Next Gen: Young people in agriculture have diverse challenges

A quick Google search of “challenges young farmers face” results in a long list of succession planning and related articles and advice.

And while succession is a big piece of the puzzle — as are the problems that arise with it — it’s not the only issue the next generation of agriculture faces.

There are also the typical challenges young people face in any industry or from any background, such as financial management, choosing post-secondary programs, balancing life and work, and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.

But for those in ag, important challenges may need a slight adjustment to get an agriculture perspective.

For example, mental health in ag is a serious issue for all ages; however, a problem with providing mental health support to farmers has been a lack of ag industry knowledge among mental health professionals.

SaskAgMatters addressed the issue by providing farmers seeking mental health services with experts who understand agriculture.

Then there is variance within challenges because of the many perspectives present in agriculture today, whether it’s farm kids, city kids, born-and-raised Canadians or immigrants. Each of these groups has experiences and situations that raise different viewpoints and questions, whether it’s someone who has come back to the farm or someone with no farm, but who works in the ag sector in some capacity.

And those not born and raised in ag worry that they won’t be accepted or taken seriously.

I’ve noticed this concern when speaking with fellow conference attendees. Sometimes they’re a little ashamed to admit that they’re in agriculture and didn’t grow up on a farm. But they shouldn’t be. The ag industry is interesting and large. There is space for everyone.

On the other hand, those who have spent their whole lives in ag might struggle with issues such as choosing not to take over the family farm or managing the dynamics of working with family.

There’s also the struggle everyone knows all too well: working for the job you want, not just the one you have.

More than in previous generations, many young farmers now balance on- and off-farm work, making this an increasingly relevant issue.

The 2016 Census of Agriculture states 58.5 per cent of farmers under 40 were working off the farm in some capacity. More recent sources note that upwards of 68 per cent of farmers under 35 work off-farm.

Farming is like any other career choice. When starting off, there typically isn’t a lot of money to be made. So, how can someone make the farm work for them when they can’t just work on the farm?

On top of that, there are challenges which are still fairly new to agriculture — things that generations before didn’t have to think about until recently, such as cybersecurity, internet access, sustainability … the list goes on.

Poor cybersecurity could wipe out a whole barn system or halt seeding or spraying; poor internet access may mean new tech can’t be used on the operation, putting the farm “behind”; not following sustainability regulations could harm the final numbers in the accounts book.

Each presents another worry and cost that falls on young shoulders.

The point is, the succession discussion is not the be-all-end-all conversation the next generation of agriculture wants to have.

Many want to add their voices and perspectives to the conversation about what they’re facing in today’s modern world of agriculture. And until these challenges are talked about, how will the next generation of agriculture face the diversity of challenges — both new and familiar?

This Next Gen column is a place to discuss these issues

It’s for young farmers and their families, those new to the family farm and any young person trying to make their way in Canadian agriculture. The goal is to bring YOUR insight and ideas to the issues shaping agriculture today and tomorrow.

Got an idea for what you’d like to see us write about? Submit your thoughts and topic suggestions, or the challenges you’re currently facing and the solutions you discovered, to Farm & Family editor astewart@farmmedia.com.