NEW FARMER POLICY HUB
CURIOUS ABOUT NEW FARMER POLICY? WANT TO ADVANCE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG FARMERS? YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!
To build and strengthen the capacity of new and young farmers, Young Agrarians delivers accessible farmer-to-farmer programs including knowledge-sharing events, land access supports, business development, and on-farm apprenticeship training. While these programs increase new farmer capacity- policy change is key to overcoming the main barriers to farm: access to land, capital, and knowledge. To ensure we have future generations able to farm, a focus on policy is essential.
Building on New Farmer Policy Recommendations developed in 2021, Young Agrarians is engaging new, young, and underrepresented farmers across the country to develop a series of federal and provincial policy briefs. These briefs will build towards Provincial New Farmer Strategies with programs and resources targeted to address the challenges new farmers face regionally, and mobilize towards the creation of a National New Farmer Framework.
To advance this vision, Young Agrarians has launched Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers, a series of webinars and events to engage new and young farmers and farmer organizations to build capacity for advocacy, and mobilize toward action before YA’s first-ever National Policy Jam March 15-16, 2025.
Be a part of the change! There is no better time to make sure voices of new farmers are heard!
WEBINARS
The Breaking Barriers Growing Future Farmers Webinar Series featured stories, strategies, resources, programs, and funding initiatives to navigate new farmer barriers, foster connection, and inform new approaches to better support new and young farmers across the country. Each session featured dynamic speakers discussing innovative solutions to build farmer and farm organization capacity to identify solutions and action that will fill gaps in the new entrant ecosystem, and drive future policy change in Canada.
Missed the live webinar series? You can catch-up on past webinars right here. Learn about new farmer programs, opportunities and strategies that address challenges to access capital, land, knowledge – and and hear from new farmers about how they navigate challenges in their first few years of operation.
Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers – LAND ACCESS
Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers – WRAP AROUND SUPPORTS
Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers – ACCESSING CAPITAL
Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers – GROWING KNOWLEDGE & ADAPTATION SUPPORTS
NATIONAL POLICY JAM
The “Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers” National Policy Jam was held in Parham, ON on March 15 and 16, 2025. The gathering was a coast to coast convening of new and young farmers, farmer organizations, farm policy leaners and allies looking to connect and mobilize around better supports for new and young farmers. The Policy Jam was a fun and creative space for building connections, sharing knowledge, and growing solidarity across the new farmer ecosystem.
Read the event recap blog post for the National Policy Jam here!
PLATEFORME POLITIQUE SUR LA RELÈVE AGRICOLE
LES POLITIQUES RELATIVES À LA RELÈVE AGRICOLE VOUS INTRIGUENT? VOUS SOUHAITEZ AMÉLIORER LA SITUATION DES JEUNES AGRICULTEURS ET AGRICULTRICES? VOUS ÊTES AU BON ENDROIT!
Pour développer et renforcer les capacités des nouveaux et jeunes agriculteurs et agricultrices, Young Agrarians propose des programmes accessibles d’apprentissage entre pairs, notamment des événements de partage des connaissances, des aides à l’accès à la terre et au développement d’entreprise, ainsi que des formations en apprentissage à la ferme. Bien que ces programmes renforcent les capacités de la relève agricole, un changement de politique est essentiel pour surmonter les principaux obstacles à l’agriculture : l’accès à la terre, aux capitaux et aux connaissances. Pour que les générations futures soient en mesure de pratiquer l’agriculture, il est essentiel de mettre l’accent sur les politiques.
S’appuyant sur les Recommandations de politiques pour les nouveaux agriculteurs élaborées en 2021, Young Agrarians fait appel aux agriculteurs – les nouveaux venus, les jeunes et les agriculteurs sous-représentés – de tout le pays pour élaborer une série de notes d’information sur les politiques fédérales et provinciales. Ces notes d’information contribueront à l’élaboration de stratégies provinciales pour la relève agricole, comprenant des programmes et des ressources destinés à relever les défis auxquels la relève agricole est confrontée à l’échelle régionale, ainsi qu’à la mobilisation en vue de la création d’un cadre national pour la relève agricole.
