GETTING YOUNG FARMERS ESTABLISHED At present, Quebec is losing on average over a farm per day. These losses are leaving holes in the social and economic fabric of our rural communities. At the same time, the farming profession is

steadily getting older. Just 10 years ago, for every farmer over 55 there was another who was under 35. But nowadays there is just one young producer for every three over 55.

Despite this trend, many young people are passionately interested in the farming profession. Think about all those who sign up for farm training programs each year. Among them, you’ll find the daughters and sons of existing farm producers, but also other young people from both rural and urban communities who wish to adopt the farming profession and way of life. But for all of these young people with interest and ability, there are still many barriers to getting into the profession, barriers that can prove insurmountable.

For example, consider the value of farm property. Agriculture is different from other economic sectors in that is by nature overcapitalized. To generate a dollar of gross income from farming, you need five dollars in farm assets. This situation is incredibly difficult for the young farm producer who has to buy land, buildings, quota in many cases, and all the equipment needed for production.
There are also other elements that influence whether a young farmer can get established. These include the financial security of retiring farm producers wishing to transfer their business, the complexity of human relations when farms are being transferred, access to advisory services and up-to-date information, and so on.

With a shared goal of lowering these barriers to entry into the farming profession, the Fédération de la relève agricole (FRAQ) and the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) have joined forces to make it easier for young farmers to get established.

Young farmers in action

Since the 1950s, young farmers here have felt the need to form associations that would reflect their concerns and assist their entry into the farming profession. They first came together in Jeunesse agricole catholique (JAC), truly the ancestor of the structures we know today, later forming groups that gradually turned into young farmers syndicates.

Following an exchange with France in 1967, the first genuine young farmers syndicate was formed in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. In 1973, the UPA opened the door to creation of a group for young farmers within its own structure. By 1982, young farmers had the wind in their sails and the different regional syndicates came together to form the Fédération de la relève agricole du Quebec, today the largest organization addressing the concerns of aspiring farmers and young farm producers. Since then, the UPA has done much to help the young federation develop, providing financial support and participating actively in its activities. Today the Fédération de la relève agricole du Quebec represents more than 1200 young people who hope one day to practise the best of all trades, farming.

An alliance of generations helping the young get on their feet

The UPA has reflected this alliance of generations by taking concrete action. In particular, it has worked with the FRAQ to obtain a genuine government policy on helping young farmers get established. The first step has now been taken, in the form of the Ministère de l’Agriculture’s new policy on young farmers. Such a policy is essential, for the collective challenge of turning start-ups into established farms can only be met through a concerted, integrated approach. And that approach must be coordinated and supported by government, while drawing on the combined efforts of all partners in the agricultural sector.

After extensive consultation with their members, the UPA and FRAQ have set an objective of stabilizing the number of farms with 1100 start-ups per year. An ambitious objective, certainly, but one set in the middle term and one that has the merit of bringing together all agricultural stakeholders around a common project. To get there, all we need is 300 additional farm start-ups per year. In other words, there is room for everyone in agriculture.

In 2004, a guidance report was produced on how to help young farmers get established. Under the title, Une alliance entre les générations pour une agriculture à dimension humaine (an alliance of generations for agriculture on a human scale), the report makes 16 recommendations on what actions should be taken. These include a public awareness campaign on the importance of young women farmers; fiscal and financial measures for the financial security of retiring producers; maintenance and development of the advisory network on farm transfers and start-ups; various measures for the training of young farmers; better financial aid mechanisms and the revision of mechanisms for quota transactions in order to restrict price increases.

Some of these recommendations are reflected in actions deriving from the Politique jeunesse (young farmers policy) issued by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec.