BANFF, Alta. – Opportunities for agronomic consultants have never been greater.
Terry Betker of Meyers Norris Penny in Winnipeg says the profession was once thought of mainly as public service brought to farmers by government.
However, farm size is escalating and new agriculturally based businesses such as biofuel producers and oilfield remediation services are opening across the Prairies. Betker said these need agronomic or farm business planning advice.
Pierre Doyon of the agricultural communications company Adculture told members of the Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association that they are in the right business at the right time.
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“Look at all the areas where your industry is changing and the opportunities to provide professional services: the environmental farm planning; biofuels; identity preserved commodities; labour force shortages; food safety and traceability and of course protection of the natural environment.”
Fred Hepler agreed, saying his company, Westchester Group Inc. of Illinois, is built on the growth of the agricultural services industry.
The company operates grain and livestock farms in 13 states, grows 36 crops and is the third largest almond producer in the United States.
“We manage farmland for owners who in our country are now generally absentee landlords,” he said.
“It makes up half of all farmland today. They have inherited land and treat it as an investment. They hire us to ensure they get a return on it and to make sure it is managed the way they want.”
He said opportunities abound for agronomists who want to professionally manage farms for investors and other landowners.
“In Canada this is just starting, but it’s a trend that will be North America wide and a huge opportunity for agronomists.”
Hepler said the number of Americans directly linked to agriculture has dropped to 1.2 percent today from 35 percent in 1900.
This means that the demand for expert advice and management of land and livestock has never been greater, he added, even with economies of scale, larger equipment and better technology.
Hepler sees Western Canada’s potential for wind power as largely untapped.
“In Iowa agronomists can’t keep up with demand for wind industry projects,” he said.
“There are more turbines in that state that anywhere else on the continent. And they add value to farmland.”
Recreational leasing is another area of growth.
“We sell farmland in 41 states. Corn ground, I can tell you to the nearest $10 what it will bring. If a guy is buying it so he can go and hunt whitetail (deer) on it and ride around on an all-terrain vehicle?
“The value can be multifold what it would bring for agriculture, but it’s still land and it needs to be managed and it’s an opportunity for agronomists.”
Hepler said organic agriculture on an industrial scale is also growing rapidly, and the sector needs research and professional management and advice.
He said farmers are looking for assistance in equipment strategies that will reduce their labour requirements – not because of cost but because of shortages.
“In 1950 it took 10 hours of labour to farm an acre. This year it will take one hour. People will pay to find ways to get that to less than an hour,” he said.
