Saskatchewan agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud says he has an open mind when he listens to young farmers telling him how to help them get into the business.
He has appointed a seven-member Young Farmer Advisory Committee to give him the straight goods.
Early next year when he meets them again, Bjornerud will look for ideas on how governments can help the next generation of farmers enter the business.
“I do think governments can have a role to play, short of having equity in the industry,” he said.
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“Financing, access to capital, program reform, these are all things I am willing to look at. It is refreshing to hear their optimism and their attitude that they want to make it on their own, but there may be some things government can do to help.”
If Bjornerud looks east, he will see what one province – its government, private sector and union movement – have done to encourage the entry of new farmers.
As in most surveys of government support for farmers, Quebec leads the pack in trying to entice new farm entrants.
The provincial government offers a financial support program to new farmers younger than 40 who own at least 20 percent of a farm, have taken training and can claim at least one year of experience, consider agriculture their primary occupation, have a business plan approved by a lender and 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.
In addition, the provincial financial institution La Financiere agricole, which lends money and administers farm support programs, offers loans to beginning farmers at reduced interest rates. There is a program to protect the farmer from sharp interest rate increases.
And beginning this autumn, a $75 million program co-funded by the provincial government, the provincial credit union Caisse Desjardin system and the provincial union movement will begin to make money available to beginning farmers who do not have the support of farming parents. Rules and eligibility details are yet to be announced.
Peter Enright, director of the farm management and technology program at the Macdonald campus of McGill University, said Quebec’s stance shapes its farm demographic.
“Relatively speaking, Quebec is more generous and supportive than other provinces and I think that is reflected in the fact that we have a younger farm population than elsewhere,” he said.
“It is part of the consensus here that maintaining the strength of the farm sector is important.”
