A new report serves up a dire warning on the state of farming over the next decade. The report from the Royal Bank of Canada and the University of Guelph advises more than 40 per cent of farm operators will retire in the coming 10 years. Crispin Colvin, vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Board of Directors, tells myFM there is also an ongoing shortage of seasonal farm workers.
The report estimates that 66 per cent of farm operators don’t have a succession plan in place. Their report goes on to note more than 40 per cent of farm operators will retire in the coming decade. Colvin notes succession planning is a challenge for many farm operators.
Colvin added that in order to address a shortage of farm operators in the coming over the next decade, the various levels of government need to offer financial incentives to entice young people to take over farms or establish their own.
The report also indicated that the shortage will come at critical moment because Canada’s agricultural sector will need to produce significantly more food for a growing world population, but must also cut emissions to meet climate targets.
Written by: K. Close