Pour faire avancer cette vision, Young Agrarians a lancé Surmonter les défis: croissance agriculteurs pour l’avenir, une série de webinaires et d’événements visant à impliquer les nouveaux et jeunes agriculteurs et les organisations d’agriculteurs pour renforcer les capacités de plaidoyer et pour se mobiliser et se mettre en action avant le tout premier Jam politique national de YA, qui se tiendra les 15 et 16 mars 2025.
Participez au changement! Il n’y a pas de meilleur moment pour s’assurer que les voix de la relève agricole soient entendues!
Renforcez vos capacités, participez à la série de webinaires en 4 parties Surmontez les défis.
WEBINAIRE : 5 mars 2025, Accroître les connaissances et les soutiens à l’adaptation
La série de webinaires « Surmonter les défis: croissance agriculteurs pour l’avenir » présente des histoires, des stratégies, des ressources, des programmes et des initiatives de financement visant à surmonter les obstacles auxquels se heurtent la relève agricole. Elle vise aussi à favoriser les liens et à proposer de nouvelles approches pour mieux soutenir les nouveaux et les jeunes agriculteurs dans l’ensemble du pays. Chaque session réunit des conférenciers dynamiques qui mettent de l’avant des solutions novatrices pour renforcer la capacité des agriculteurs et des organisations agricoles à identifier des solutions et des actions qui comblent les lacunes de l’écosystème et qui mènent à de futurs changements de politiques au Canada. Les notes d’information, publiées sur la plateforme politique, seront également utilisées pour mobiliser les agriculteurs et les agricultrices dans le cadre des Cercles virtuels d’agriculteurs.
Faites part de vos commentaires, façonnez la nouvelle politique agricole lors d’un Cercle virtuel d’agriculteurs
Young Agrarians recueillera les réactions des nouveaux et jeunes agriculteurs et agricultrices de tout le pays à l’occasion des Cercles virtuels sur les politiques agricoles Surmonter les défis. Les sessions réuniront des nouveaux et jeunes agriculteurs de tous les horizons, des aspirants agriculteurs ayant une expérience vécue en tant que nouveaux venus, des personnes issues des communautés 2ELGBTQ+, autochtones et racialisées.
Les commentaires et les récits de ces sessions seront distillés pour mettre en évidence les défis et les opportunités pour la relève agricole, et pour alimenter le Jam national politique qui se tiendra en mars. Consultez le calendrier des événements YA pour participer à une session cet hiver.
Connexion, apprentissage et mobilisation – Joignez-vous à nous lors du Jam national politique
Événement : 15-16 mars 2025 – Parham Ontario – INSCRIVEZ-VOUS DÈS AUJOURD’HUI!
Connect, Learn & Mobilize – Join Us at the National Policy Jam
Event: March 15-16, 2025 – Parham Ontario – REGISTER TODAY!
Aidez-nous à cultiver une nouvelle génération d’agriculteurs et d’agricultrices capables de relever les défis d’aujourd’hui! Le Jam politique national Surmonter les défis: croissance agriculteurs pour l’avenir est un événement en personne qui permettra d’approfondir les questions fondamentales, d’identifier des solutions politiques claires et de mobiliser les énergies en vue d’assurer de meilleurs lendemains pour les agriculteurs et agricultrices. L’événement permettra également de présenter des recommandations politiques ciblées pour la relève agricole, inspirées par les discussions avec les nouveaux agriculteurs d’un bout à l’autre du pays. Deux jours pour générer du changement, réseauter avec d’autres nouveaux agriculteurs et organisations agricoles, et construire le mouvement qui façonnera l’avenir de l’agriculture au Canada. Pour en savoir plus, cliquez ici.
Revenez régulièrement sur le site au fur et à mesure que nous élaborons la plateforme politique sur la relève agricole!
