Almost half of young farmers have no choice but to work almost full-time off-farm to make ends meet, but are penalized by the Financière agricole du Québec for this second job.
“We do it not because we want to, but because we have no choice,” emphasizes Anouk Caron, 28, an agronomist and owner of a bison farm in Saint-Herménégilde in the Eastern Townships.
In addition to her position as a full-time crop consultant, she dedicates about twenty hours a week to the farm, which she started last July on land leased from her parents.
“I work 7 days a week. This is the sacrifice I had to make to start my business, which is not making a profit at the moment. But I still have to find a place to stay, eat and pay for my cart,” the farmer remembers.
Free photo
Anouk Caron and her partner
According to a recent survey by the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA), Anouk Caron is among the 44% of young people under 40 – defined as the next generation of farmers – who need to have a second job outside of their farm.
They work there an average of 30 hours a week, in addition to dozens of others on the farm.
“It becomes an overload. A farm is everyday, it is a way of life. And what scares me is that the 44% increases every year,” admits the president of the Federation of Young Agricultural Workers of Quebec (FRAQ), Julie Bissonnette.
Subsidies halved
The situation also worries the president of the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA), Martin Caron, who notes that he is “fed up,” which could quickly turn into “angry” if nothing changes.
Like FRAQ, he denounces the “injustice” of the Quebec government's financial support program for young farmers, which aims to help young people start or take over a business.
Free photo
The President of the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA), Martin Caron
The amounts, considered insignificant, allocated to young farmers range from $20,000 to $50,000, depending on the level of education. However, if a person works more than 21 hours a week off the farm, the allowance is halved.
“It tends to discourage young people from starting a business,” complains Mr. Caron. La Financière agricole du Québec [qui relève du gouvernement] considers them to be working part-time in agriculture, even if they can prove that they work on the farm full-time. There is nothing to understand. They have no choice to take a second job, but they will be punished.”
“And it’s no longer just the next generation that has to work outside the farm,” he assures.
According to Statistics Canada, in 2015, 36% of all agricultural producers in Quebec had outside income. In 2020 it was 46%.
An outdated program
Due to climate change, pesticide regulations, animal welfare facilities, inflation, and rising interest rates and farmland prices, the cost of operating farms has skyrocketed.
“I have the impression that the financing is not adapted to the new realities,” regrets the 34-year-old vegetable gardener and flower grower Julia Janson, who founded Les Jardins de la Renarde in 2022. She rents property in Bedford in Estrie.
Free photo
Gardener and flower grower Julia Janson.
In addition to the thirty hours she dedicates to her floriculture business, she works in the summer as a horticultural agent for the City of Montreal. She is also an author of horticulture articles and teaches secondary school horticulture courses.
“I’ve never been so burned in my life,” she admits. But I don’t just support myself from my income as a flower grower.”
Free photo
Julia Janson has been renting properties in Bedford, Estrie since 2022.
The Financière agricole du Québec says it has provided nearly $61 million in financing to young farmers over the past five years, but did not respond to questions from 24 Hours about the problems raised by young farmers.
Will the next generation of farmers survive?
The stakeholders 24 Hours spoke to fear for the survival of the next generation.
First, net agricultural income fell from $959 million in 2022 to just over $487 million last year (-49%). According to UPA forecasts, it could even fall to $66 million (-87%) in 2024. This hasn't happened in 86 years.
• Also read: 'It's the beginning of anger': Quebec producers' net agricultural income would fall by more than 86.5% this year
Then the proportion of young farmers has been in free fall for 30 years. While in 1991 those under 35 made up 25% of all operators, in 2021 it was less than 9%, according to Statistics Canada.
“It is an enormous pressure on quality of life and mental health,” argues FRAQ President Julie Bissonnette. Our profession is not valued. Young people are increasingly asking themselves why they farm.”
Conversely, the number of producers aged 55 and older has skyrocketed since 1991, rising from 22% to 53% in 2021.
“We call them gentlemen farmers,” emphasizes bison breeder Anouk Caron.
“These are people who are semi-retired or retired, who already have financial means and are entering agriculture at a later age. They do it as a hobby. The potential is much lower and the business is unlikely to continue,” she explains.
Free photo
Anouk Caron opened her bison farm in Saint-Herménégilde in the Eastern Townships last July.
The situation could threaten the province's food autonomy plan and even the vitality of several villages, according to producers.
“In the coming years, many people will retire from agriculture, but there are still many small communities in Quebec that make a living from agriculture,” recalls Martin Caron.. For every dollar of agricultural production in a region, 71 cents are left over. These villages are at risk of becoming devitalized.”