Grainswest - Fall 2024

FirstNationswant inonag ACCORDING TO STATISTICS CANADA DATA FOR 2021, of the country’s 262,045 farm operators, 5,405, or 2.1 per cent, were Indigenous. The median income of Indigenous farmers was just $25,960 compared to non-Indigenous farmers whose median earnings were $73,440. Farm Credit Canada recently calculated that to elevate the participation rate and earnings of Indigenous farmers to that of their non-Indigenous peers would require the addition of 7,631 First Nations farmers and increase the nation’s primary agricul- ture GDP by $1.5 billion. First Nations are eager to capitalize on their farming herit- age and land base to realize such ambitious projections. In our cover story “Long of this land” (pg. 36), Siksika Nation admin- istrators and farmers discuss the difficult history of Indigenous agriculture in Alberta and major ongoing barriers to participa- tion in the industry. These communities are taking concrete steps to tackle im- pediments that include lack of access to capital and farmland. On the Kainai Nation, education is used to boost food security, EDITOR’S MESSAGE employment opportunity and participation in agriculture. “First Nation offers ag education” (pg. 41) visits Red Crow Community College in the community of Stand Off on the Kainai Nation. Here, students have access to post-secondary studies close to home. The school’s newly expanded agriculture program is offered within a supportive environment that emphasizes Black- foot culture. FARMING IN THE LONG-TERM Additional stories in our fall magazine examine farm issues with a long lens. Farm business planning is a matter of ca- reer-length perspective in “Prepare for success” (pg. 27). In “Plenty to gain” (pg. 32), we examine the decline in the rate of farm productivity gains and potential fixes. As well, farmers often work well past the official age of retirement. Three such mature farmers discuss their motivations and the evolution of their ongoing careers in “Staying power” (pg. 20). In the words of 71-year-old Bob Roessler: “Some people call it work; I just call it fulfillment.” THE FALL Coming this November to a mailbox near you! SAVE THE DATE ABCSG AGM Feb. 5, 2025 Sheraton Cavalier Calgary