REGARDEZ LA SERIE DE WEBINAIRES « SURMONTER LES DEFIS: CROISSANCE AGRICULTEURS POUR L’AVENIR »
Surmonter Les Defis: Croissance Agriculteurs Pour L’Avenir – ACCÈS À LA TERRE
Surmonter Les Defis: Croissance Agriculteurs Pour L’Avenir – SUPPORTS ENVELOPPANT
Surmonter Les Defis: Croissance Agriculteurs Pour L’Avenir – ACCÈS AU FINANCEMENT
Surmonter Les Defis: Croissance Agriculteurs Pour L’Avenir – ACCROÎTRE LES CONNAISSANCES ET LE SOUTIEN À L’ADAPTATION
Policy BLOG
National New Farmer Framework – Policy Report
Posted by Ayla Fenton on May 11, 2025
[EN; texte français ci-dessous] New and equity-seeking farmers face significant challenges in accessing land, capital, knowledge and training, hindering the growth of new farming enterprises. The current policy landscape fails to adequately address the needs of new farmers, which threatens the long-term sustainability of Canadian agriculture. A National New Farmer Framework is urgently needed to ensure farm renewal. This Framework should address the most pressing systemic barriers facing new entrants—from access to land, capital, knowledge and training, and rural community development—while also developing essential wrap-around supports to help new farmers succeed. A national framework, complemented by provincial new entrant strategies, … Continue reading National New Farmer Framework – Policy Report
Growing Future Farmers Engagement Tool: Policy Brief
Posted by Ayla Fenton on April 18, 2025
[EN; texte français ci-dessous] Engagement Tool: Growing Future Farmers Policy Brief The upcoming 2025 Federal Election presents a unique opportunity to address the pressures and challenges confronting new farmers. In consultation with new and equity-seeking farmers and farming organizations across the country, we have developed a National New Farmer Framework report. Pre- and post-election is a great time to engage your local representatives to discuss how agricultural policy can better support new farmers and farm renewal for the future! Check out our pre-election Growing Future Farmers policy brief for download. You can use this resource for speaking points, or even … Continue reading Growing Future Farmers Engagement Tool: Policy Brief
EVENT RECAP: National Policy Jam, March 15-16, 2025
Posted by Ayla Fenton on March 31, 2025
[EN; texte français ci-dessous] Over 70 agriculturally involved folks gathered from March 15-16 at the RKY Camp on Anishinaabe Algonquin territory in Parham, ON for YA’s inaugural “Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers” National Policy Jam! This event was made possible thanks to funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Sustainable Agricultural Partnership, the National Farmers Union – Ontario, Carrot Cache, and the Food Communities Network. We sourced the majority of our food locally and are incredibly grateful to the farmers and folks at Almanac Grain, County Bounty Soda, Food Less Travelled, Generations Apiary, Haanover View Farms, Hall’s Apples, Heartwood Cider, Kebaonish … Continue reading EVENT RECAP: National Policy Jam, March 15-16, 2025
EVENT RECAP: Merville, BC – Production, Policy and Community Mixer for Market Gardeners
Posted by Kat Roger on March 17, 2025
On February 22, 53 people gathered in the Merville Community Hall on Vancouver Island to share stories, build community and brainstorm future farming policies for vegetable farmers in BC. Co-hosted with the National Farmers Union (NFU), attendees also included folks from LUSH Valley Food Action Society, the Mid-Island Farmers Institute and the South Island Farmers Institute in addition to the North Island regional agrologist, a representative from the Agricultural Land Commission and a collection of enthusiastic farmers, researchers and farmer allies from all over the Lower Mainland. Over the day, we shared laughter, tears and discussions about the future of … Continue reading EVENT RECAP: Merville, BC – Production, Policy and Community Mixer for Market Gardeners
Mar 1, 2025: ARMSTRONG, BC – Pastured Poultry Production and Policy Primer at Fresh Valley Farms
Posted by Kat Roger on January 31, 2025
You’re invited to a Pastured Poultry Production and Policy Primer at Fresh Valley Farms in Armstrong, B.C. co-hosted by Young Agrarians and the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association (SSMPA). Join us if you want to learn about raising poultry, connect with other poultry farmers or share your experiences and ideas for provincial and national farm policy. We will gather at Fresh Valley Farms, a fourth-generation certified organic farm run by Annelise Grube-Cavers and Steve Meggait, who raise beef, chicken, turkey and heritage pork on pasture. The day will start with an introduction circle, followed by a primer on the SSMPA from … Continue reading Mar 1, 2025: ARMSTRONG, BC – Pastured Poultry Production and Policy Primer at Fresh Valley Farms
