Do you want your kids to farm?

Gredig: From the Fencerow

Do you want your kids to farm?

As a farmer and father with a young son, it’s a question that has started to creep into the back of my mind. The old saying is, “farmers farm for their sons and daughters”. The inference is that for a family farm to succeed, each generation builds onto what came before and passes it on in better shape. This pattern has served us well for the past 150 years or so, but is it an out of date way of thinking or does this approach still have merit?

I never felt any pressure to come home to the farm. I was encouraged to find summer jobs off the farm to get some exposure to other ways of making a living. I laid a few million yards of sod (well, it seemed like millions) for a landscaping company for a couple of summers, harvested tobacco, and worked at a golf course. After high school, I went to university chasing a degree in agricultural economics. At home, the message was, if you want to come home after university, the farm will be here.

When I took a job in the big city as a policy researcher after graduation, I could tell that my parents still held out hope that I would farm, but either way, they were moving forward and the farm was evolving.

After a couple of years of fun in the city the light bulb went on and I knew I wanted to give it a shot at home. It was an easy decision that took 24 years to become apparent. I guess I learned from my parents that it’s important to encourage the next generation to consider all the opportunities available to them, including agriculture. And this could mean primary production or a job related to agriculture.

By the time I came home, the hog operation had been shuttered and a progressive apple orchard was added as a new enterprise. If I had shown interest earlier, there is a good chance that there would have been more land and more pigs, but there would also have been more pressure to follow that model. Because my parents had moved forward with enterprises that were right for them, there was room for me to start my own direction when I started farming.

Now I am the farmer with a kid. Some days the boy thinks living on a farm is the best ever (go-carts rock!). Other days, he wonders why we can’t live in town where the kids play street hockey every day after school! I think I was the same way.

Some people say the economics of agriculture today make it very difficult for farmers to keep the farm viable and available for the next generation. I think this has always been true, but I agree that high asset values make it more difficult for some to forego cashing in, especially if there are numerous siblings that must be considered in succession planning.

I guess at this early stage I’ll do my best to be a positive influence and to keep as many options open as possible, both for myself and my son. I’m not as concerned about building a certain scale or kind of operation. My experience is that the next generation should be encouraged to consider new enterprises and new approaches.

What do you think? Do you want your kids to farm? What are the opportunities/challenges?

Peter Gredig
Farms.com Media
Peter.Gredig@Farms.com

Follow me on Twitter. I’m Agwag.

This commentary is for informational purposes only. The opinions and comments expressed herein represent the opinions of the author--they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Farms.com. This commentary is not intended to provide individual advice to anyone. Farms.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information, or for any damages or losses in any way related to this commentary.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robert Hillman on December 13, 2011 at 11:43am

because of selfishness

the dad should have said NO

the dad should have been a man and done what he wanted

Roadrunner said:

I was talking to a friend the other day....the son wants to farm but the challenges of succession between the 3 generations of the family made it impossible....they needed to sell the land and operation to satisfy the siblings...still bitter feelings between everyone.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Hillman on December 13, 2011 at 11:45am

we just want to farm one hundred acers

there is three of us to work full time

we will live in the country and work for free for ten years for a farmer that will help us get our own hundred acers

i can make 25 thousand a year with a hundred acers and thats all we want

▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

‹ Previous
1
2
Next ›

RSS

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Is This the Most Underrated Feed Crop in the West?

Low maintenance, high yield, cow-approved — triticale is quickly moving from niche to must-have on cattle operations. Triticale may once have been considered a niche crop, but its value in cattle production is becoming harder to ignore. “The cattle industry has really benefited from this type of crop,” says Len Solick of Solick Seeds. “It’s produced really well, and in drier conditions it’s been a huge bonus.” Part of triticale’s appeal is its versatility. Producers can swath graze it in winter, bale it for feed, or blend it with barley for silage. “We’ve got customers who will put in about two bushels an acre of triticale to one bushel of barley,” Solick says. “That mix goes into a silage pit, and it gives them the right moisture balance because triticale matures later than barley.” Among the varieties Solick Seeds offers, AB Stampeder is his newest. Developed at Western Crop Innovations’ research facility, Solick says the variety has a number of pros. “Palatability for the cow is

CBRC signs agreement with AAFC on barley breeding

The Canadian Barley Research Coalition (CBRC) has announced an investment of $1,148,900 over three years in a Core Barley Breeding Agreement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The producer-funded investment is expected to support the development of new barley varieties with higher yields, stronger disease resistance, and improved agronomics to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian barley. A news release says the Core Barley Breeding Agreement ensures that farmers remain at the forefront of driving research priorities. It adds that by working with AAFC’s world-class researchers, CBRC is helping deliver practical solutions and improved genetics that respond to evolving market and environmental demands. The efforts are expected to support Canada’s position as a global leader in crop development where barley is a vital crop for Canada, supporting the malting, brewing, feed, and food sectors.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights announces new exhibits for 2026, extension for Love in a Dangerous Time

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) today announced the extension of its blockbuster exhibit, Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge, until fall 2026, as well as several new exhibits that are coming soon as a result of the Museum’s plan to renew the content in its core galleries. New content in development for the core galleries for 2026 and beyond includes At the Knees of Our Ancestors, telling the history of Black Canadians from slavery until present day; Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present, recounting the personal experiences of Palestinian Canadians from the Nakba in 1948 until today; and Inclusion for All, a new exhibit about disability rights. “Last year we celebrated 10 years as the national museum for human rights. This year, we are kicking off our plans for our next decade focusing on new content and core gallery renewal,” CMHR CEO Isha Khan said at the Museum’s Annual Public Meeting (APM). “Our mandate is to promote dialogue and a better understand

Shared values, shared fields: Potatoes at the heart of humane and climate-smart farming

An exploration of how potato growers, Mercy For Animals’ Transfarmation project and other ethical farming initiatives are quietly aligning around a common set of values – reducing suffering, protecting the climate and defending the dignity of rural communities.

CCA Welcomes New Policy Manager

The Canadian Cattle Association is pleased to announce that Daniela Lombardo is rejoining the Ottawa staff team as Policy Manager leading on Food Policy and also working on Trade files with Chief Government and International Affairs Officer Jennifer Babcock.

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service