The challenges farmers face when trying to adapt were brought into sharper focus this year through a study by the Westarc Group, an applied research and consulting company in Brandon.
The study, which included meetings with about 60 producers throughout Manitoba, revealed the hurdles producers encounter while trying to position their farms for the future.
Some of the common themes found during the study were the shortage of skilled farm labour, the need for specialists with expertise to help with farm diversification and value-added ventures, and the challenges of succession planning.
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Carl Cunningham is leading the project, which he calls a rural adaptation needs assessment. He hopes to have a report done by the end of the year. The information will then be available to those in government who develop programs and policy for agriculture and rural areas.
Cunningham said the study shows that the issue of skilled farm labour extends across several commodity groups, including hog, dairy and grain producers.
Producers said they cannot provide wages high enough to keep skilled workers, or they cannot provide year-round employment.
“The lack of skilled labour came up in a lot of the interviews,” Cunningham said, noting that it has become an issue not only for intensive livestock operations, but also for grains and oilseeds producers.
Owners of large grain farms need people who can operate equipment such as air seeders, high clearance sprayers and combines.
On the topic of specialists, part of the interest among producers was having access to knowledgeable people when pursuing ways to diversify their farm or launch a value-added enterprise.
That includes specialists with an understanding of what it would take to diversify into a new type of crop or livestock.
Cunningham said producers would also like more resources to help with marketing and succession planning. Tied in with that was the question of how young people can be helped when they want to start farming.
“The amounts of money needed to farm are becoming so high,” Cunningham said, citing the high cost of land and farm equipment as challenges young grain farmers might face.
In the dairy industry, the cost of buying quota can also impede young people wanting to join the industry.
More generally, producers commented on the need for healthy rural communities, with health care, education and good highways being important elements of that. Technology such as high-speed internet access and cellular service are also seen as important to rural communities, he said.
Another topic raised by producers was that of counselling and peer support. There was recognition among those interviewed that when rural populations decline, it becomes more of a struggle to maintain community groups, churches and other organizations.
The number of farm families who sought ways to earn off-farm income became obvious during the study.
“We came across very few families that didn’t have off-farm income,” said Cunningham. “That came through loud and clear.”
In addition to interviews with producers, five focus groups were organized. Four of the focus groups were comprised of producers to help garner more feedback and ideas about rural adaptation. The fifth group provided input from the perspective of a regional community development corporation in northwestern Manitoba.
While several common themes arose from the study, a detailed analysis will be done for a written report.
