The Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), Jean-Pierre Blackburn, is producing tangible results for young farmers to make farming in Canada a sustainable prospect for the future. Blackburn is proud to announce the National Future Farmers Network and the official launch of a new section on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website devoted entirely to young farmers: www.agr.gc.ca/youngfarmers
This new section responds to the issues raised at the five roundtables held by Minister Blackburn last fall with young farmers, agricultural students, academics and other industry stakeholders to attain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing young and beginning farmers. The website section will provide better access to information on tools, programs and services available to young farmers.
“The discussions with young farmers gave me a better understanding of the complexity and variety of challenges young farmers are facing in getting established in agriculture or taking over the family farm, and we are committed to improving existing tools and programs to ensure that Canada’s young farmers have what they need to succeed,” said Minister Blackburn. “This new section will serve as a starting point for young people interested in farming by providing information on the national and regional tools, programs and services available to them. The section will also include an electronic copy of the roundtable report, which is being released today,” he explained.
“I hope that publishing the report of my discussions with young farmers will also help my colleagues on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food as they review government and industry initiatives around the future of farming.”
“Minister Blackburn has done some excellent work for young and beginning farmers. His tireless devotion to the young farmer issue and his willingness to travel the country speaking to young farmers and potential young farmers in order to draft this report cannot be understated,” said Joe Dickenson, representative of Quebec and Ontario for the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum.
Yohan Perreault, First Vice-President of the Fédération de la relève agricole du Québec (FRAQ): “We met with Mr. Blackburn on several occasions in the course of his consultation last fall and also at our annual convention. Each time, we shared with him our proposals and our vision for the establishment of young farmers in Canada, and I am very satisfied to see that Mr. Blackburn was listening.”
National Future Farmers Network
Honouring his ongoing commitment to seek input directly from farmers when developing agricultural policy and programs, Minister Blackburn also announced that he will hold a National Future Farmers Network in the fall to bring together young and beginning farmers as well as industry leaders and provincial and federal government representatives. Its aim will be to bring their voices to the fore and put their ideas into action. The National Future Farmers Network is in keeping with the Minister’s promise to develop a “young farmers lens” to get government bodies to systematically take young farmers’ concerns into consideration when planning their actions and developing policies and programs.
“I have no doubt that this National Future Farmers Network will provide the foundation for redesigning together the tools we have to stimulate renewal in the agriculture sector. And it is by working together, shoulder to shoulder, with each of us making our contribution, that we will build the future,” summed up Minister Blackburn.
To consult the new website section or to obtain a copy of Minister Blackburn’s roundtable report, go to www.agr.gc.ca/youngfarmers.