Feb 22, 2025: MERVILLE, BC – Production, Policy and Community Mixer for Market Gardeners
Posted by Kat Roger on January 16, 2025
Calling all market gardeners! You’re invited to a Production, Policy and Community Mixer on Saturday, February 22 in Merville, BC. This event will be co-hosted by Young Agrarians and the National Farmers Union (NFU), a direct-membership, farmer-led organization that has advocated for food systems rooted in social and economic justice as well as agroecology and international agrarian solidarity since 1969. Join us to hear stories from successful market gardeners, share resources, connect with other farmers and food lovers, share a delicious meal and build community around vegetable farming in BC. This event will also provide you with an opportunity to … Continue reading Feb 22, 2025: MERVILLE, BC – Production, Policy and Community Mixer for Market Gardeners
FEB 4 OR 13, 2025: ONLINE – PRAIRIES VIRTUAL FARMER POLICY CIRCLES
Posted by JoHana Harcourt on January 08, 2025
WHAT DO YOU WANT POLICYMAKERS TO KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FARMING? Let’s talk about it. You’re invited to a series of virtual brainstorming and consultation sessions on February 4 and 13, 2025 to share your experiences, ideas, and insights into how the provincial and national policy landscape can better serve new and young farmers. Since 2012, Young Agrarians (YA) has worked to support the growing wave of new and young people coming into agriculture. Through hands-on program delivery, YA’s farmer-to-farmer approach supports farmers to tackle barriers ranging from access to land and capital, to technical and regulatory requirements, to … Continue reading FEB 4 OR 13, 2025: ONLINE – PRAIRIES VIRTUAL FARMER POLICY CIRCLES
FEB 6 AND 11, 2025: ONLINE – B.C. VIRTUAL FARMER POLICY CIRCLES
Posted by Kat Roger on January 07, 2025
WHAT DO YOU WANT POLICYMAKERS TO KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FARMING? Let’s talk about it. You’re invited to a series of virtual brainstorming and consultation sessions on February 6 and 11, 2025 to share your experiences, ideas, and insights into how the provincial and national policy landscape can better serve new and young farmers. Since 2012, Young Agrarians (YA) has worked to support the growing wave of new and young people coming into agriculture. Through hands-on program delivery, YA’s farmer-to-farmer approach supports farmers to tackle barriers ranging from access to land and capital, to technical and regulatory requirements, to … Continue reading FEB 6 AND 11, 2025: ONLINE – B.C. VIRTUAL FARMER POLICY CIRCLES
MAR 5, 2025: ONLINE – GROWING KNOWLEDGE & ADAPTATION SUPPORTS
Posted by Melana Roberts on December 20, 2024
CURIOUS ABOUT FARMER MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS? LOOKING FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR FARM? UNSURE WHERE TO START? JOIN THE CONVERSATION! With approximately ⅔ of new farmers in Canada not coming from family farm backgrounds, many have limited access to inter-generational knowledge. making it tougher to weather unpredictable weather changes, assess soil conditions, predict market demands and volatility, and adapt. This capacity is essential for new farmers, many of which have limited access to capital and access to land, to stay afloat in a changing agricultural landscape. In this final instalment of the Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers Webinar Series, we will … Continue reading MAR 5, 2025: ONLINE – GROWING KNOWLEDGE & ADAPTATION SUPPORTS
FEB 12, 2025: ONLINE – ACCESSING CAPITAL
Posted by Melana Roberts on December 20, 2024
LOOKING FOR OPERATING CAPITAL? WANT TO UNDERSTAND FARM CAPITAL IN CANADA? INTERESTED IN NEW APPROACHES TO ACCESS FUNDING FOR FARMING? In Canada, the agricultural sector is at a crossroads, with new, young, and underrepresented farmers facing significant challenges to accessing the capital needed to succeed. The third installment of the “Breaking Barriers: Growing Future Farmers” webinar series will shine a light on this critical issue, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support to empower the next generation of farmers. At the heart of the struggle for many aspiring farmers is the concept of market failure in Canadian agriculture. Market failure is … Continue reading FEB 12, 2025: ONLINE – ACCESSING CAPITAL