourage potential new farmers.
Statistics show that in Saskatchewan in 1991 there were 15,635 farmers under age 35, representing 20 percent of all farmers; by 2006 that had dropped to 5,910 and 10 percent.
Scholz offered recommendations in seven categories: succession planning; business training; mentoring and apprenticeships; messaging and image; financial tools; First Nations and immigration; and co-ordination.
He suggested APAS work with government to create a business and management training program specifically for new farmers, work with both federal and provincial governments to look at financial needs of beginning farmers, and promote existing mentoring and apprenticeship programs.
Training must move away from production and toward business., he said.
Business consultants report that third and fourth generation transfers are rare in any other business, yet it seems to be expected in agriculture.
“Are we being unrealistic?” he asked.
There are First Nations people and immigrants who want to farm and many of these people are under the age of 40, he said.
Scholz added that most farm families get most of their income from off-farm jobs. Any young farmer or farm family must have other training to secure more income, he said.
That didn’t sit well with some delegates.
“There’s no time left for off-farm work,” said Darren McLeod, a young farmer from the Rural Municipality of Winslow.
Farms should not have to be recapitalized over and over, added Don Connick from Gull Lake.
“This is a clear-eyed, visionary report that could be a pivotal point in agriculture,” he told the meeting.
