Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

In my previous discussion post I wrote about having access to capital or funds to leverage for more funds in order to start or expand the current operation.
On Sunday I found out that having access to money is not always the issue.
An acquaintance who farms a good 20 minutes away from our home base was contemplating what to do with his mother in-law's home farm. She current rents out the farm beside ours and no one lives in the house or uses the barn (for good reason). Through the conversation we talk about assisting beginning or young farmers. I mention - "I am interested in renting the land or buying the farm." The return comment was that I wouldn't rent the land for $xxx.00. I said - of course I would.
He said well... the current renter is really good to deal with (he rents in excess of 2000 acres and comes from god knows where and trucks all his products to somewhere else). Then I throw it back at him - so... how are we helping young people get started, such as myself or your own son, even when we are willing and able to pay the rent? (recall - the farm is right beside my dad's. No travel required). No comment. He was stuck on the current renter is a good renter (who is considered a larger cash cropper).
Maybe the next question at the local farmer meeting should be - we are asking the government to assist young farmers, what are we willing to do to help young farmers?
The government may well throw it back at us and ask - what are you doing to assist young farmers? Well... we won't let them bid for land, we won't let them rent land, we are reducing our sow herds,...

Views: 289

Replies to This Discussion

Just a thought, the current renter may be a young farmer.

Young farmers need economically viable farm operations to get involved with. These operations may be large or small. As a young farmer I have no interest in trying to start my own operation as there is much more incentive to get involved with established operations that have access to capital and the ability to leverage assets.
The current renter is well over 50 yrs young. So yeah - considering the average age of farmers is mid 50's he would be considered "young".
If it was a young farmer renting the land I would not be concerned at all.

Brett Schuyler said:
Just a thought, the current renter may be a young farmer.

Young farmers need economically viable farm operations to get involved with. These operations may be large or small. As a young farmer I have no interest in trying to start my own operation as there is much more incentive to get involved with established operations that have access to capital and the ability to leverage assets.

RSS

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

UFA Expands Crop Services with Ponoka Acquisition

UFA has acquired Ponoka Fertilizer to expand crop services, strengthen local expertise, improve product access, and provide greater support to agricultural producers across the region.

FMC Launches New Harvest Dry Down Herbicide

FMC Canada has registered PrecisionPac® FH 20 herbicide, offering growers a new solution for improved crop dry down, easier harvesting, better weed control, and cleaner fields.

Canola Growers Urged to Scout Blackleg

Blackleg is a serious canola disease. Using crop rotation, resistant varieties, field scouting, and proper monitoring can help protect yield, quality, and farm profitability.

K-State plans three meetings to outline winter canola management

Kansas and Oklahoma canola growers will have three opportunities in early August to learn how the crop fits into profitable, sustainable cropping systems across the Great Plains. Kansas State University Extension canola breeder Mike Stamm will present on a variety of performance factors while others will share the latest information on winter canola management and marketing opportunities. The schedule includes: Aug. 4 – Enid, Oklahoma. 9:30 a.m., Chisholm Trail EXPO Center, RSVP to jrsholar@aol.com. Aug. 5 – Cimmaron, Kansas. 10 a.m., Gray County K-State Extension, RSVP to canola@scoular.com. Aug. 6 – Kingman, Kansas. 10 a.m., Kingman Expo Center, RSVP to canola@scoular.com. The Kansas meetings are sponsored by Scoular, which in 2023 recommissioned a grain processing facility in Goodland, Kansas to crush canola and soybean seeds. Stamm said winter canola continues to play an important role in Kansas and the region as a rotation crop with wheat and other small grains, helping farm

K-State watershed specialists, livestock experts emphasize importance of water sources

Water is likely the most important nutrient in raising livestock, and yet Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner says it is often the most overlooked. “A big reason why many of our pastures and rangelands go underutilized is simply due to a lack of access to high-quality, abundant water resources,” Warner said. Warner said many beef operations in Kansas and similar regions do not have abundant groundwater or access to rural water systems. Instead, they rely heavily on surface water sources to supply their cow-calf herds, stocker cattle and replacement heifers. Springs, ponds and other natural sources such as creeks and streams are a critical part of the ranch’s bottom line and long-term sustainability. “If we think about a ranch or an operating unit that has underdeveloped water resources versus one that has developed and high quality and abundant watering resources, that can certainly add a tremendous amount of value to that operation just in and of itse

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service