Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Young Farmers - Lend Your Voice to the Future of Agriculture!

CFBMC News Release

Earlier this week, the Minister's office announced the honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn is seeking input from across Canada on the key challenges and issues facing young and future farmers.

CFBMC would like to give you, its partners, an opportunity to contribute your ideas.
- What should be done to assist new and upcoming producers?
- How can the federal government (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada) help new and young farmers start their business and capture more opportunities to grow and diversify their businesses?

Your suggestions, recommendations and comments will be compiled and incorporated into a briefing note, which we will present to Minister Blackburn on behalf of ourselves (CFBMC) and our partners.

Your responses can be emailed to info@cfbmc.com. Please include 'Blackburn' in the subject line.

We also encourage you to share your demographic information - Are you a...young/beginning farmer, established producer, consultant? What region of the country do you reside in?

The official Press Release regarding Blackburn's initiative is below.



MINISTER BLACKBURN TO DISCUSS ISSUES FACING YOUNG FARMERS


OTTAWA, Ontario, November 9, 2009 - Farmers, agriculture students and academics from across the country will get an opportunity to discuss the key challenges facing young farmers and the future of agriculture through roundtable discussions with Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture) Jean-Pierre Blackburn over the next few weeks.

"I believe Canada's young and future farmers have a unique perspective on the issues facing the agriculture industry," said Minister Blackburn. "These dialogues will be valuable in helping to bring their voices to the forefront and ensure their ideas are put into action."

The roundtables will focus on identifying key issues for young people who want to farm and on charting solutions that will help new and young farmers start their business, capture more opportunities to grow and diversify their businesses.

"We want to be sure that the programs we deliver hit the target for Canada's young farmers," said Minister Blackburn. "These roundtables will allow us to exchange with the experts themselves and ensure their ideas are given due importance in the elaboration of future policies."

This week and next, Minister Blackburn is holding roundtable meetings with farmers, agriculture students and academics in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Saskatchewan and British Columbia as part of an ongoing commitment to get input directly from farmers when developing agricultural policies.

Views: 212

Replies to This Discussion

Here are the needs I think most young farmers have that if a program could help address them, we would see more young farmers...

1. Access to capital - hard to get started in such a capital intensive industry.
2. Training and support - access to others to help solve problems.
3. Revenue - Market price stability - it is difficult to build equity when profitability is so difficult...

Is there anything else that would help?

RSS

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

Great Ontario Yield Tour Seeks Volunteer Farm Fields as Final Crop Tour Events Approach

The Farms.com Great Ontario Yield Tour is looking for Ontario farmers willing to include their corn and soybean fields in this year's crop scouting effort.

Attracting agricultural workers

In 2022, the Government of Alberta invested $2.5 million in Ag for Life’s Agriculture Labour Task Force Grant Program to help producers and processors attract, hire and retain employees. Ag for Life, a charitable organization, will distribute grants to address labour shortages caused by job vacancies that cannot be filled and an aging workforce. “Alberta’s government is committed to strengthening and growing a resilient and competitive agriculture sector that supports jobs and long-term food security. Ag producers and processors need a stable, skilled workforce and Ag for Life’s Agriculture Labour Task Force Grant Program helps them meet those labour challenges so they can continue producing the food we rely on,” said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Tara Sawyer. The program funds projects not only to attract, hire and retain workers but also helps employers build human-resources capacity, like recruiting and onboarding. "I really appreciate the opportunity created through th

10,000 Chickens Die After Break-In at Nova Scotia Poultry Barn

a suspected break-in resulted in the deaths of approximately 10,000 chickens.

Manitoba Produces Most of the Nation's Sunflower Crop

Canada's sunflower industry is concentrated in Manitoba, which produces the vast majority of the country's crop. Learn where sunflowers are grown, how they are used, and why interest in this iconic crop continues to endure.

Canada Rural Action Plan Reflects Rural Realities

Canada is using public feedback to create a new Rural Development Action Plan focused on local needs, stronger communities, economic growth, and improved access to federal programs.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service