Young farmers need at least as much program support as established farmers, but in Manitoba many don’t feel they’re getting it.
That was the message of a number of resolutions at a recent Keystone Agricultural Producers annual meeting.
Programs like cash advances and crop insurance might work well for big acreages and big crops, but not so much for the small acres and niche markets that some farmers rely on to ease into farming.
“Increased access to cash advance programs would promote entering into these markets and would successfully establish diverse agricultural enterprises,” said Lake Francis farmer Samantha Vanhulle in calling for innovative crops like crickets and hops to qualify.
Read Also
Rented farmland jumps 3.4 million acres in Saskatchewan and Alberta
Farmland rented or leased in the two provinces went from 25.7 million acres in 2011 to 29.1 million in 2021, says Census of Agriculture data.
“There’s much potential, even on 40 acres,” said another young farmer.
Finding a way to make land rent both cheaper for young farmers and a better return for landowners was the subject of a resolution calling for tax changes to give a break to landlords renting to local young farmers.
Rauri Qually, a young Starbuck farmer who moved the resolution, said the purpose was to create a situation in which “young farmers can farm within their municipalities at shorter distances from their home base of operations and more affordable.”
Fellow young farmer Jake Ayre said addressing escalating farmland rental rates would help.
“I can see that this might be beneficial for farmers, that this might be the way they get their foot in the door,” said Ayre.
“I think this is a great step forward.”
Older members of KAP seemed happy to see new ideas coming forth in the resolutions sessions.
“I think this is something we have been asking young farmers to come to KAP with,” said Chuck Fossay, a Starbuck farmer and president of Manitoba Canola Growers Association.
