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is going to be a huge concern over the next 10 to 15 years,
again, as farmers continue to age. Young people are looking at
coming back, but at least a verbal or preferably a written plan is
needed to guide the transfer of ownership.”
CENSUS REVEALS POSITVE TRENDS
On the financial side, J.P. Gervais, vice-president and chief
agricultural economist at Farm Credit Canada, also sees very
positive trends in the 2016 Census of Agriculture.
“The statistics are showing more younger farmers
farming larger farms, and this is a sign of a very progressive
industry,” said Gervais. “We’re seeing more cropped acres
and expanding livestock operations, which demonstrates
confidence in the industry. Canadian farmers are very
progressive, they are becoming much more sophisticated in
their management skills, and they are adopting and applying
new technology.”
And bigger isn’t necessarily the way to go. Gervais noted that
there is also more diversity in agriculture, with more producers
developing opportunities in smaller or niche markets such as
organic and natural production systems.
Statistics Canada’s Dorff agrees that the 2016 census
describes a positive picture for Canadian agriculture. A
welcome and positive trend sees an increasing number
of younger, progressive farmers involved in the industry.
And more producers are using new technology to improve
production efficiency.
“Since the first census was taken back in 1871, we continue
to see farm operators being more innovative and progressive
in their production and management skills,” said Dorff. “The
innovation trend continues across all sectors of the industry.
One of the cool things to note is the increasing diversification
on farms. More producers are growing pulse crops, for
example, and we continue to see corn and soybeans pushing
into new regions of Western Canada. It is a sign of how things
progress and change.”
Dorff said that, in the future, the census will be employed to
keep track of evolution within the agriculture sector by posing
new questions to quantify developing trends as they emerge.
“The industry in general and farmers in particular are very
adaptable,” he said. “So we may be asking about how they
are diversifying their operations.”
THE AVERAGE
VALUE OF LAND
AND BUILDINGS
WAS
$2,696
PER ACRE
IN 2016
CORN, PULSE AND
SOYBEAN CROPS
ARE PUSHING INTO
NEW REGIONS OF
WESTERN CANADA